A determined Mikel Arteta is open to raiding the free agent marketplace for a striker in a bid to maintain Arsenal’s title hopes after Kai Havertz’s season-ending damage.
The Gunners’ ahead scenario has turn into so dire that even centre again William Saliba has jokingly supplied to play up entrance.
Havertz suffered a hamstring damage on Arsenal’s latest journey to Dubai, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
That leaves Arteta perilously brief in assault with simply three recognised attackers in Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri because the north London membership attempt to additional shut the hole on leaders Liverpool, who’re seven factors clear within the Premier League desk.
With the switch window closed, signing a free agent participant is the one method Arsenal might deliver a brand new signing in.
When requested concerning the risk, Arteta mentioned: ‘I am going to discover each potential scenario and decide from there.’
Mikel Arteta says that Arsenal’s damage disaster is so unhealthy he would take into account a free agent
Centre again William Saliba has supplied to play up entrance however his supervisor laughed off the concept
Kai Havertz is Arsenal’s prime scorer to date this season with 15 targets throughout all competitions
Among the many names accessible are ex-Chelsea man Diego Costa, Carlos Vela and Mariano Diaz.
The 36-year-old ex-Chelsea man Costa was infamous for his antics however scored 52 targets in 89 appearances for the Blues.
Ex-Gunner Vela, 35 was on the north London membership from 2005 to 2012. He left Los Angeles FC final month.
And Diaz, 31, who had two separate spells at Actual Madrid, is another choice.
The lack of Havertz is undoubtedly a significant blow. The German is Arsenal’s prime scorer to date this season having scored 15 targets throughout all competitions.
Although, Saliba’s response drew fun from his boss.
‘Willy is so humorous,’ he mentioned.
‘Immediately it was one in all his reactions. It’s true as nicely that he performed there (as a teenager). He used to attain lots of targets. However in all probability lots of gamers performed there once they have been youthful.
Bukayo Saka is on the highway to restoration however just isn’t anticipated to return for an additional eight weeks
Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa left Gremio in December and is out there as a free agent
Ex-Arsenal striker Carlos Vela, 35, who final performed for the Gunners in 2012, can be accessible
‘Are you able to think about (him as a goal man)?’
Arteta mentioned that Havertz sustained the damage after a set-piece in coaching however is assured his group can experience the storm after a sequence of accidents this season.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, who each have hamstring accidents, are out till not less than March and Gabriel Jesus is a long-term absentee with a knee damage.
‘He was going to cease a shot after a set-piece and stretched the leg and he felt his hamstring,’ he added.
‘The damage occurred in a really surprising method, definitely. So it is a massive blow, clearly, due to the accidents that now we have. However thankfully, we have been via lots this season.
‘We now have performed with out Gabriel Magalhaes, with out (William) Saliba, with out Ben White all season, (Takehiro) Tomiyasu all season, (Riccardo) Calafiori two months, (Mikel) Merino two months, Martin Odegaard two months, Bukayo Saka three months, Gabriel Jesus, all of them. In order that’s it.
‘That is the problem forward. Like it and look ahead as a result of we’re nonetheless the place we’re with all of the issues that I discussed on prime of taking part in 4 occasions with 10 males, blah, blah, blah. So let’s examine what the group is manufactured from.’
