Mikel Arteta says Arsenal's priority in the January transfer window is to trim their bloated squad as he seeks to build on a mini-revival at the Premier League club.
The Gunners were able to offload Emiliano Martinez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the summer window while Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira departed on loan.
But forgotten man Mesut Ozil remained at the Emirates along with Shkodran Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac, who have barely featured this campaign.
And defender was the first go when he joined German strugglers Schalke on loan for the rest of the season
Ozil, whose deal expires in summer 2021, has been left out of the Gunners' Premier League and Europa League squads this season.
Arsenal have been linked with a loan move for Real Madrid playmaker Isco next month, but first of all technical director Edu will attempt to raise funds by moving on those who are surplus to requirements.
"There are some players that are going to go on loan and going to leave and that is the priority at the moment," manager Arteta said ahead of Saturday's trip to West Brom.
"We cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions and we are looking to do that, and then we will see if we have the right opportunity in the positions where we need some more help."
The pressure on Arteta has eased after wins against Chelsea and Brighton lifted Arsenal to 13th in the Premier League table following a miserable run.
Bukayo Saka, who starred in the 1-0 win at Brighton on Tuesday, is expected to be fit for the match against Sam Allardyce's West Brom.
The teenager was forced off during the latter stages of the victory after a strong challenge, but should recover while David Luiz and Willian, who both tested negative for Covid-19 earlier this week, may return this weekend.
Allardyce this week called for a "circuit-breaker" in the Premier League as coronavirus cases spike in Britain but league bosses said the competition would continue as planned.
"All the protocols we have in place, everything we do around the training ground and matches, the fact that we play our game outside, it minimises the risk a lot," Arteta said.
"We're going to have more restrictions I think, we're going to have more tests to try to be as efficient as we were before and we will see. But I think it will work and I think we can carry on doing it."
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Gallery: Arsenal 3 Chelsea 1
