Arsene Wenger says the team need to improve, and the January signings give them the chance to do so, but only if they can prove their quality on the pitch.

The manager spoke to beIN SPORTS after Arsenal’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. The loss leaves Wenger’s side eight points behind the top four, and the boss admits they need to show a lot more between now and the end of the campaign to catch up.

“We have to perform better,” Wenger admitted. “We have to show until the end of the season the complete hunger to win every single game. That’s what it is about for us.

“The players who came in, have they the quality to give us something special? Yes, but it is about [proving] that on the field.”

The interviewer then asked the manager if he thinks the squad is stronger now than on December 31st.

“Yes, but that’s all to prove now,” the 68-year-old responded. “I say ‘yes’ but we lost a game at Spurs 1-0, what is in front of us is what we have to show until the end of the season.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started their Arsenal careers in much the same way as Alexandre Lacazette did before them. Their first league starts brought them a win and a goal (or three assists in Mkhitaryan’s case). They followed that up with a 1-0 defeat away to grudge opposition in both cases.

Unfortunately, Arsenal don’t have time to waste on another six-month settling in period. They need their new signings to come in and get results now. The best way to sum that up is by pointing out Aubameyang’s next game is the League Cup final.

After that, the club welcome Manchester City to the Emirates in the league. Hopefully everyone is up to the task.