Izuchukwu Okosi
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has poured water on the possibility of the north London side signing a striker in the January transfer window.
The Gunners lost several scoring chances especially in the first half despite numerous opportunities created as they lost 0-2 to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe defeat was Arsenal’s third defeat in all competitions on the bounce, scoring just one goal from an Expected Goals (xG) total of 6.47 across 270 minutes of football.
The quartet of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz were guilty of missing glit-edge goal scoring opportunities in the first half which they dominated.
In total, the 14-time winners of the competition had 18 shots, on goal with five of them hitting targets.
Liverpool however had a better second half as they became more assertive culminating in a Jakub Kiwior own goal via a wrong header from a corner kick and a late Luis Diaz brilliant effort into the roof of the net.
After the game, Arteta, was asked in his press conference if the club would buy a striker to put away the chances created as demanded by the supporters.
“At the moment it does not look realistic. What my job is, and what we have to do is improve our players and try to get better results with the players we have,” the former Arsenal captain responded.
“What I beg from the supporters is that they are behind the team like they have been in difficult moments. Stick behind the ones that we have. They are incredibly good.
“If not then they don’t do what they’ve done today and in Anfield. Stick by them. That’s exactly what they need. Then they feel important and supported. With their attitude they don’t deserve anything different. That’s my opinion.”
Forst choice striker Gabriel Jesus was ruled out of the game due to a minor knee injury with Arteta confirming that the Brazilian had undergone a minor medical correction.
Premier League clubs who have had to spend significant amounts of money in the previous transfer window are wary of running foul of the financial fair play rules in the current window.
Arsenal’s next Premier League is against Crystal Palace on January 20 when they return from a one-week warm weather training camp next week in Dubai.
Gabriel Jesus is expected to be part of the travelling party to the Gulf state.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
