MIKEL ARTETA says Gabriel Jesus’ long-term left knee injury pushed Arsenal’s January transfer plans to “another dimension”.
The Gunners — now desperately short in attack — are chasing Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko.
Arsenal are confident of securing a big SUMMER signing in £51million Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
But confirmation that Brazilian striker Jesus ruptured his ACL in Sunday’s FA Cup third-round shootout defeat to Manchester United has dealt a hammer blow to their title hopes.
Jesus, 27, faces missing most of 2025, while England winger Bukayo Saka is out until at least March with a hamstring surgery.
Boss Arteta said: “The news of Gabi takes the scenario to another dimension.
“We have lost two very creative, very important, very unpredictable players for us, so that has an impact on the team.
“We are actively looking in the market to improve the squad. It would be naive not to.
“But there is not one player can guarantee they come in today and perform.
“We’re going to hope, to believe, and we’ll try to get somebody. We have very clear ideas of the players we want.”
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Arsenal revealed Jesus will have surgery “in the coming days”.
But Arteta is on the verge of signing Spain ace Zubimendi, 25, who Arsenal courted for a year and who came close to joining Liverpool last summer.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Arsenal could turn to Tierney as Arteta hints at January transfer spree ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6365844732112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]It is understood the club triggered his £51m release clause, with talks at an advanced stage.
Arsenal whiz Ethan Nwaneri, 17, is healing “very, very fast” from a hamstring strain, with Jurrien Timber and Jorginho both fit to face Tottenham tonight.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D102794%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]Arteta also hinted at another mid-season trip to Dubai — after last term’s Middle East break helped revive the Gunners’ form.