Arsenal are reportedly willing to spend big in January in order to strengthen their Premier League title bid.

Having missed out on Champions League football last season, the aim of Mikel Arteta's side this time around was to break into the top four and earn a return to the Champions League.

However, the Gunners are currently exceeding expectations on the back of adding the likes of William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to their squad.

As it stands, Arsenal sit two points clear of defending champions Manchester City in the table having collected 28 points from their 11 matches.

The North Londoners are also on the brink of earning a spot in the Europa League last 16, but there were signs on Sunday against Southampton that fatigue is beginning to set in due to a number of injury issues.

Arteta has been without the servies of Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe for much of the campaign, and it appears that he will be provided with the freedom to strengthen his squad.

According to The Sun, the club's owner are prepared to bankroll more activity in the transfer market, aware that it could prove to be the difference when it comes to finishing in the top four or winning a trophy.

The report claims that Arteta wishes to sign at least two players, with a new central midfielder almost certain to be at the top of the Spaniard's list of priorities.

Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga have taken on the bulk of the workload in the middle of the pitch, the former playing all but two minutes of Arsenal's Premier League matches thus far.

As many as eight players have started every league fixture, including Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka who also require more experienced deputies as competition in wide areas.

Although Reiss Nelson and Marquinhos possess quality in their own right, the former has only recently returned from a long-term injury and 19-year-old Marquinhos was signed in the summer with the future in mind.

Arsenal had allegedly planned to return with a fresh bid for Douglas Luiz, but the central midfielder has since extended his contract at Aston Villa.

Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is another player who has been on the Gunners' radar, the Ukraine international admitting himself that he would struggle to turn down a move to the Emirates Stadium in the future. body check tags ::