Archive photo of Mikel Arteta©AFP
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says it will be difficult to find January signings who can immediately improve his squad as they aim to end a five-year trophy drought. A lack of firepower was exposed last week as Arteta’s men lost 2-0 to Newcastle in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final first leg and drew 1-1 at Brighton, dealing a major blow to their Premier League title hopes. Adding to Arteta’s attacking problems, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is expected to be out until at least March after surgery for a hamstring injury. The Gunners are six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand, although they are well placed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
On Friday, Arteta dismissed suggestions he should add more advanced options to his squad over the next month.
“Bringing in bodies doesn’t help us all,” Arteta said ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third round match against Manchester United.
“It’s just someone who can have an immediate impact on our performance and can bring something to the table that we don’t have. Finding that in this market is very difficult to achieve.
“Circumstances (can) change because we have some injuries to some big players, so it’s always a possibility but it’s always someone who’s really going to make us a lot better.”
Arteta’s comments after the defeat to Newcastle that the ball used in the League Cup was “delicate” and “flew differently” to those used in the Premier League were widely mocked.
However, the Spaniard said his explanation for Arsenal’s missed chances against the Magpies was never intended as an excuse.
“It’s not an excuse, it’s a reality,” Arteta added. “Every pitch is different, weather conditions change in football, that’s the beauty of it.
“That’s it, we adapt to it, and I never use that as an excuse.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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