Arsenal is “actively looking” to bolster their team, Mikel Arteta revealed on Tuesday, adding that the team is “very worried” about Gabriel Jesus’ injury, after he reportedly tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
Jesus, a Brazilian attacker, was taken off the pitch during the first half of Sunday’s FA Cup third-round encounter against Manchester United. The Gunners lost on penalties.
Concerns about Arsenal’s lack of a goal-scoring threat have grown as a result of the injury and England striker Bukayo Saka’s prolonged absence.
Manager Arteta said Jesus’ injury was “not looking good at all” but the club would likely have a fuller picture after receiving more specialist advice later on Tuesday.
“I don’t want to confirm anything again until we have the final report this afternoon and I think it’s the doctor’s job to do that, but we were very worried straight away after the game and we are very worried today,” he said.
Arsenal are second in the Premier League table ahead of Tuesday’s matches, six points behind leaders Liverpool, but they have failed to win any of their past three games in all competitions.
The Gunners face an uphill battle to qualify for the League Cup final after a 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle and are out of the FA Cup.
Arsenal are the only club in the Premier League’s top six without a goalscorer in double figures — Kai Havertz has seven in the English top flight this season.
Arteta, whose team face Tottenham in Wednesday’s north London derby, was asked at his pre-match press conference whether the club were targeting a striker in the January transfer window.
“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad, and that’s been since day one,” said the Spaniard.
“We would be naive not to do that because it’s an opportunity always to evolve the team, to improve the squad, and especially with the circumstances that we have.
“So yes, we are looking and we are trying, and let’s see what we are able to do.”
