Arsenal

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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There are reports Arsenal are interested in Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

The Daily Mail have reported that the Gunners will land Zubimendi at the end of the season.

When approached, the Gunners would not comment on any deal or speculation surrounding a move for the 25-year-old.

The midfielder turned down a move to Liverpool in the summer after he was part of the Spain side that won Euro 2024.

Arsenal have been hit with a number of injuries this season and are currently without Bukayo Saka, who has a long-term hamstring problem, Ben White and Gabriel Jesus, who has an ACL injury.

They were also without captain Martin Odegaard for two months with an ankle injury.

Midfielders Jorginho and Thomas Partey are out of contract at the end of the campaign and the Gunners will need to strengthen the position if they do not offer the pair new deals.

Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 25, in a £51m summer deal. (Mail, external)

Meanwhile, Gunners midfielder Jorginho, whose contract expires in the summer, is a target for Brazilian club Flamengo. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your views on who is a realistic striker Arsenal could target.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: Matheus Cunha. One of the most skilful players on the planet, but most importantly for Arsenal, also one of the most fast, decisive and unpredictable [in a good way ie. difficult to defend against]. Would allow Arsenal to tweak their pattern of play rather than the cumbersome change a traditional number nine would require.

Knox: It was not long ago that fans, media and pundits were lauding Arsenal. The free-flowing football, goals galore, set-piece masters etc etc. Hit a bit of a dodgy patch and all hell breaks loose..

Mark: So-called fans are too influenced by the narrative the media spins. Arsenal played well and will give a team a spanking playing like that sooner rather than later. Let's hope it's Spurs in the north London derby. Practically, if the injury to Jesus is a season-ender then we'll need to try to bring in a striker on loan as can't see the ultimate forward we want be available in January. Jonathan David for a small fee from Lille would be a good deal but I'd love to see us bring in Kyogo from Celtic and help Tierney return to his boyhood club as part of the deal. Kyogo can play anywhere across the front three and is so sharp and would fit into our style of play superbly. Would still leave us open to bring in that expensive number nine in the summer.

Chris: Arsenal need a proper striker. Liverpool's Darwin Nunez is available and he would fit the Arsenal system better than he fits Liverpool's. Go and get Darwin, Mikel!

Gabriel: Obviously, first choice would be Isak. If we're talking a budget pick, I'd go for Dusan Vlahovic. Absolute powerhouse in the air and great finishing. Could be exactly what we need up top.

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Arsenal have won six of their past eight Premier League games against Spurs and are looking to win three consecutive league games against them for the first time since January 1989 (a run of five).

Spurs have won just one of their past 31 Premier League away games against the Gunners (D12 L18) and are winless in 13 since a 3-2 victory in November 2010.

Laura Kirk-Francis
Fan writer

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Last week, I said that January could make or break Arsenal's season. Off the back of two consecutive home losses, it looks depressingly like the latter.

These results have underlined a frustrating trend of underwhelming cup performances under Mikel Arteta, and have significantly added to the growing unease among fans.

The fanbase is now at odds over where to lay the blame. This team does not look markedly different from last season, where the same personnel produced a record-breaking campaign.

Fundamentally, Arteta isn't the one fluffing chances and missing penalties - it is more a story of individuals underdelivering compared with what we know they are capable of.

The players are the same, the performances are not.

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Critics of Arteta, though, will point to his failure to strengthen Arsenal's attacking line in recent transfer windows. The vocal 'Arteta out' brigade are revising the previous seasons' successes as either luck, or a dramatic overachievement that actually just masked fundamental issues with Arsenal's squad.

I have a different view. I would argue that Arteta's decision-making has been clouded by the hot-hand fallacy - the belief that being successful previously is a predictor of future success.

For example, believing that Kai Havertz's turnaround last season could and would occur again this season.

That misplaced faith, which I think is a symptom of inexperience, rather than arrogance or stubbornness, has left the team ill-equipped to handle fluctuations in form.

Basically, the hot-hand fallacy leads to the repetition of things that have worked in the past but may no longer be right for the present - and this could not be more true of Arsenal in January. We didn't need a plan B last year, which is why we don't have one this year.

Now, our attention turns to Wednesday's north London derby - with a significant level of dread.

Win, and Arsenal will at least stop the rot. But if Tottenham leave the Emirates with three points, there will be absolutely no hiding place for Arteta.

Find more from Laura Kirk-Francis at the Latte Firm podcast, external

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Arsenal fear that forward Gabriel Jesus has suffered an ACL injury after he was stretchered off in defeat by Manchester United.

Manager Mikel Arteta said the injury was "not looking good at all" and he was "worried" about its extent.

"We need to review one more specialist. I don't want to confirm anything until we have the final report this afternoon," said Arteta on Tuesday.

"It's the doctor's job to do that. But we were very worried after the game and we are very worried today."

The Arsenal boss also confirmed the club were "actively looking" at signing options this month given key forward Bukayo Saka is out until March and 17-year-old forward Ethan Nwaneri is also sidelined.

