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Published January 24, 2025 10:30am Updated January 24, 2025 10:30am
Mikel Arteta has dismissed the idea of sending Raheem Sterling back to Chelsea in order to sign another Premier League player on loan.
The Gunners are desperately short of attacking options following the serious injuries sustained by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.
While it is hoped the England winger will return before the end of the season, Jesus’ campaign is over after he underwent knee surgery earlier this week.
With Ethan Nwaneri having missed four games before making his comeback in midweek, Arteta has been overly reliant on the likes of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli in wide areas.
Sterling, meanwhile, has struggled to impress having been handed a number of opportunities in recent weeks and was again subdued in Wednesday’s 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb.
With goalkeeper Neto also on loan from Bournemouth, Arsenal won’t be able to recruit another Premier League player as a temporary solution to their attacking issues unless the Brazilian, or Sterling, are returned to their parent clubs ahead of schedule.
‘We are not thinking about that,’ said Arteta abruptly when it was put to him that either of Arsenal current loan deals could be cut short.
The Gunners have been linked with a number of forwards this month but the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Alexander Isak appear unlikely to move in January.
Matheus Cunha, meanwhile, has been inundated with offers and it is unknown what his preference might be amid interest from Chelsea, Spurs and Nottingham Forest.
Arteta insists he wants to bolster his options with Arsenal still in the running for the Premier League title and looking certain to reach the last 16 of the Champions League without the need for a play-off.
The Arsenal boss, however, conceded his club must work within certain limitations while any new recruit must meet certain criteria.
He said: ‘You have certain resources, the ability to recruit certain players, develop certain players, use certain players from the academy. It’s a balance of what we can do.
‘We lost two very important forwards, we have to get more goals into the team if we can do it, but the right one.
‘We lack goals, we lack people and we lack options. It’s clear.
‘If we can get the right player that’s why we are actively looking at it. Any player? No. Someone who makes us better. We need some help.’
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