Mikel Arteta admitted his envy at Liverpool's greater strength in depth after Arsenal lost ground in the Premier League title race with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa.

Mikel Arteta has urged the Arsenal board to back him in the January transfer window after being held to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa at the Emirates on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal are “very short” in attack and need reinforcements after they dropped more points in the title race by drawing with Aston Villa. The Gunners had been two goals to the good against Villa, but conceded twice in the space of eight second-half minutes to draw.

Mikel Arteta believes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are full of confidence again and ready to spark Arsenal’s attack into life. The pair have endured difficult seasons, but both have begun to find form over the past 10 days.

Arsenal transfer target Sverre Nypan is reportedly negotiating a move to not only the Emirates Stadium but Manchester City too as the Football Manager prodigy flies in for talks on Friday. Last week it was reported that both the Gunners and their Premier League title rivals were leading the race to sign Rosenborg prodigy Nypan.

Arsenal are close to formalising a warm-weather training camp in Dubai following their emphatic 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb which put them on the brink of automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.

A jubilant Mikel Arteta said Arsenal have put themselves in a really strong position to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 following their 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb. Declan Rice fired the Gunners ahead within two minutes at the Emirates Stadium before Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard completed the victory in the second half.