What do Arsenal need to do in January to seriously challenge for trophies?

As is often the case when the Carabao Cup rolls around, Premier League teams like to mix up the pack.

Mikel Arteta did that for Wednesday’s visit from Brighton – and he learned pretty quickly just how little depth Arsenal have to rely on.

Ten changes were made from the start, with centre-back William Saliba the only survivor from the weekend’s win against Chelsea.

Goalkeeper Karl Hein was on for his debut, Marquinhos and Reiss Nelson were on the wing and Eddie Nketiah led the line in place of Gabriel Jesus.

It did not work. Arsenal lost – convincingly. The 3-1 defeat has removed another shot at silverware and has pushed Arteta to accept that outside of his starting line-up, who are top of the Premier League right now, a lack of depth is the cloud hanging over their season.

“That’s the squad we have,” he replied when asked if the result showed the need to spend in the transfer market.

– We have to take advantage in the best possible way and today we fell short, especially because we didn’t do what we have to do in both boxes to win a football match. We paid that price.

– It’s the same squad as when we win. I said from day one that we have a short squad because at the end we left some players. That’s what we have.

– We also know that we have some injuries, and the squad is very, very short. We have tried to handle that in the best possible situation.

“It’s the same when we win a football game so no excuses.”

Arteta is not the only one with concerns either.

Gary Neville is absolutely convinced that Arsenal are unable to maintain their form from the start of the season.

The one thing Arsenal have proven in recent years is that they crumble at the end of the season, until I see they don’t I’ll still have my doubts. Why should I not? Neville insisted on the overlap.

“Manchester City will win the Premier League by 10-15 points this season.

“I’ve seen it before when you have a team that’s that exceptional, we had that a few times with Manchester United when I was playing, where you just know a team just doesn’t have it in them to go all the way to challenge the top team. ‘

For Arsenal, it seems, it will be all about keeping their starters fit and investing in January if they are to remain with a legitimate chance of deposing Manchester City.

The defeat to Brighton was just the latest reminder that the 10 players drafted into the side all missed their targets to impress.

With all this in mind, Sportsmail have broken down the Gunners’ squad and look at the key areas they need to address if they are to rise to the challenge.

GOAL GETTER

Aaron Ramsdale – Matt Turner – Karl Hein

Not that there was much chance of Hein seriously claiming the shirt but sending three against Brighton was hardly ideal.

Ramsdale is pushing Jordan Pickford to eventually become England’s No.1 and so he is real quality for Arsenal to build a team with.

But back-up goaltending is always a tricky position to get top-tier protection for.

Any good goalkeeper will have options to be number one somewhere and not since Sergio Romero fell to the Manchester United bench has a number two had as strong an argument as a number one.

Better quality protection for Ramsdale would be nice but it is far from the priority this season.

DEFENDER

Kieran Tierney – Cedric Soares – Oleksandr Zinchenko – Takehiro Tomiyasu – Ben White – Gabriel – William Saliba – Rob Holding – Lino Sousa

Tierney and Zinchenko battling it out at left-back are the kind of headaches Arteta would love to have throughout his squad.

Both are starting caliber players and that means the competition is always fierce on that side.

The concern is the central defense and while Saliba starred against Brighton, Rob Holding’s display will have done little to ease Arteta’s nerves should anything happen to Gabriel Magalhaes.

Ben White’s versatility means he can be moved inside – he has played a bit at right-back – and Takehiro Tomiyasu can also do a job inside.

Given the board sanctioned £50m on White, it remains to be seen whether they would dip back in for another top-shelf centre-back.

Cedric Soares’ right-back should also raise the alarm. It is the weakest area in their backline. Well worth exploring a new slope in January.

Midfielder

Thomas Partey – Mohamed Elneny – Sambi Lokonga – Martin Odegaard – Granit Xhaka – Fabio Vieira – Emile Smith Rowe – Bukayo Saka – Matt Smith – Amario Cozier-Duberry – Ethan Nwaneri – Catalin Cirjan – Bradley Ibrahim

There are a few cornerstones of the team in this department; a couple of Arteta non-negotiables.

There is no one in the squad who can provide the kind of screen and defensive cover that Thomas Partey can for this side and while Mohamed Elneny is a fine rotational piece, having to use him in a title race would prove problematic.

The midfield problem is more the lack of shield protection than creativity.

Arteta worked in the summer to spread around the creation responsibilities and the arrival of Fabio Vieira is a boost, should something happen to Martin Odegaard.

Emile Smith Rowe has become something of a forgotten man this season after impressing in a number of big moments in 2021-22.

The fact that his level of quality remains in reserve is a testament to what Arsenal are building.

Better use of money than another creative playmaker – but quality protection for Partey should be prioritized.

FORWARD

Gabriel Martinelli – Gabriel Jesus – Eddie Nketiah – Marquinhos – Reiss Nelson – Khayon Edwards

Now we’re in a sticky spot.

Neither Gabriel Martinelli nor Gabriel Jesus played against Brighton. And it turned out.

Eddie Nketiah scored but as a front three it just didn’t work and that is the biggest concern.

City look to have a diamond in Julian Alvarez, and he’s playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland right now.

Others, such as Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden or Bernardo Silva, have had spells on the bench and they are having game-changing effects for Man City.

Arsenal simply cannot look down their bench and find many game-changers – they are not there.

Jesus is playing well without adding the goals he needs, Martinelli has been electric but outside of that there are issues and attacking reinforcements should be front and center in Arsenal’s January window.