Arsenal were already considering signing a striker in the upcoming window, but Mikel Arteta’s comments on Nicolas Pepe’s absence from the squad only adds more fuel to the speculation
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Mikel Arteta’s warning to Nicolas Pepe is a clear indication that Arsenal will dip into the transfer market in January.
The Gunners’ issues in front of goal this season are well documented, having only scored 18 goals, fewer than Watford who are in 17th place just above the relegation zone.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang was consequently dropped for the north Londoners’ trip to Goodison on Monday night, but the same troubles were evident with Alexandre Lacazette taking his place as the visitors lost 2-1 to Everton.
Arsenal can’t create chances – they have taken 10 or fewer shots six times this season, which is 40% of the games they’ve played so far.
Lacazette was deprived of any quality service and was forced to drop deep to get the ball. He received seven passes in the first half, but just one was in the final third.
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Does Mikel Arteta need to sign a new striker in January? Comment below
The Gunners could have done with Nicolas Pepe on the pitch, but he was unexpectedly left out of the matchday squad.
The £72million signing from Lille has failed to live up to his hefty price tag since arriving at the Emirates, but this season he has found himself on the fringes of Arteta’s squad.
Eddie Nketiah, who has expressed his desire to leave the Emirates, has been preferred to the Ivorian in recent weeks.
Arsenal were already considering signing a striker in the upcoming window, but Arteta’s comments on Pepe’s absence only adds more fuel to the speculation.
The Spaniard explained his decision to bring Nketiah on against Everton.
He said: “Because I decided to play Eddie today. He created three chances and hit the post once in 25 minutes I think.”
When pushed on the decision, Arteta claimed that it was his performance in training that merited his place in the squad ahead of other players – suggesting Pepe has not been showing enough in training to be picked.
He added: “He does every day in training what you see him do here. Every single day. That’s why I picked him.”
Arteta revealed that Arsenal plan to add reinforcements in the upcoming window, but players could also be going in the other direction.
He added: “We are in discussions. We have talks every week about it, how we can improve the team, and what things can happen in the January transfer window that can affect our squad.
“As you know, we have certain players with a little bit of uncertainty in the summer so we have to plan what’s going to happen now and what’s going to happen in the summer.
“A lot has to be done, we know and we don’t expect big things to be happening, but we need to be very alert in the market to see if we can improve the team.
“We have to be prepared because things can happen and injuries can arise in this period of the season and you have to be prepared and planned.”
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