In the wake of the 4-1 win over Newcastle, Arsene Wenger says that a January purchase is on the cards to provide some defensive depth.

Having had to play Mathieu Debuchy at centre-half today, the need for another central defender is obvious. And with the post-game news that Laurent Koscielny is going to be out for ‘a couple of weeks’, the requirement is now pressing.

Asked by BBC Sport if he’d be active in the window when it opens, Wenger said, “Well yes, with Koscielny we’re a bit cautious and we need cover.”

It means the Frenchman will join Aaron Ramsey on the sidelines for next weekend’s trip to Anfield but the reassurance of a January signing is some small comfort in the meantime.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal manager praised his team after the win, saying, “We can score goals and overall it was a dynamic game. We were solid defensively and going forward always dangerous.

“The most important thing is that our fans go home happy because we won.”