"It would be naive not to do that because there is always an opportunity to evolve the team and improve the squad, so yes, we are looking and let's see what we are able to do," he said.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Arsenal do not necessarily need a number nine to win the title but they "need a greater contribution from all over the team".

He believes discussion around the Gunners' lack of goals from open play and their decision to neither buy nor play with a traditional number nine is nothing new, but "last season Arsenal found goals from all areas of the team."

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "Is this just a little bit of an overreaction because Arsenal have gone out of the FA Cup?

"In terms of goalscoring then Kai Havertz's numbers are similar to at this stage last season but there are other areas of the team that have not contributed as much.

"They lost Martin Odegaard for a spell and now Bukayo Saka - so I am not going to write Arsenal off at this stage."

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Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's north London derby against Tottenham in the Premier League (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Gabriel Jesus' knee injury is "not looking good at all" and they are "very worried" before further medical tests later on Tuesday.

• On whether there is a greater need to tap into the transfer market with Jesus' injury: "We are actively looking into the market to improve the squad. We always have been. It would be naive not too. We are looking and we are trying, so let's see what we can do."

• In response to needing a number nine: "We have to believe that something will make us better. Not just in that position as we have other issues."

• Jurrien Timber and Jorginho are "fine" and were just suffering with cramp at the end of Sunday's FA Cup extra time against Manchester United.

• Riccardo Calafiori "needs another day or two" but they will assess him further later on Tuesday.

• Arteta said they "have to embrace the challenge, get the best out of it and be creative" after losing "important players in crucial moments".

• On losing their home record: "It was a long period and it was something that gave us so much confidence. The manner we lost those two games is painful."

• Arteta said the north London derby "is the nicest game of the season to watch and play because of the atmosphere and what it means to the people - us and everyone that is involved".

• On the abuse Kai Havertz and his wife have endured since Sunday's FA Cup defeat: "It is incredible, honestly. We really have to do something about it because accepting it has terrible consequences. It is something we have to eradicate in the game. It is dependent on action."

• More on the issue: "On 27 December we win 1-0. Havertz scores a goal and the whole stadium is singing his song. That was just 20 days ago, so where is the perspective? We are all responsible for the narrative and we cannot look somewhere else. It is a really serious matter. The line has to be drawn. It cannot happen. That is what we should aim for."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of the north London derby on BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday

There has been a lot of talk about Arsenal's continued need for a goalscorer over the past few days after they against spurned numerous big chances in Sunday's FA Cup defeat by Manchester United.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Rory Smith of The New York Times looked at possible additions and how they would fit into Mikel Arteta's side.

"Matheus Cunha will occupy different positions to Ollie Watkins, and he'll require a different type of service to Ollie Watkins," he said.

"Havertz can play as a nine. He's not a bad striker at all - he scored a winning goal in a Champions League final - but he does want to be involved in the play because he came through as a midfielder and that's the system he grew up with.

"That is very different to having Viktor Gyokeres up front, who is an on-the-shoulder, quick, complete striker. Gyokeres does not want to be dropping into midfield picking the ball up and linking play.

"All these players are different and would have different impacts on the team. They're also incredibly expensive.

"I think Alexander Isak is not possible really - Newcastle, I think, would want £120m.

"Gyokeres would be £100m. You're taking a massive gamble, and you're taking a massive gamble for huge amounts of money.

"You're asking a club to take a risk with the way they play, a way they've played which has served them really well throughout Arteta's reign, on a huge amount of money with very little absolute certainty it'll work.

"I can see why Arsenal have not been prepared to do that."

What do you think, Arsenal fans? Bearing in mind the cost, who is a realistic striker the Gunners could target? Let us know here

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott believes the Gunners have "lost the hunger of opening up teams" and that if they still had Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in their team, they would have beaten Manchester United on Sunday.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Walcott said: "There's a lot of concerns in the Arsenal set-up.

"They just can't open up teams. They've played Manchester United, who from the 60th minute had 10 men. When you have that much of the ball, you need to open up teams.

"They've had their chances, but this is where the striker debate comes in because strikers do something out of the ordinary.

"Mikel Arteta has dealt with a lot of players - Aubameyang being one, who has a big ego and is a big character. But if they had him in the team there, they would have got the result.

"That's the difference in the striker that they need."

Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

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Christian asked: If Newcastle sell Isak to Arsenal now or in the summer, does that make Arsenal serious title contenders and does that also make Newcastle look like a small club for giving up their best player?

Phil answered: First things first. It will cost anyone who wants Alexander Isak an awful lot of money to sign him.

It would make Arsenal, or indeed anyone else, a more realistic contender for trophies if they had Isak in their side, although I do not see any way this is happening in January with Newcastle so close to the EFL Cup final and right in the hunt for the top four.

Would it make Newcastle look like a small club? I wouldn't go that far because lots of clubs end up selling their best players, even the so-called big ones. Of course, Newcastle have to also make judgements on profit and sustainability rules, so my answer to the second part of the question would be "no".

