David Moyes has admitted that West Ham United "are short on midfield players" after seeing his side knocked out of the EFL Cup by Arsenal on Tuesday night.

The Hammers, showing six changes from their last outing, struggled to create any sort of chance in their 1-0 quarter-final defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

United boss Moyes concedes that new recruits are required in the January window if the East Londoners are to push on in the second half of the season, with the midfield department now a priority.

"We need to add quality and you can see that tonight," he told Sky Sports News. "The club know. I think they knew before I came in that they needed it.

"We had to start with two 18-year-olds in midfield and against Arsenal that is always going to be difficult. We have players in other positions, quite a few of them, but at this moment in time we are short on midfield players."

West Ham were linked with a move for Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter - valued at around £15m - earlier this week.