Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta addressed the ongoing speculation of a new striker during a press conference. Despite links to players like Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres, Arteta emphasized his confidence in the current squad.
“New number 9? It’s not a question that we’ve put to ourselves because we have some great strikers; Gabi Jesus is there, Kai has played there a lot of minutes, Leo has played there. We believe that we had other necessities as well and we fully trust our players, last year we scored the most goals in the history of this club. We want to get better, for sure, and we’ll try but we’ll try with the players already with us. Arteta stated
Arsenal’s summer transfer activity has been quite quiet. The Gunners signed Riccardo Calafiori from Serie A club Bologna and made David Raya’s loan deal from Brentford permanent. However, Arteta has not pursued major overhauls, given the team’s back-to-back second-place finishes in the Premier League.
One player Arteta has been targeting is Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino. According to Spanish outlet AS, Merino’s move to Arsenal is imminent. The 28-year-old, who played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, is set to join the Gunners in a matter of hours.
While Arsenal was one of Europe’s most prolific teams last season, Arteta remains content with his striking options. Despite injuries and form issues, players like Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus provide different qualities up front. Leandro Trossard has also featured in that position.
Arteta’s message is clear: “We trust the players we have and aim to improve them. Their willingness and commitment are what we focus on.”
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