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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It is not in question that Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal since taking over as manager in 2019.

Arteta has got Arsenal back into the Champions League after a seven-year absence and led the Gunners to two second-placed finishes in a row in the Premier League.

That progress renewed optimism in north London and, after pushing Manchester City to the final day of the Premier League season in the last campaign, many thought this would be the year that Arsenal finally lifted silverware.

However, Arteta has been dealt a number of blows throughout this season with injuries to key players such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Ben White.

When any Arsenal player speaks about winning trophies in interviews, they say that they are 'desperate' to win silverware and captain Odegaard used that phrase in his pre-match programme notes against Manchester United.

Reaching the semi-final of the Carabao Cup is not Arsenal's main objective but it did give them the hope of a trip to Wembley and also gives Arteta the chance to lift a trophy which is what those who criticise his side point to.

That feeling of desperation of wanting to win a trophy and the frustration of missed chances against Newcastle, spilled into the Manchester United game, as Arsenal missed opportunities and failed to break down a side that played with 10 men for nearly an hour.

It is by no means a season that has completely derailed. Those at the club would point to Arsenal being on the same points in the league as they were last season.

However, two losses back-to-back at home in cup competitions has started to create a feeling that it may be another campaign where Arsenal miss out on the top prizes.

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Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes "there are rumblings of unrest" at Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's hunt for silverware continues but Sunday's defeat to Manchester United means the FA Cup is no longer viable.

"There are a lot of fans saying that he isn't the man to take them over the finish line to win the big trophies," Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "Listening to a few different phone-ins on the way home, there are a lot of disgruntled Arsenal fans.

"I get that. I get the emotion after the game and you understand that. But what they're saying is about how pragmatic he has become.

"The focus on the defence, the imbalance of the squad and how heavy he's recruited in defensive areas. Goalkeeper-wise and in defence, yes they are excellent. What is missing? Straight away you would say number nine. You would also say they've got Kai Havertz who can play as a number nine.

"The truth of the matter is that they are missing a clinical striker week in and week out.

"I think there are rumblings of unrest there with Artetamoaning about the balls in the League Cup and post-match he said: 'It's not fair that you can't play that well'.

"What type of manager comes out and says it's not fair? He's got his back to the wall at the minute."

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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's FA Cup game between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Guy: Extremely disappointed by the loss. We have a lack of a killer instinct yet again. Another game where we had possession and shots but couldn't convert. It isn't unlucky at this stage - it's poor coaching, a poor team and poor player purchases in recent windows. Our front line is toothless without Bukayo Saka.

Dan: If that isn't Mikel Arteta's cue to either get into the transfer market for an attacker or leave, I don't know what is. Yet again, useless in the final third!

Jude: Laboured and uninspired performance. Now that Gabriel Jesus is injured, we cannot continue pretending to have a forward. Let's sell Kai Havertz and use the money on a striker who doesn't spend half the time crawling around.

Vince: I've been a staunch follower of Arteta's policy that eschews the need to splurge on a natural forward. This loss, and the one to Newcastle in the league cup, tell me I've been severely myopic, if not downright blind. We're still in the January transfer window and with Jesus sidelined for who knows how long, please go get that striker before the month ends and our hopes with it.

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Man Utd fans

Andy: Grit. Determination. Desire. All we want to see as United fans, great performance now we need to replicate that as a baseline rather than just against the 'big' teams. A confidence builder for sure

Chris: The last two games have shown a glimpse of what this team are capable of, but it will be the next two games that will really show the true mentality change. If they are positive, hopefully the second half of the season will move towards another trophy and a far more respectable league position than currently.

Agim: Something good is in the air. Something good is building. Two hard games away and United have believed in themselves and got rewarded for it. Respect for Ruben Amorim for not letting his guard down and making the players understanding the importance of playing for Manchester United.

Peter: Even though it was an extremely difficult watch - especially the first half - you can see that Amorim had a strategy and a plan to contain and beat Arsenal. To do it with 10 men was phenomenal. Arsenal should have won this game but the steely determination and togetherness Amorim has instilled in this team is fantastic. If these players had fought like this for Erik ten Hag, he'd still be in a job. Amorim's got everything it takes to succeed, let's just hope he gets as much time as Fergie did because he is a winner.

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Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Mikel Arteta says the knee injury picked up by striker Gabriel Jesus is a 'big worry' after he was stretchered off in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Jesus picked up in injury when he challenged Bruno Fernandes at the edge of Arsenal penalty area in the first half.

The Brazilian was then stretchered off and immediately after the game his manager Mikel Arteta is not positive about any assessment.

"Big worry, that's my feeling." Arteta said.

"He had to come off on a stretcher with a lot of pain, touching his knee. It's not looking good.:

"The worrying factor is the feeling that he had. When he had to come off and the pain that he was in."

It is a blow for Arsenal and Arteta as Jesus had just come back into form.

The 27-year-old had scored six goals in his last seven games and had given Arteta another option in Saka's absence.

As well as key man Saka being out, Arsenal are without Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori were all unavailable through injury.