Mikel Arteta gives key update on Arsenal’s transfer stance as fans call for a striker to be signed in January

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given fans fresh insight into the team’s transfer strategy amid calls from supporters to sign a striker.

The Gunners are currently experiencing a major blip in the league which has seen them fall from top of the table at Christmas to fourth in the current Premier League table. Meanwhile the club’s dreams of winning the FA Cup also ended in disappointing fashion as the team suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool.

Arsenal were the dominant force in the FA Cup game in terms of XG, but failed to capitalise on a number of key opportunities in front of goal. Arsenal’s failure to capitalise in crucial moments has been an ongoing theme this season and the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah have all failed to find the net on a regular basis this term.

Throughout recent months, both fans and retired players such as Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville have all pointed to the striker position as the main area that needs to be improved if the team are to regain the title for the first time in two decades. The team’s current top scorer is Bukayo Saka with six - which is a long way behind the likes of Erling Haaland (14), Mohamed Salah (14) and Heung Min Son (12).

Sky Sports News has linked Arsenal with moves for various strikers including England attackers Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke, as well as former transfer target Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus. But Arteta’s recent interview will not come as pleasant reading to the Gunners faithful and the Spainard has recently admitted that talks of signing a striker are unrealistic.

Speaking after the defeat to Liverpool, he explained: "At the moment it doesn't look realistic. My job is to improve our players and get better results with the players we have."

When pushed on whether Arsenal will do any business in January, Arteta said in his post-match press conference: "One thing is what we need and another is what we can do. What we need to do now is stick behind those players, give them some love, train them and make sure they visualise something very different to what is actually happening now. They’ve done it. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel, because they’ve done it."

On fans demanding a striker signing, he added: "What I beg from the supporters is that they are behind the team. Stick behind the team, they are incredibly good. They deserve the support with their attitude."