Arteta criticizes thin Arsenal squad
Coach Arteta only used the reserve team when Arsenal took on Brighton in the third round of the English League Cup. The Spanish military leader launched into the field of 20-year-old goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein, right-back Cedric Soares, midfielders Mohamed Elneny, Albert Sambi Lokonga or attacking players Marquinhos, Reiss Nelson and Edward Nketiah.
Arsenal's fledgling squad created a good game in the first half of the first half, then opened the scoring thanks to Nketiah's goal in the 20th minute. But the more they played, the weaker they became, allowing Brighton to regain the game, scoring three goals and winning the final 3 -first.
"Arsenal squad is too thin," complained Arteta after the game. "The team has had a few injuries and the staffing situation is very tight. If all are healthy then it's fine, but I already guessed the time would come for them to be absent. I said that right after the summer transfer window. Arsenal need to buy people in the middle of the season".
Arteta believes that the Arsenal leadership needs to seize the opportunity when the transfer window reopens in January 2023. He believes that after the 2022 World Cup, access to players will be easier and the transfer door will be open to clubs.
Arsenal are flying high in the first half of this season, when they hold the top of the English Premier League and Europa League tables. They have only lost one Premier League match and are two points ahead of the second team Man City. In the past, Arsenal played many times well in the first half of the season, then dropped in form and lost their breath in the final stages.
"When you look at Arsenal's biggest rivals, they have a thicker squad than us," added Arteta. "With the current density of competition, having many interchangeable positions will bring a great advantage."
Arsenal will be a guest of Wolves in the Premier League this weekend, before taking a break for more than a month to make way for the 2022 World Cup. They return on December 27, meeting West Ham.
