“Arsenal have no intention to change anything in their back four for the January transfer window. They are super happy with the players they have. Piero Hincapié can play as a centre-back, as a left-back; he’s a very important player for Mikel Arteta, and so I don’t see this one happening.”

Arsenal open to attacking addition in January

By contrast, Romano says Arteta and Co are keeping an open mind with regard to a potential addition of their own, and while January is a difficult month to negotiate top transfers, he insists a signing for the Gunners cannot be ruled out.

“I expect Arsenal to be opportunistic in the sense that, if there is the right opportunity on the market… we know January is never an easy market, and Arsenal’s mindset in the last four or five years has always been very clear: in January, either there is the right opportunity, or they prefer to wait.

“Arsenal want to be smart. If there is the right opportunity, especially in attack, Arsenal can make something happen, but it has to be the right player under the right conditions.

“A new signing up front is something that I would not rule out for Arsenal. I think it’s a possibility, but as of the 6th of November, we are not in a position to guarantee that Arsenal will sign a striker or will sign a forward, because this depends obviously on the opportunities.”

Indeed, we understand that bringing in another left-sided winger, as well as another striker, is something Arsenal continue to keep an open mind about.

As revealed earlier this week, the Gunners are weighing up a move for a mesmerising 82 G/A LaLiga winger, though his asking price makes a January deal extremely difficult to pull off.

Closer to home, sources can also reveal that two Bournemouth stars now feature very highly on Arsenal’s wishlist.

However, Arsenal have been warned about any temptation to cash in on Viktor Gyokeres, with his potential sale branded a big mistake.