Mikel Arteta speaks on striker search as Arsenal warned over key target | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal remain on the hunt for a new striker as the January transfer window approaches its final week, though a deal for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is looking increasingly unlikely.

Arteta was keen on reinforcements after Bukayo Saka was sidelined for three months with a hamstring injury, and Gabriel Jesus' ACL tear prompted a public plea for new signings to help traverse an injury crisis in attack.

"My opinion is clear, we lost two very important players in Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus so we lack goals, we lack people, we lack options in the front line, it's clear," Arteta told a press conference on Friday ahead of the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"If we can get the right player, that's what we're actively looking at. Someone that makes us better and has an impact on the team. We need some help, we're very short already but the team is coping. We have to do what is right for the club."

Arsenal have been linked with a whole host of players. Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus is a long-term target, while Wolves' Matheus Cunha has been increasingly linked with a switch to the Emirates, but plenty of speculation has revolved around RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, with some reports going as far as to claim Arsenal are pursuing a January loan move for the Slovenia international.

However, Leipzig's managing director for sport, Marcel Schafer, has firmly shut down suggestions Sesko could be on the move this month, backing up the words of manager Marco Rose.

"There is definitely no contact with any other club or any discussions regarding Benjamin Sesko," he told Sky Sports Germany. "We are very happy to have Benji in our squad. He is one of the top attacking talents in Europe and is currently in excellent form. He will continue to wear the RB Leipzig jersey."

One potential avenue which Arteta ruled out is another domestic loan, confirming Arsenal are "not thinking about" making space for a new temporary arrival by cancelling Neto or Raheem Sterling's loans from Bournemouth and Chelsea respectively.