90min
·18 August 2024
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·18 August 2024
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed he is happy with his current striker options amid ongoing speculation over signing a new star forward.
The Gunners are widely expected to challenge for and perhaps even win the Premier League title this season after finishing second in each of the last two campaigns, pushing Manchester City to the brink twice.
Heading into the summer, Arsenal were expected to improve their options up front, either by signing a new starting centre forward or depth for the wings.
But to this point, they have only made additions in defensive areas. David Raya's move from Brentford was made permanent following his season-long loan, fellow goalkeeper Tommy Setford joined from Ajax as a youth prospect and versatile defender Riccardo Calafiori are the only incomings to date, while talks are ongoing with Real Sociedad over midfielder Mikel Merino.
Arsenal opened their 2024/25 campaign with a 2-0 win at home to Wolves, with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka picking up one goal and one assist each.
Speaking to talkSPORT post-match, Arteta hinted that he is willing to stick with what he's got in the final third rather than make drastic changes in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Havertz scored again for Arsenal / Visionhaus/GettyImages
"I have faith in [Havertz], we have faith in [Gabriel Jesus], Leandro [Trossard] has played in that position," Arteta said.
"So we have different qualities in there and the best thing we can do is trust the players that we have and try improve them.
"They are so good and so willing and that's what we focus on."
Arsenal have been linked with various strikers in recent months, including Napoli's Victor Osimhen, Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres and Brentford's Ivan Toney.
90min reported back in January that the Gunners were monitoring the development of Joshua Zirkzee when he was still at Bologna. He has since signed for Manchester United and scored the first goal of the Premier League season in a 1-0 win against Fulham on Friday.
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