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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has left ONE space free in his Champions League squad to face Dinamo Zagreb tonight – hinting that the Gunners need to sign players before the end of the month.

In his pre-match press conference, Arteta admitted he is in ‘constant contact’ with the Arsenal board over trying to get bodies in over the next fortnight. He is keen to strengthen as they bid to compete at the top end of the Premier League and in the knockout phase of Europe’s elite club competition.

Arteta said: “We are in constant contact, obviously – understanding the situation, how the team is evolving. Obviously, some of the big news that we had, unfortunately, they weren’t that positive. How we’re feeling about it, they’ve been super supportive and they continue to be so.”

Asked if the owners are prepared to back him this month, Arteta added: “First of all, it’s backing the club and themselves, you know, because we all want the best.

“The decision that we make is not to back anybody, it’s just something that makes sense, that is going to improve the squad, that is going to give us the ability to perform to a level and to win the things that we want to do. If that’s the case and we have the resources to do it, we will try.”

With Arsenal yet to make a single signing in the January transfer window and the squad looking threadbare with injuries hampering the camp, Arteta has decided to leave one space empty on the bench against Dinamo.

In the Champions League, teams are allowed to name 12 substitutes, meaning there is 23 in each squad. But Arteta has chosen to pick just 11 on the bench, along with his 11 starters to take on the Croatian side, dropping a subtle hint to Josh Kroenke and the Arsenal ownership that they need new recruits – and fast.