Confirmed: Two signings being lined up by Arsenal

© John Walton/PA Wire

Unai Emery says Arsenal could recruit two players before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The Arsenal boss’ preference is for loan deals for players who can improve his squad, with Inter Milan’s Ivan Perisic and Denis Suarez of Barcelona linked with moves.

Emery, who would not be drawn on specific names, said: “This transfer (window) is not easy and the message is the club is working on different players and the possibility if it can be is good for us.

“We are looking at two different players and the possibility they can come.

“If they aren’t coming to help us like we want, I prefer they don’t come.”

Emery hinted his reluctance to recruit defensive reinforcements, despite injuries to Sokratis Papastathopoulos (ankle) and Laurent Koscielny (jaw).

The Spaniard added: “We have enough players, centre-backs in the squad. Only we’re having a lot of injuries and a lot in this position.

“If we can bring another player and when all the players want to play, we can have a lot of trouble in the future.”

Sokratis and Koscielny were injured in last Friday’s FA Cup loss to Manchester United.

Sokratis is expected to be out for “maybe two or three weeks,” Emery said, while Koscielny’s jaw is bruised, but not broken.

The Frenchman will miss Tuesday’s Premier League clash with Cardiff, but could be back for Sunday’s trip to champions Manchester City.