Arteta Stresses Urgency for Arsenal Striker as January Transfer Deadline Looms

Mikel Arteta made it clear on Friday that Arsenal are actively searching for a new striker, admitting the team is facing challenges due to a shortage of attacking options as the January transfer window nears its end.

Injuries to key forwards like Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have intensified concerns about Arsenal’s goal-scoring ability, especially as they pursue Premier League leaders Liverpool. The Gunners are the only team in the top six without a player in double figures for goals — Kai Havertz is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with just eight goals.

Ahead of their weekend clash with struggling Wolves, Arteta addressed the need for reinforcements in the attacking department, stating:
“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.”

The Arsenal manager emphasized that the club is actively pursuing the right player but stressed that the team is not just looking for any addition. “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 on the team.”

Arteta also mentioned the difficulty of the situation, admitting that the squad is “very short” of attacking options but praising the team’s resilience. “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.”

With the transfer deadline closing at 23:00 GMT on February 3, Arsenal’s search for a striker intensifies.

Arteta reflected on his team’s progress this season, noting that they’ve improved since the start of the campaign. Despite their recent slip-ups, including a 2-0 lead lost against Aston Villa, Arteta believes his side is still a realistic title contender, aiming to close the six-point gap behind Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

“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.”