Alan Smith Says Arsenal Don't Need To Buy Any More Players

Former Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith says Arsenal do not need to make any new signings during the January transfer window because the current squad is capable of winning the Premier League.

Smith believes the return of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck from injury will mean Arsenal have a squad good enough to end a 12-year wait for the Premier League title. Smith said “Danny Welbeck is apparently only three weeks away and that will help them if he comes back in the kind of form he is capable of. Any manager would love to get in a world-class player to give the dressing room a lift, but it's so difficult and I don't think it's going to happen. I think they've got enough. They didn't have Ozil or Sanchez at Stoke and they were able to cope with that, and they're due back soon so they're not far off full strength".

Smith feels the key development in the Arsenal squad this season has not been the addition of an influential player, but rather an increase in the resilience the team has displayed. He admits the Gunners perhaps threw away victory in the 3-3 draw at Liverpool, but was pleased with the determination they showed to procure a 0-0 draw at Stoke. “I think those are two good draws at Liverpool and Stoke, I know they could have won it easily at Anfield but in years gone by, they would have lost that game at Stoke. They didn't used to be able to grind out those draws and wins in the difficult games. When they're not at the top of the game and not playing that lovely football that we're used to, they can get results. That's the stuff of champions and you've got to have that if you're going to win the league. That resilience will please Arsene Wenger” he said.