Mikel Arteta is uncertain about Arsenal’s chances of recruiting a striker in January due to their ongoing struggles in scoring goals.

Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, expressed his doubts about signing a new striker in the January transfer window. Following their disappointing exit from the FA Cup after a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, Arteta acknowledged that bringing in a new forward seems unlikely. Despite having 18 shots compared to Liverpool’s 12, Arsenal failed to convert their chances, ultimately leading to their downfall. Jakub Kiwior’s own goal in the 80th minute and Luiz Diaz’s late goal sealed the victory for the visitors.

This defeat marked Arsenal’s third consecutive loss, following a 2-0 defeat to West Ham and a 2-1 loss to Fulham. Despite dominating all three matches, the Gunners lacked the clinical edge needed to secure victories. In fact, they managed a total of 61 shots on goal across the three games but only managed to score once.

Despite calls from fans for Arsenal to sign a new striker in the winter transfer window, Arteta attempted to manage expectations. In his post-match press conference, he stated, “At the moment, it doesn’t look realistic. My job is to improve our players and get better results with the players we have.”

Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal’s main striker, was absent from the Liverpool match due to a knee injury. Arteta opted to play Kai Havertz as a central striker, but he failed to convert any of his six shots. Eddie Nketiah, Jesus’s usual deputy, only came on as a substitute in the 81st minute.

Arteta pleaded with the supporters to stand behind the team during these difficult moments. He emphasized the importance of supporting the current players, stating, “Stick behind the ones that we have. They are incredibly good. If not, then they don’t do what they’ve done today and in Anfield (when drawing 1-1 in the Premier League in December).” Arteta added, “Stick by them. That’s exactly what they need. Then they feel important and supported. With their attitude, they don’t deserve anything different. That’s my opinion.”

Arteta acknowledged the frustration of the situation but admitted that there is no easy solution. He said, “It is frustrating but what can we do? I can’t tell them, ‘Play bad, don’t shoot, and Liverpool is going to score an own goal and win the game.’ I don’t know how to create a game plan like this. It’s impossible.” He urged the team to continue their attacking efforts, stating, “So, stick by them. If we have 18 shots, then next time we need to have 35. If we continuously do that, the ball will go in the net, and we’ll generate momentum and win the games. That’s for sure.”

While Ivan Toney has been linked with a move to Arsenal in January, Brentford manager Thomas Frank recently stated that the club would only consider selling him for an “unbelievable price.”