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 in the past two seasons after falling agonizingly short. And Arteta's men have once again been accused of not having 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 to Liverpool. Jesus' hot streak has also reduced pressure on Arsenal to strengthen in January, despite Arteta being urged to push the boat out to compete with the free-scoring leaders.
Arsenal manager Arteta says any newcomer should be able to influence the team and said: “I am very happy with the players we have.
“If you look at the number of goals we've scored, that'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 better. “
“Signing someone is not enough, that's for sure. That signing has to score, how many goals? A lot still needs to be done. That market (January) is much more limited than in that one summer, but not me.” know.
“If there is something extraordinary on the market that we can afford and that we think will have a real impact on the team, we must always be open to that possibility. Right now the focus is on what we have. “
And much of that focus will be on the rejuvenated Jesus. Six goals in his last four games mean that the long absence of the injured Bukayo Saka with a torn hamstring is not as noticeable as initially feared.
Arteta said: “When you are at that moment you want to continue playing. Gabriel has had a huge tax increase in recent weeks. We will have to try to manage the players.”
In 2023, Arsenal signed Jorginho and Leandro Trossard, but Arsenal's search for new signings was not helped this time by the sudden departure of sporting director Edu.
The Brazilian, together with Arteta, was responsible for turning Arsenal into title contenders, with talent spotter Jason Ayto stepping into the breach on an interim basis.
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 are not prepared, and the most important thing is preparation. We are ready if we need to do something, but we also know that we have an excellent selection. With the players available we can compete with any team.”
Arsenal are two points better off after twenty games compared to this stage of last season, but cannot afford a misstep in the run-up to today's match against Brighton.
He said: “Over the last year we have been the best in the league, breaking several records and not winning a major trophy, so something is missing.
“At the end we were so close and all we have to do is toss 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 we don't have in hand.” .”
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