Mikel Arteta Open to Free Agent Signings Amid Injury Crisis

LONDON, England — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed on Friday he is considering all options in the free agent market as his team grapples with a critical injury crisis.

The Gunners are set to face Leicester City on Saturday with only two senior attackers and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri available. The latest blow came when star midfielder Kai Havertz suffered significant hamstring damage, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Adding to Arsenal’s woes, Gabriel Jesus is also out for the season, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are not expected to return until March at the earliest. Arteta addressed the media from the club’s training ground, emphasizing the need for additional reinforcements to navigate this challenging period.

“We will explore every possible situation,” Arteta said. “The injuries are unfortunate, but we have to find solutions.”

In light of Havertz’s injury, the club has looked into several free agents, including strikers Lucas Perez, Maxi Gomez, and Diego Costa, who are all available to bolster the squad.

However, Arteta confirmed that they would not make any signings prior to the match against Leicester. Instead, the team will rely on Leandro Trossard, Nwaneri, and Raheem Sterling to lead their attack.

“We have to manage the physical load carefully,” Arteta stated, underscoring the risks of exacerbating injuries to players who have recently returned from absences.

In response to his team’s predicament, Arteta is also considering the potential of youth players. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri have emerged as promising talents this season, and forward Nathan Butler-Oyedeji could see increased playing time. The 22-year-old has been in fine form with the Arsenal U-21 squad, scoring seven goals in ten PL2 appearances this season.

“We’re confident in our young players. They have the ability to step up when needed, and we will not hesitate to give them opportunities,” Arteta said.

With Arsenal trailing Liverpool by seven points in the league standings, this is a crucial time for Arteta and his squad. The pressure is on them to maintain their title challenge despite the mounting injuries.

As Arsenal prepares for the upcoming match, Arteta remains optimistic. “We have the qualities in our squad to deal with adversity, and we must stay focused on what we can control,” he added.