Arsenal Prepare Big January Splash on Three Defensive Players to Resurrect their Season

Arsenal have set their sights on securing two centre-halves and a defensive midfielder in January to jumpstart their season, according to the Daily Mirror.

The north London club had initially decided on only filling the void left at the centre-back after the departure of Thomas Vermaelen. But the team are now contemplating on bringing in a defensive midfielder to fill the gap left by the injured Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere.

Both players were injred in quick succession and are out for the long term. While Wilshere suffered ankle ligament damage in the aftermath of a tackle from Paddy McNair, Mikel Arteta saw a recurrence of his calf problem after their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

The injuries mean that Arsenal have only two fit central midfielders at the moment in Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini, both of whom have are struggling with their form. This has forced Arsene Wenger to look at Sevilla midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak to marshal the centre of the park and provide a screen for their defence, the lack of which has been a major reason behind the club's downfall this season.

However, his availability is down to Sevilla's desire to sell, who are looking at a fee in the range of £20m to do business, an amount which Wenger is reportedly willing to spend. The Gunners are also keeping an eye on the situation unfolding behind Lars Bender, but have given up the chase for Sami Khedira, with the German demanding astronomical wages to consider being part of the Arsenal setup.

Everton midfielder James McCarthy is also an option but would not come cheap, as the Toffees may not sell to a direct Champions League rival.

Apart from their midfield, the Gunners are also looking at two players to bolster their defence, with a replacement for Per Mertesacker also on the agenda. The German international has failed to live up to expectations this season and is fast resembling a player past his prime.

An experienced defender is unlikely to be available in January, which has forced Arsenal to ramp up their search for a backup, with Ipswich defender Tyrone Mings high on their priority list.