Mikel Arteta has expressed his relief at trimming an “unmanageable” Arsenal squad but added he is hopeful of negotiating a tough market to make additions before the January transfer window closes.

“We could not carry on with 31 players in the squad,” Arteta told a news conference on Thursday. “It is unmanageable. As well when you have to leave some of the foreign players out, it makes it even more difficult.

“To do it for a few weeks is okay, to do it for months and maintain the health, the ambition and the chemistry is really complicated. So, one of the main objectives was to make some decision of how we are going to offset that. We have done it. Just for me, the important thing is everybody feels involved, part, and that they have a chance.”