Mikel Arteta warned he could "upset" Arsenal player with transfer decision

Mikel Arteta has been warned he risks “upsetting” Eddie Nketiah as Arsenal target a new striker in January.

The Gunners have been in imperious form this season, and are some five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

However, Arteta’s side are in the market for a new striker in January, after £45million summer signing Gabriel Jesus sustained an injury while with Brazil at the World Cup.

The 25-year-old’s understudy, Nketiah, has since stepped up to net four goals in the four games since the World Cup.

However, with just one fit No.9 available Arteta is likely to dip into the January market, to help the Gunners consolidate their title challenge.

David Seaman warns Mikel Arteta against signing striker

Arsenal legend warned Arteta against buying another striker if Jesus' injury is short-term, claiming that it could upset Nketiah.

The former Arsenal keeper told TalkSPORT: “The problem you’ve got is you don’t know how long Gabriel Jesus is going to be out for.

“If that is a shorter-term injury then no you don’t [need a replacement]. If it’s longer term then you’ve got to think about it because you don’t want Jesus and Nketiah being back at full fitness and then another striker is overload.

“Does that upset either striker? I’m sure it would upset Nketiah if he wasn’t getting game time.

“It is a difficult one and it all depends on the injury status of Jesus, how long is he going to be out for?”

Arteta hints at signing new striker

Nketiah scored twice on Monday’s 3-0 FA Cup win over Oxford United.

While Arteta praised the forward post-match, claiming he was getting better and better with each game, he also hinted the Gunners would try and sign another striker before the transfer window ends.

He said: “Eddie is getting better and better.

“But the problem is that we have only one striker and to cope for that many months until Gabby Jesus is back is not easy.

“We have to get the most out of the players that we have at the moment but it will be great if we can get some reinforcements.”

Topics: Football, Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Arteta, Transfers

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.