Mikel Arteta says bringing in another player does not guarantee improvement, but conceded Arsenal could look to the transfer market if they find someone who could make an instant impact.
Arsenal scored their most goals in the Premier League in a calendar year since 1963 in 2024 (89).
However, in 2024-25, they have failed to score or only netted one goal in 13 of their 30 matches in all competitions so far and spurned numerous chances in their 2-0 loss to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.
With Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri both out injured, the onus will fall to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to get goals, with the former netting 12 times in all competitions so far this term, and the Brazilian adding a further seven.
Arsenal have spent significantly more on defenders and midfielders than forwards during Arteta’s tenure at the club, but the Spaniard says they will only dip into the transfer market if the right deal comes up.
“Circumstances change because we have certain injuries of some big players there’s always a possibility but always if we believe it’s somebody who really is going to make us better,” Arteta told a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United.
“Someone who can impact the team. Bringing in bodies doesn’t help at all it is just someone who can immediately impact on performance and bring something we don’t have. In this market, it is very difficult to achieve.
“In the front position in comparison to what other clubs have done and the spending that we have there, we are very far from it, for very different reasons.
“First of all, because we already have very good players and because we have many necessities in the squad to achieve in that period.”
Arsenal hold the record for the most FA Cup titles (14), winning their latest in Arteta’s first season in charge of the club.
However, they have been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third-round stage in two of the last three seasons, having fallen at this hurdle in just one of the previous 25 campaigns.
United have also eliminated Arsenal from the competition eight times, with Arteta acknowledging the risk the holders will pose on Sunday.
“Look at how they perform against the big teams,” Arteta said. “I know him [Ruben Amorim] well – I followed him in Portugal and there is a big reason why he is where he is at the moment.
“He deserves to be there. Every manager when he is appointed, it is for different reasons. Sometimes, it is to transform a football club.”
Arsenal do have a good record against the holders in the FA Cup, eliminating them on each of the last six occasions they have faced them, most recently beating Manchester City in the 2019-20 semi-final en route to winning the trophy.
“It’s a beautiful game to play against a massive club and they will bring lots of supporters,” Arteta added.
“The memory of winning something and sharing it with people is the ultimate goal.”
