The Gunners kept their Premier League title bid in respectable shape by holding on against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. A late goal from Taiwo Awoniyi threatened to spoil Arteta's party but his side stood firm to see out a 2-1 win.
The grit and determination of his current crop will be key to Arsenal's title chances this term, with Arteta admitting that big-name signings are unlikely to materialise in the dying embers of the January window.
They're not impossible, though, and Express Sport takes you through how the manager's deadline day would look in an ideal world, including three important departures...
Amadou Onana is among Arsenal's top midfield targets (Image: Getty)
Gunners sign Amadou Onana
The Belgian is one of Everton's standout players, and Arsenal are among a host of top sides to have registered an interest. The Toffees' dire financial situation suggests that a deal is there to be done - if the Gunners can find the cash.
Onana's £50million asking price would allow Everton to breathe a sigh of relief after twice being charged for falling foul of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. And a player of the 22-year-old's calibre could revitalise Arteta's midfield.
Thomas Partey has proven injury prone, Jorginho and Mohamed Elneny are out of contract at the end of the season, while Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira have each failed to convince. Finding a way to pull off the Onana deal would therefore be a barnstorming way for Arsenal to finish the winter.
£19m trio depart
With six months remaining on his deal, time is running out for the Gunners to cash in on Elneny. The Egyptian is soaking up space on the wage bill despite playing just one Premier League minute all season.
Arteta happy with Zinchenko and White clash after Arsenal win
Cedric Soares is in a similarly desperate situation. The right-back has not made a single league appearance this term, and Arsenal are reportedly in talks with Galatasaray about arranging a permanent move away.
The Gunners could also find a way to cash in on Nuno Tavares. The Portuguese is currently struggling for game time on loan at Nottingham Forest, and with clubs in France and Italy circling, an agreement to release him from the City Ground and ship him off overseas would put even more valuable cash in the bank.
The trio are priced at a cumulative £19m by Transfermarkt, which would leave Arsenal in better shape heading into the summer and could boost their chances of putting together a late January swoop of their own.
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