Mikel Arteta knows Arsenal must bolster their attacking options this summer
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Mikel Arteta has reiterated his desire for Arsenal to bolster their attack this summer - but he admits strikers are hardest the players to sign in the current transfer market.
Arsenal were on the hunt for a new No9 during the January transfer window and they had a £40million bid rejected for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
The Gunners are still chasing a new forward and hold an interest in Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
Arteta has given his backing to his current attacking options and believes a lack of goals this season is partly down to injuries.
But the Spaniard has also stressed that he would like to sign a new striker after failing to do so in January.
“Do I have to make it more clear? In January it was clear or not?” said Arteta.
“I told you because you were in the room I think many times and it was a very clear statement. The statement continues the same.
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“I want the best team, the best player. If we have three goalscorers over 25, bring them in and we’re going to be a much better team.
“I think if you score over 90 goals you have a high, high probability of winning the Premier League.
“It doesn’t guarantee you, but you have a high probability if your defensive record is very good as well and very dependable as well against who and in which moment this striker, this winger in this case, has scored the goals and how many points is he contributing with his goals as well.”
I want the best team, the best player. If we have three goalscorers over 25, bring them in and we’re going to be a much better team
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal have been looking for a new striker during each of the past two transfer windows and Arteta has pointed out how there is a lack of No9s on the market.
And asked if it is the hardest position to recruit in, he said: “Probably, because there’s not that many that put those numbers. It’s something that’s in the stats, there are not that many in the Premier League.
“We will try to improve but certainly improve the ones that we have right now and love the ones that we have right now.
“Especially after losing, it’s too easy to just go and look elsewhere and don’t use the moment to judge players especially.
“Because, I was asked a lot of questions about certain players in this room, always in certain moments.
“But when other players have outperformed other players that we were discussing, I have zero questions in the last 11 months.
“It’s all relative to the context, to the moment and the narrative that you want to generate. I understand that.”
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Mikel Arteta
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