Arsène Wenger has identified central midfield as the area Arsenal will look to improve during the January transfer window.

Wenger already promised at least one signing with central defense likely the priority.

Wenger’s decision to exit the summer transfer window with only five senior defenders in the squad always seemed a risk and it has been exposed by injuries, most seriously to Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy. 

Wenger will be without Jack Wilshere until March because of ankle ligament damage while he continues to miss Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta because of thigh and ankle injuries respectively. With Abou Diaby also unavailable, Wenger was forced into the stop-gap measure of recalling Francis Coquelin from his loan at Charlton Athletic. Arsenal have been linked with a move for Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko.

“If you look at the number of games some players played and the injuries we have with Wilshere, Ramsey and Arteta, we are a bit short at the moment in midfield,” Wenger said, when asked to name where he would look to strengthen his squad in January.