Having played himself back into (some sort of) form with six goals at the turn of the year, the loss of the Brazil international, coupled with the long-term absence of Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri’s recent muscular problem, has left the Gunners threadbare in the final third.
As things stand, Arteta has little choice but to keep rotating three of four out-of-sorts attackers – Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling – at a crux moment of the season.
The Athletic reports that Arsenal are assessing foreign loan options while the names of former targets, including Benjamin Sesko and Dusan Vlahovic, have also had airtime.
“My answer doesn’t change, my answer remains the same,” replied the manager when asked if he is searching for a new central striker.
“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad and that’s been since day one.
“We’d be naive to not do that because there’s an opportunity always to evolve the team and improve the squad, especially in the circumstances we have. Yes, we are looking and trying. Let’s see what we’re able to do.”
Arteta also took a moment to clarify comments made after Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United where he suggested transfers, “the rest is not in our hands, in my hands.”
“Well, when you have to recruit a player, there are three parties [involved]. And you have to agree to that,” he explained.
“And we have our limitations as well, like any other club. So we can do what we can do. And we plan our squad and we have our limits to what we want to do. And that’s it.
“The fact that I love a lot our players doesn’t mean that we cannot think about improving. I’m not that stubborn. And we all want the same – that we use every opportunity to improve the squad daily.
“When the market comes in, we can do that to make sure that we have the best resources and the best capacities to compete in the manner that we want to.”
Pressed on whether the main target would be an out-and-out striker, he continued: “We have to believe that if we bring in something, it’s going to make us better. That’s in any position [not just strikers] because we have other issues as well.
“We need to understand that a player can bring a lot to the team in different ways, it’s not just about one, because nobody can guarantee you nothing. There’s no one player in the market that can guarantee coming in today and doing that.
“We’re going to hope and we’re going to believe and we’re going to try to work on somebody that we believe that he can do that. That’s what we are trying to do.”
Arteta also made clear that the departure of Sporting Director Edu in November hasn’t changed the role he plays when it comes to transfer decisions. The Spaniard has previously said that Jason Ayto, who has taken over from Edu on an interim basis, continues to lead a backroom team with plenty of experience.
“No, Jason completely filled it [Edu’s role] and obviously all the team that is behind it and the board that we are in constant communication,” he said.
“We continue to act in the same way, the same process that we had before and Jason is in charge of that.”
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