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Arsenal may be forced to change their transfer plans for January again, after one of their top targets sustained a potentially serious injury.
Mikel Arteta has remained coy on whether he’ll make any signings when the transfer window reopens in just over a week’s time, but fans believe a new forward should be a priority.
At times this season the Gunners have struggled to find the back of the net from open play, relying more and more on their proficiency from set-pieces, which has led to crucial points being dropped.
The north London side go into Christmas third in the table, six points behind title rivals Liverpool having played a game more.
Kai Havertz is their top goalscorer with 11 across all competitions, but Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Raheem Sterling have underperformed.
Gabriel Jesus has scored five goals in the last two games, both against Crystal Palace, but prior to that he had found the back of the net just twice in 2024.
Bukayo Saka has emerged as their main and most consistent goal threat, with nine goals and 13 assists so far, but the England winger has now been ruled out for ‘many weeks’ with a hamstring injury.
With Sterling also sidelined with a knee injury, there are concerns over whether Arteta can get his attack back on track amid increasing calls for Arsenal to sign a prolific centre-forward.
One name on their shortlist is Mateo Retegui who has been in sensational form since signing for Atalanta last summer in a deal worth around £23million.
The striker has bagged 14 goals and four assists in 25 games so far, firing his side to the top of the Serie A table, while he also played against the Gunners in the Champions League in September, notably having a penalty saved by David Raya.
Reports from Italy, via talkSPORT, say Arsenal and PSG have sent scouts to watch Retegui in recent games, with the former ramping up their interest as moves for Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres look unlikely.
Unfortunately, if Arteta did want to sign the 25-year-old in January he might have to put that plan on hold, as Retegui limped off with a muscle injury during Atalanta’s win over Empoli on Sunday.
It remains to be seen how serious the injury is, but Arsenal will likely cool their interest in the striker if he is not fit to play straight away, though it seems unlikely that Atalanta would be willing to sell such a crucial player midway through the season anyway.
Discussing his transfer plans for January, Arteta said on Monday: ‘The preparation is done and we are ready if something happens. Obviously we didn’t predict a situation with Bukayo and Raheem at the same time.
‘We predicted more it would be something else, for example if something happened in the defensive line, but the job is done. Then, okay, if something has to happen, we will be open.
‘But the main focus is now, how will we extract still a lot of potential that there is in this squad.’
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