Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus is set to miss an extended period of time with an ACL injury.

Arsenal may decide to look into the overseas loan market as they aim to strengthen their squad following a big injury to striker Gabriel Jesus.

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the Brazilian has suffered an ACL injury after being forced off during the Gunners’ FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. He is now set to miss at least the remainder of the season, which is a big blow for Mikel Arteta. There has been much discussion surrounding whether Arsenal should sign a striker, and it has now intensified now that the Gunners’ only centre forward is Kai Havertz.

The German had an impressive start to the season but has struggled more recently, he’s scored seven goals in 17 Premier League matches. Following Jesus’ injury, it looks more likely that Arsenal will want to bring in a goal-scorer, but, due to the difficulty of bringing top players in during the January window, the loan market may become Arsenal’s saviour.

According to Ornstein, Arsenal are prepared to spend this month, but could also look overseas, to bring in loan players. Ornstein wrote in The Athletic’s Transfer DealSheet: “They [Arsenal] could look abroad for temporary solutions and are understood to be doing so. Despite permanent deals being more complicated and therefore less probable, the possibility should not be totally discounted if the value is deemed fair and achievable or a plan for the next market can be brought forward.”

However, despite the recent injury to Jesus, Ornstein is certain that the Gunners are still planning on getting the most out of their current squad.

Arsenal’s current injury crisis

Not only is Jesus set to miss the remainder of the season, but star winger Bukayo Saka remains out injured with a hamstring issue that he suffered during Arsenal’s 5-1 win against Crystal Palace before Christmas. The England international will likely be on the sidelines until late March at the earliest, which is a huge blow for Arteta, missing arguably his best player as they aim to catch Liverpool in the title race.

Saka has scored five goals and 10 assists in 16 Premier League matches so far this season; his attacking ability has been and will be missed, meaning that the Gunners could also look to sign a winger in January. They have been linked with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams amongst many, who has a £48m release clause, so the Gunners could sign him without opposition from the La Liga club this month.

Any Arsenal loan will have to be from abroad

Arsenal already have two loan players from the Premier League, in the form of Chelsea man Raheem Sterling and Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto. That means that they already have their two Premier League loan spots taken up, meaning that unless they terminate one of the two loan deals, then they won’t be able to sign a fellow Premier League player on loan this month.

Due to that, if Arteta wants to find a replacement for Jesus in the loan market, he will have to look abroad to the likes of the Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga in order to find an adequate replacement.

Addressing the club’s transfer plans, Arteta said on Tuesday ahead of the North London derby with Arsenal: "My answer doesn’t change. We are actively looking into the market to improve the squad. We always have been. It would be naïve not too. We are looking and we are trying, so let’s see what we can do. To recruit a player there are three parties who have to agree to that. The fact I love my players doesn’t mean we can’t think about improving. We do daily and when the market comes around we have to make sure we have the best resources and capacity to compete the way that we want to."