Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed skepticism about the possibility of signing a striker in the January transfer window, acknowledging that the team's goal-scoring struggles have taken a psychological toll.
Following Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup third-round, Arteta emphasized that the club's goal-scoring issues, which have seen them score just once from 63 shots since Christmas, may be affecting the players mentally.
The Gunners had targeted Brentford's Ivan Toney, but with Brentford valuing him at around £80 million and being unwilling to sell mid-season, Arteta admits a move for a natural goal scorer this month is unlikely.
The recent defeat to Liverpool adds to Arsenal's challenges, as they have now won only one of their last seven games in all competitions, suffering three consecutive defeats. Arteta acknowledged the need for a reset and believes the upcoming break is timely for the team to regroup and address their performance. He expressed the importance of assessing the players' mental states during challenging moments and hopes to see their commitment in difficult times.
In terms of player availability, Gabriel Jesus missed the game against Liverpool due to a knee problem. Arteta expects the Brazilian striker to rejoin the squad for a mid-season training camp in Dubai ahead of Arsenal's next match against Crystal Palace on January 20. Arteta remains optimistic that the issue with Jesus's knee is not significant, emphasizing the need to avoid risks, particularly considering Jesus's previous knee injury.
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