Arsenal on the Hunt for Striker, Confirms Arteta

"My opinion is clear that we lost two very very important players, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus. So we lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the frontline, it's clear," Arteta said.

"It is clear that in the period that we lost them, ideally we need some help. We were short already and now we are even shorter. The team still copes with that."

Mikel Arteta has emphasized that Arsenal will only make signings that are "right for the club" as they remain "actively looking" to find the "right player" in the transfer market.

"Any player? No," Arteta clarified. "[It has to be] someone that makes us better and has an impact on the team."

The Gunners have been linked with RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha, but Arteta declined to comment on either player during his pre-match press conference. He also admitted there is no guarantee Arsenal will secure a forward in this window.

"It doesn't just depend on Arsenal, on me, or our will. It depends on the market and a lot of different factors," Arteta explained.

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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice recently suggested after the victory over Tottenham that he "would not be surprised" if the club pursued a striker in January. However, Arteta noted that his players have not directly told him they feel reinforcements are necessary.

"We have all been there; we all look at each other," Arteta said. "We’ve had very, very short numbers for many weeks, and they recognize the situation—we all do."

Arteta also revealed that he sometimes consults his players about potential signings, especially if they have previously played together, to gain insight into the character and qualities of a potential recruit.

"That's getting us away from the computer and what the data is saying and it is real," said the Spaniard.

"I have seen it, I sense it. A player can score a lot of goals, great. How does this player react when he hasn't scored for six or seven games?

"This is what I am interested in. Watch an interview with a player who hasn't scored for six games, and then what kind of goals does he score?

"Against which teams in which context? Is it first half or second half? Is it only with his right foot, only headers, only in open spaces? Does he like the physical contact of this league?

"There are a lot of things. So when you have a player that has spent a lot of days with him, that is really valuable information to have."