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Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal can win the Premier League title this season even if they do not sign a new striker this month.
The Gunners have finished second behind Manchester City for the past two seasons after falling horribly short. And Arteta’s men have again been accused of lacking the firepower to get them over the line this time.
Top scorer Kai Havertz has netted just seven times but Gabriel Jesus’ return to form has boosted Arsenal’s bid to close the six-point gap on Liverpool. Jesus’ hot streak has also eased the pressure on Arsenal to strengthen in January, despite urging Arteta to push the boat out to compete with the free-scoring leaders.
Arsenal manager Arteta says any new arrivals must be able to make an impact on the team and said: “I’m very happy with the players we have.
“When you look at how many goals we’ve scored as well, it’s more than enough to win the Premier League. But the reality is that someone does more. And that’s the reality of life so we have to do is better.
“Signing someone is not enough, that’s for sure. A signing has to score then how many goals? A lot of things have to happen. That market (January) is much more limited than in the same summer, but I don’t know.
“If there is something unusual in the market that we can afford and we think it will have a real impact on the team we must always be open to that possibility. At the moment, the focus on what we have.”
And much of that focus on Jesus will be renewed. Six goals in his last four games means the injured Bukayo Saka’s long-term absence with a torn hamstring has not been felt as keenly as first feared.
Arteta said: “When you are in that moment you want to keep playing. Gabriel has had a huge step up in load in recent weeks. We will have to try to control the players.”
In 2023, Arsenal signed Jorginho and Leandro Trossard but the sudden departure of sporting director Edu has not helped Arsenal to get new signings this time.
The Brazilian, alongside Arteta, was responsible for rebuilding Arsenal into title contenders with talent scout Jason Ayto stepping into the interim cut.
Arteta said: “I’m so used to doing things with Edu, but Jason was a big part of that team. If we panic it means we’re not ready, and a big thing is to prepare .We are ready if we have to do something, but we also know that we have a great squad with players available, we can compete with any team.”
Arsenal are two points up after 20 games compared to this stage of last season but cannot afford to slip before today’s trip to Brighton.
He said: “In the last year, we have been the best in the league and broken various records and not won a major trophy so something is missing.
“At the end we were so close and we need to flip that coin to the other side to make it happen and that will only happen if we do what we have to do and what we can control. The rest is out of our hands.”
