Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has addressed the club’s need to sign a striker in the January transfer window after their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool yesterday.
The Gunners’ FA Cup campaign for the 2023/24 season came to an abrupt end last night thanks to an own goal from Jakub Kiwior and Luis Diaz’s last-minute strike.
Speaking after the game, via the club’s official website, Mikel Arteta refused to blame their lack of firepower for the defeat.
Arsenal once again controlled vast periods of the match yesterday and should have been three or four goals to the good in the first 20 minutes.
There were a host of wasted chances, with Reiss Nelson, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka among those who should have found the back of the net.
However, Liverpool eventually made them pay, and their name is in the hat for the fourth round tonight.
Latest Gabriel Jesus injury a big concern for Arsenal
As soon as the team sheet came out yesterday, Arsenal fans’ hearts would have sunk when Gabriel Jesus’s name wasn’t present.
The Brazilian was a fantastic signing last season, but injuries are beginning to become a regular feature of his time at the Emirates.
He was on the bench against Fulham during their latest Premier League defeat, although Eddie Nketiah failed to impress in his place.
However, both players were absent from the starting line-up yesterday with Havertz given the nod.
Jesus’s fitness concerns could be one reason why Arteta may be forced to sign a striker in January.
Arteta said after the match about his injury: “He had some pain in his knee, so we did a scan and it showed something.
“Hopefully it is not something big, it’s the same knee that he had [previously injured] so we cannot take any risks. Hopefully not [a big injury].”
Arteta doesn’t think signing striker in January is the answer
Asked if Jesus’s latest setback will see Arsenal make a move for a striker in January, Arteta responded: “One thing is what we need, one thing is what we can do as well, and what we need to do now is stay behind those players.
“Give them support, love, train them and make sure they visualise something very different to what is actually happening right now.
“They’ve done it, we’re not going to invent or reinvent the wheel because they have done it.”
It’s probably not the answer Arsenal fans wanted to hear, but after spending big money on Declan Rice, Havertz and Jurrien Timber in the summer, they might not have the funds available to bring in the level of striker required to sustain a title challenge.
Havertz was the man selected yesterday and although he linked play well at times and probably should have had an assist were it not for a mix-up between Gabriel and Saka, he was nowhere near clinical enough.
It’s not the reason Arteta signed him, but when selected ahead of Nketiah whose strongest asset is his finished, it’s always going to raise some questions.
Toney and Solanke speculation will only increase among Arsenal fans
Arteta may be downplaying Arsenal’s chances of signing a striker in January, but there are options available should they choose to move this month.
Ivan Toney is the main name being linked with a move to the Emirates and he scored a hat-trick in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the weekend ahead of his return from his ban.
His stock appears to have risen this season despite the fact he’s not kicked a ball in a competitive fixture.
The other name being suggested is Dominic Solanke, who is having a fantastic season with Bournemouth.
Ian Wright believes that the Gunners should go for the 26-year-old instead of Toney but the Cherries will be equally reluctant to sell their main striker this month.
Arsenal have a problem on their hands when it comes to scoring goals right now and Arteta needs to find a solution quickly before it completely derails their campaign.
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