Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has emphasized that the Gunners are actively pursuing the acquisition of a striker, acknowledging that they “lack options” as the January transfer window approaches its conclusion.
Naija News reports that Arsenal faces Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, January 25.
However, the serious injuries sustained by forwards Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have heightened concerns regarding Arsenal’s goal-scoring capabilities as they aim to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Currently, Arsenal is the only team among the Premier League’s top six without a player who has scored in double figures, with Kai Havertz leading the team with eight goals in the league this season.
In light of this situation, Arsenal manager Arteta was questioned about the necessity for additional reinforcements prior to his team’s match against the struggling Wolves tomorrow.
“We lost two very, very important players, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus so we lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the front line. It’s clear,” AFP quoted Arteta acknowledging in a recent interview.
“If we can get the right player, that’s what we are actively looking at. Any player? No — someone that makes us better and has an impact in the team.”
“Ideally, we need some help because we were very short already and we’re even shorter but the team still copes with that. But we have to do what is right for the club.”
The transfer window will close at 23:00 GMT on February 3.
Arteta remarked that his team, which has been the runner-up to Manchester City for the last two seasons, has shown improvement since the beginning of the current campaign.
He is confident that they are genuine contenders for the title against Liverpool, who currently hold a six-point advantage at the top of the table with a game in hand.
In the previous weekend, Arne Slot’s team netted two goals during stoppage time to secure a victory over Brentford, whereas Arsenal allowed a 2-0 lead to slip away against Aston Villa.
“The margins are really, really small,” said Arteta.
“You could see how things could have gone last weekend and the turning points are minimal and the gap certainly looks very different.
“We have to be at it, we have to do what’s in our hands and there’s still a long, long way to go.”