Arsenal have reportedly intensified their pursuit of a highly-rated forward following their penalty shootout loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
Despite holding a man advantage for most of the second half and extra time after Diogo Dalot’s red card in the 61st minute, Mikel Arteta’s team were eliminated from the competition.
Adding to the club’s woes, forward Gabriel Jesus was forced off the pitch 40 minutes into the game after suffering a knee injury that required him to be stretchered off. According to The Standard, Jesus will now undergo scans to assess the severity of the injury.
“Big worry, that’s my feeling,” Arteta said after the match. “He [Gabriel Jesus] had to come off on a stretcher with a lot of pain, touching his knee. It’s not looking good.”
This marks the latest in a series of significant injuries for Arsenal this season. Captain Martin Odegaard missed nearly two months after injuring his ankle in September, while Bukayo Saka sustained an injury during December’s 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace, ruling him out for “more than two months.” Saka, 23, is Arsenal’s joint-second-highest scorer this season, alongside Gabriel Martinelli, with five goals each. Kai Havertz leads the tally with seven goals but has faced criticism for his poor finishing, particularly after missing key chances against United.
These circumstances may push Arsenal to bolster their attack in the January transfer window. While Arteta is reportedly a fan of Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, the forward’s wage demands could be prohibitive.
Alternatively, the Gunners are showing “growing interest” in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, who has scored 32 goals in 30 appearances this season and is considered one of Europe’s most in-form forwards. However, securing Gyökeres in January would likely require a bid of £80 million, a sum Arsenal would prefer to spend in the summer, according to The Independent. Gyökeres, 26, has also been linked to Manchester United, having previously worked with Ruben Amorim at Sporting.
Another potential target is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško, who has netted 12 goals in 24 appearances this season. The 21-year-old was heavily linked to Arsenal in the summer of 2024 but reportedly hesitated to join due to concerns about being second choice to Havertz. Šeško’s contract includes a £55 million buyout clause, valid until 2029.
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