Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed serious concern on Tuesday regarding an injury to Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, revealing that the club is “actively looking” to improve its squad during the January transfer window. The injury to Jesus, who is feared to have ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, occurred during the first half of Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round match against Manchester United on Sunday, which ended in a penalty shootout defeat for the Gunners.
Arteta stated that the injury to Jesus was “not looking good at all,” and while the club awaited further specialist reports, they were deeply concerned about the situation. “We were very worried straight away after the game and we are very worried today,” Arteta added, highlighting the gravity of the injury. The forward is a key figure in the Arsenal attack, and with the extended absence of Bukayo Saka, concerns over the team’s goal-scoring ability have grown.
The injury adds to an already challenging period for Arsenal, who are second in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool. Despite their strong position in the league, Arsenal have failed to win any of their last three matches in all competitions. They also face an uphill battle to reach the League Cup final after a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle and have already been knocked out of the FA Cup.
As the only club in the Premier League’s top six without a goalscorer in double figures, with Kai Havertz leading Arsenal’s tally at seven goals in the league, Arteta has acknowledged the need for reinforcements. When asked whether the club was targeting a striker in the current transfer window, Arteta confirmed, “We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, and that’s been since day one.”
He emphasized that, given the circumstances, it would be “naive” not to explore opportunities to strengthen the squad. “It’s always an opportunity to evolve the team,” he added. Arsenal’s efforts to secure a forward are now even more pressing as they navigate through a series of challenging fixtures, starting with a North London derby against Tottenham on Wednesday. Arteta’s team will be hoping to bolster their attacking options in the wake of their current struggles.
