Arsene Wenger believes his Arsenal side are capable of achieving their targets for the season even if the club don't sign a new centre back in the January transfer window, reports Metro.
Wenger is under pressure to bring a new defender to the Emirates this month, having suffered a host of injuries at the back over the course of the season.
The Frenchman also allowed former captain Thomas Vermaelen to move to Barcelona in the summer, and failed to sign a direct replacement for the Belgian.
Arsenal have been punished with injuries to the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy, however Wenger insists his side will continue to cope even if they fail to bring in some new talent this month.
When asked if the Gunners could cope without signing a defender this month, the Frenchman said: ‘We can, because we have [Calum] Chambers, [Per] Mertesacker, Koscielny.
‘But we have now lost Debuchy, who could play centre-back, Monreal, who can play centre-back, Gibbs as well has been out … of course, if we have another injury or two, we will struggle.
‘It’s risky. It’s too risky. Of course we have made enquiries and then you have a second handicap of who wants to sell their best players, especially a central defender, in the middle of the season. They say: “OK, come back in June or July and maybe yes.”
Arsenal have been linked with a move for West Ham defender Winston Reid this month, but Wenger remained tight-lipped on the prospect of any deal.
"I am not the only one working on the case. It’s not a supermarket where you go in and buy a defender,’ he said.
‘It’s a market that is very restricted, that players who can strengthen the best 10 teams in Europe, you don’t find many and it’s the same for everybody.
‘We are a big attraction, of course we are, but if it was easy we would do it.’