London, Nov 11 (IANS): Under-fire Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be handed 20 million pounds in the January transfer window to help resurrect the English football club's faltering season.

According to Daily Mail, Wenger will prioritise bringing in a central defender in January.

Arsenal also have to think about signing a strong defensive midfielder with Mathieu Flamini failing to do the job.

Signing a centre back, though, is the most pressing issue, especially with the London club not replacing former captain and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen and the situation has been made worse by a string of injuries.

Spanish left-back Nacho Monreal has been made to play as a central defender thanks to injuries to French defenders Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny.

Arsenal's defensive frailties have been exposed in the past two matches. They inexplicably threw away a 3-0 lead against Belgian outfit Anderlecht with the Champions League match ending 3-3.

Then in the Premier League match against Swansea Sunday, Arsenal were again made to pay dearly for poor defence and tactics as they relinquished a 1-0 lead with 15 minutes left to finally lose 1-2.