Mikel Arteta confirms Gabriel Jesus injury changes Arsenal transfer plan

Feargal Brennan

Mikel Arteta confirms Gabriel Jesus injury changes Arsenal transfer plan image

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed his plan to sign a new striker before the Premier League transfer window closes on August 30.

The Gunners have already completed deals for David Raya and Riccardo Calafiori, as part of a summer squad rebuild, with Spanish international Mikel Merino expected to arrive in the coming days.

Arsenal have kicked off the new EPL season with successive 2-0 wins, as Leandro Trossard came off the bench to seal victory at Aston Villa this weekend.

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In the last two campaigns, are Arsenal have finished second to champions Manchester City, and they have also scored less EPL goals than Pep Guardiola's team.

That has led to calls of Arsenal needing an experienced striker to give them an edge in attack with Bukayo Saka topping their league tally with 16 goals last season.

Brazilian star Gabriel Jesus missed out against Villa through injury and his absence has triggered a change in stance from Arteta.

"We're really happy with the squad. It's true we had an issue with Gabriel Jesus and we missed him. We're a little bit short and if we can do something, we will", as per post-match quotes from the Daily Mirror.

Eddie Nketiah is expected to move on before the window closes, with Nottingham Forest closing in on a deal, but Arteta declined to indicate who his incoming target could be.

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.