Arsenal ‘don’t Need To Buy Any More Players’, Says Alan Smith

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

The Gunners brought in Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny for £5m from Basel last week in what is expected to be their only activity in the market this month.

Smith favours that strategy and 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.

Speaking on Sky Sports News HQ, 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 (Mesut) Ozil or (Alexis) 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.

While their former striker admits the Gunners perhaps threw away a victory in the 3-3 draw at Liverpool, he was pleased with the determination they showed to procure a 0-0 draw at Stoke.

And Smith feels that quality is one all champion teams have.

“I think those are two good draws at Liverpool and Stoke,” Smith added. “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 use 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.”

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