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Arsenal have a limited number of recognised forwards, with only three players available as they try to maintain a title push. Mikel Arteta says he will ‘explore every possible situation’ to alleviate the crisis.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that William Saliba, the team’s central defender, has jokingly volunteered to fill in as a makeshift striker. This comes as Arsenal faces a severe striker crisis following Kai Havertz’s season-ending hamstring injury.
The Gunners are already without several key forwards, including Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel Martinelli. With just three recognized attackers—Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri—left to carry the attacking load, Arteta is considering all options to sustain Arsenal’s title hopes.
Arteta shared that Saliba’s offer drew laughter from the team, but it also highlighted the defender’s willingness to help out in any way he can. “Willy is so funny,” Arteta said. “Straight away it was one of his reactions. He used to score a lot of goals when he was younger.”
While converting a center-back into a striker might seem unconventional, Arteta is open to exploring every possible solution. The Arsenal manager is also considering signing a free agent striker to bolster the squad. Names like Diego Costa, Carlos Vela, and Mariano Diaz have been mentioned as potential options.
Despite the challenges, Arteta remains confident in his team’s ability to overcome the injury crisis. “We’ve been through a lot this season,” he said. “We have played without Gabriel Magalhaes, without William Saliba, without 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. That’s the challenge ahead.
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