- Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are both currently out with long-term injuries
- The Gunners’ form has stumbled in recent weeks and are out of the FA Cup
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why the Arsenal players will be laughing at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta aimed a thinly-veiled dig at the club’s board after reiterating the need to add more firepower in the transfer market this month.
The Gunners have been linked with a host of strikers in January and those calls have only intensified in the last few weeks following injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
A series of mixed displays in front of goal — most recently last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa — have seen Arsenal fall six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s match at Wolves, Arteta said: ‘My opinion is clear. We lost two very important players in Saka and Jesus. We lack goals, we lack people and we lack options. It’s clear.
‘If we can get the right player, that’s why we are actively looking at it (the market). Any player? No. Someone who makes us better. Ideally we need some help because we were very short already, and we’re even shorter now, but the team copes with that.’
Saka is not expected to be back until late March as he recovers from surgery on a hamstring, whereas Brazil forward Jesus faces months out after a knee operation. Arteta had remained upbeat until now over his lack of options up front, reserving praise for Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard despite fans criticising them.
Mikel Arteta discussed his side’s work in the transfer window during Friday’s press conference
Bukayo Saka is currently out with a hamstring injury and is not expected back until late March
William Saliba’s return to fitness is however imminent and he could even play at the weekend
Among the players linked with Arsenal is Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, who Arteta will get a look at on Saturday, but manager Vitor Pereira insists his star man is not for sale.
‘He’s my player and he’s not for sale. He’s committed to us,’ Pereira said of Cunha, who has 10 top-flight goals this season.
‘He’s never asked to leave the club. He wants to help the team, he wants to be with us.’
There was some good news for Arsenal supporters, as Arteta confirmed that defenders Myles Lewis-Skelly and William Saliba will be available for Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Girona and could play against Wolves.
Lewis-Skelly picked up a minor knee injury in the draw with Villa, three days after Saliba had sustained a hamstring issue against Tottenham.
‘With Myles there is nothing serious with the scan, so it’ll be a matter of today’s meeting with the medical staff and our training session,’ said Arteta.
‘We’ll see if it’s too early. With Willy (Saliba), it’s something similar. He’ll definitely be in for next week, but for this week let’s see how it goes.’
Ben White remains unavailable following knee surgery in November, but Arteta said the full back’s recovery had been ‘very good’, adding: ‘He hasn’t trained with the team yet but I think he’s very close. If all goes well and smoothly, he will be with us very soon.’
Arteta refused to talk about Cunha but said Arsenal must be wary of a revived Wolves side.
He warned: ‘It will be a tough match. They are a really good side. We will have to compete.’
