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Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal transfer plan after Bukayo Saka injury blow

Mikel Arteta played down suggestions that Arsenal may be forced to go into the transfer market following the injury to Bukayo Saka.

The England international suffered a hamstring injury during the Gunners' 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday evening. Saka was withdrawn in the first half after undergoing treatment and was spotted leaving Selhurst Park on crutches as fears grew over the severity of the injury.

Arteta confirmed on Monday that Saka had suffered a torn hamstring and faces several weeks on the sidelines in recovery. Arsenal will face Ipswich Town on Friday evening in their next fixture, where much of the attention will be on how the Gunners will replace Saka during his injury lay-off.

Raheem Sterling will also be unavailable for Arsenal for the foreseeable with a knee injury he suffered during training last week. Arteta was asked about the possibility of the club using the January transfer window to strengthen their forward options after the injuries to Saka and Sterling.

"My intention right now is to get the best of what we have," Arteta told reporters on Monday.

With Saka and Sterling injured, Arsenal currently have Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard as their forward options. Arteta explained that he is already working on how to go forward with Saka unavailable for the weeks ahead with a busy schedule facing the Gunners boss.

"I’m putting some ideas together," said Arteta. "I haven’t got there yet, but I have a few. I want to speak with them as well and take it in a positive way.

"It means we’re going to be different. We went through the period with Martin [Odegaard] and the period with five, six defenders missing. We’re looking at it with positive energy."

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