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Arsenal boss Arteta refusing to budge on surprise No 1 January target after West Ham loss
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has made up his mind on who the Gunners need to bring in during the January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta bemoans Arsenal’s display in both boxes after home loss to West Ham
Arsenal's blank against West Ham highlighted more than ever why Mikel Arteta needs a fluent goalscorer. Yet his no. 1 attacking target in January is a player who has been setting them up rather than knocking them in this season. Pedro Neto of Wolves has long been admired by Arteta and in fairness he crept just into double figures last season.
This campaign, however, as the winger has struggled with injury, he has scored just once in the Premier campaign, while at the same time being responsible for seven assists.
That, though, is less of a problem for Arteta, whose players had 77 touches in the West Ham penalty area during Thursday night’s 2-0 defeat, making them the most dominant but goalless team in the Premier League since records began in 2008. Most fans therefore would like Arteta to sign a more central striker who is recognised as a goalscorer in his own right.
Ivan Toney was said to have been a target for Arsenal earlier in the year and is finally back from his ban after breaking gambling rules in a fortnight’s time but is understood not to be part of Arteta’s plans.
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One man who is craving attention is Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke who is already responsible for a dozen goals this season in the Premier League and ready for the big time after he flopped with his move to Liverpool as a teenager after winning the under-17 World Cup with England.
With a release clause of just £15m, Guinea international Serhou Guirassy would normally be hot property as the window opens up after scoring 17 Bundesliga goals for Stuttgart in 14 games this season.
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However, the imminent start of the Africa Cup of Nations means it could be the middle of February before the 27-year-old joins the title race.
Generally, though, Arteta is likely to rely on loan signings this window, if at all, with the defence a priority following injuries to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomaysu.
“We have managed three and a half months with some big injuries as well and that's credit to the boys, so I'm really happy with what they're doing. We can improve, yes, we want to evolve, yes, and that will be the target for the next coming games.”