Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal to sign Danny Welbeck replacement in January? Unai Emery discusses transfer plans
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery has ruled out signing a new striker in the January transfer window.
Emery currently only has two out-and-out frontmen, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, at his disposal following Danny Welbeck’s horrific injury midweek.
The England international badly damaged his ankle injury in the Gunners' 0-0 draw with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday after trapping his foot in the turf.
Welbeck is expected to be on the sidelines for the next four months, an absence which has further heaped the pressure on Aubameyang and Lacazette.
Emery is well aware of his current conundrum but won’t scour the market in January to remedy his problem.
“The first [choice] is to look inside, and we have one striker also who is working well with the under-23s and is improving also, Eddie Nketiah, and he could have chances," the Spaniard said.
“But I think it's early for speaking about the possibility [of making signings] in January.”
Nketiah made 10 appearances for the north Londoners last season, scoring three goals.
The England under-20 international has found the back of the net six times for Arsenal’s under-23 side this season but has yet to feature for the first team this campaign.
The first [choice] is to look inside, and we have one striker also who is working well with the under-23s and is improving also, Eddie Nketiah
Emery’s troops return to action later today when they welcome Wolves to the Emirates.
Arsenal go into the match unbeaten in their last 15 games, a run of form which midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has put down to Emery changing the ‘culture’ at the club.
“It is not that a big thing has changed, it is only the fact of the manager,” said Mkhitaryan. “But as well the culture changed a bit in the club and as well outside the club.
“Now people are believing more in ourselves because we are playing a bit differently, we are giving them confidence and playing the way they want us to play.
“We are scoring goals, winning games and it is the best feeling for the supporters.”
When asked what in particular Emery has changed, the Armenia international added: “The playing style, the playing philosophy.
“Not a lot but he has just built on the base Arsene Wenger has built in 22 years. The players have accepted all the conditions.
“Everything is what Emery is expecting and asking from us.”