Mikel Arteta says bringing in a new player does not guarantee improvement, but admitted Arsenal could look to the transfer market if they find someone who can make an immediate impact.
Arsenal will score the most Premier League goals in a calendar year since 1963 in 2024 (89).
However, in the 2024–25 season they failed to score or scored just one goal in 13 of their 30 matches in all competitions to date, wasting numerous chances in their 2–0 defeat to Newcastle United in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final. on Tuesday.
With Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri both injured, the onus falls on Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to score goals. The former has scored 12 times in all competitions this season, with the Brazilian adding a further seven.
Arsenal have spent significantly more on defenders and midfielders than on strikers during Arteta's time at the club, but the Spaniard says they will only enter the transfer market if the right deal comes together.
“Circumstances change because we have certain injuries to some big players. There is always a possibility, but if we believe it is someone who will really make us better,” Arteta told a press conference ahead of Arsenal's FA Cup tie in the third round against Manchester United. .
“Someone who can influence the team. Bringing in bodies doesn't help at all, it's just someone who can immediately impact performance and bring something we don't have. In this market it is very difficult to achieve this.
“Compared to what other clubs have done and the expenditure we do there, we are far away from that, for very different reasons.
“First of all, because we already have very good players and because we have to achieve a lot of things in the team during that period.”
Arsenal hold the record for most FA Cup titles (14), winning the last in Arteta's first season in charge of the club.
However, they have been knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round in two of the past three seasons, having fallen at this hurdle in just one of the previous 25 campaigns.
United have also eliminated Arsenal from the competition eight times, with Arteta acknowledging the risk the holders will pose on Sunday.
“Look how they perform against the big teams,” Arteta said. “I know him [Ruben Amorim] Well, I followed him in Portugal and there's a big reason why he is where he is today.
“He deserves to be there. Every manager who is appointed has different reasons. Sometimes it is to transform a football club.”
Arsenal have a good record against the FA Cup holders, having eliminated them on each of the last six times they have played them, most recently beating Manchester City in the 2019/20 semi-final on their way to the winning the trophy.
“It's a great game to play against a huge club and they will bring a lot of supporters,” Arteta added.
“The memory of winning something and sharing it with people is the ultimate goal.”
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