Mikel Arteta confirmed Arsenal have been actively wanting to usher in a striker earlier than Monday’s switch deadline however refused to debate experiences of a bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Strategies the Gunners had provided £60m for the England worldwide surfaced simply hours earlier than Villa’s crunch Champions League recreation with Celtic on Wednesday evening, a recreation by which Watkins scored and missed a penalty in a 4-2 win.
Requested about Arsenal’s curiosity within the former Brentford man as we speak, Arteta mentioned: “You realize I’m not going to speak about people. We’re actively seeking to try to discover options in that place and we’ll see what the market brings.”
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Arsenal have, for many of this time period, used Kai Havertz within the quantity 9 place though Gabriel Jesus did go on a goalscoring run as an out-and-out striker earlier than struggling a season-ending knee harm.
Many Arsenal followers wish to see the membership signal an skilled striker to spice up their title bid however Arteta refused to reveal the form of participant they’re making an attempt to recruit.
“We don’t actually have a look at the market in these phrases,” he added. “We have a look at what we now have within the squad, what we’re missing and who can deliver one thing that may probably make us a lot better.
“No matter age or the background they’ve is an actual perception {that a} participant might be actually good for us.”
Metropolis subsequent up for Arsenal
Arsenal face Manchester Metropolis on Sunday in a fixture that has in current seasons amounted to a conflict between the Premier League’s high two groups.
However Metropolis sit fourth presently after an underwhelming marketing campaign that featured a fiery 2-2 draw with Arsenal on the Etihad earlier within the season.
Requested concerning the relationship between the perimeters, Arteta mentioned: “Regular – it’s two groups making an attempt to win.”
Successful, he added: “Can be a giant enhance for us. Successful massive matches is all the time one thing particular. Each time we play a giant match towards our rivals, it brings one thing further.”
Raya fear for Gunners
The house facet could also be with out first-choice goalkeeper David Raya, who missed the midweek Champions League win at Girona on account of an unspecified harm.
Neto deputised however appeared nervous in an entirely unconvincing show.
“David we’re nonetheless unsure,” mentioned Arteta, who confirmed Ben White stays sidelined. “We’ve got one other session tomorrow. We’ve got 48 hours so we should see.”