Arsenal chief executive hints at January transfers but refuses to comment on Mkhaylo Mudryk links

Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham admits the club will back boss Mikel Arteta in the January transfer market but remained silent on their pursuit of Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Arteta is hoping to bolster his squad ahead of the Gunners’ push for Premier League glory with his side sitting five points clear at the top of the table.

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Arsenal have been in sensational form this season and look primed to win their first Premier League title since their Invincibles campaign in 2003/04.

The Spaniard knows all too well the threat second-placed Manchester City pose, having worked as Pep Guardiola's assistant with January reinforcements seen as a must to stave off their threat.

Venkatesham admitted the club have a ‘very clear plan’ in place and promised to back the Gunners boss if the right deal presents itself.

“We’ve got a very clear plan, headed up by [technical director] Edu, in terms of what we want to do to strengthen the squad,” Venkatesham told Sky Sports.

“Every transfer window of course, we’re going to look to see what opportunities are out there.

“If something makes sense from a technical perspective and a financial perspective, of course we’ll look at it but we’re happy with the squad that we’ve got.

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“We’ll have a look around like we do in every transfer window but we’ve got a long-term plan.”

Arsenal continue to track Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mudryk but Chelsea have registered their interest in the Ukraine international.

When quizzed on a potential deal for the 22-year-old Venkatesham said: “‘You know the answer I’m going to give you, we’re not going to talk about specific players.”

Arsenal are back in Premier League action this weekend when they make the short trip to Tottenham in the north London derby.

A win for Arteta’s side would hand them a league double over their bitter rivals – their first since the 2013/14 season.

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