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Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League and are reluctant to weaken their squad in the January transfer window
Mikel Arteta has revealed Arsenal will asses the prospect of allowing players to depart the club in the January transfer window.
The Gunners are understood to be reluctant to weaken their ranks, though there's an acceptance some players have been short of minutes this season.
When asked if Arsenal would be prepared to let players depart - either on loan or on a permanent basis - this winter, the Spaniard said following the 2-1 victory over Brighton: “We assess every situation. I leave that much more to Andrea [Berta] to understand what’s happening in the market.
"Then individual players, obviously, we have to assess where we are with each of them and get the best situation.”
Arsenal look poised to rebuff any approaches they receive for the services of left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The England international currently finds himself out of Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions setup ahead of next summer's World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, Lewis-Skelly has started Arsenal's past two matches in all competitions and there's confidence he will prove imperative during the second half of the campaign.
The situation of Ethan Nwaneri is somewhat different because he's only started three matches in all competitions to date.
The attacking midfielder signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal during the summer but has found minutes hard to come by following the arrival of Eberechi Eze.
Some quarters of the fanbase feel Nwaneri's development would be better served if he was out on loan, playing regular football.
Arsenal cannot promise him that at this moment in time so if any enquiries materialise, it appears they will at least, be considered.
The Gunners have huge faith in the 18-year-old but he is still so long and will have to bide his time if he's to become a first-team starlet.
The brutal reality of the situation is that both captain Martin Odegaard and Eze are currently more attractive and experienced options.
It's also very rare that Arteta plays two attacking midfielders within the same tactical setup, though it has happened on occasions this season (West Ham at home, for example).
Nwaneri has even found himself left out of the matchday squad this season, he travelled to Newcastle in late-September but was not even named on the bench.
Given his quality, it's likely there will be interest in his services next month and that would give Arsenal a big decision to make.
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