Mikel Arteta has defended his forwards who have been short of goals this season (Picture: Hayters TV)
Mikel Arteta insists he is happy to rely on Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah as his two main forwards this season despite their shortage of goals.
Jesus has struggled to maintain fitness during the early months of the campaign and has started only one Premier League game so far in the centre forward role he was bought to occupy.
The Brazil international is likely to be out for another fortnight with the hamstring injury he sustained against Sevilla a fortnight ago and it remains to be seen whether fit again Eddie Nketiah deputises against Burnley this afternoon.
Nketiah scored a hat-trick against Sheffield United earlier this month but laboured in last weekend’s defeat against Newcastle as his run without a top flight goal away from home edged closer to a full calendar year.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Ivan Toney in January but Arteta is adamant he retains full faith in two players who have come in for criticism in recent weeks.
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‘They are great and I am happy to have them and for me they are the best in the world, that is my assessment,’ said Arteta when asked if would delve into the transfer market in January.
‘I would love to have them all but at the moment not. Maybe in two weeks the picture will be different, I will have them back and it will be better.
‘But as well there is an opportunity for the rest to shine.
‘It is really tough when someone is playing and someone is sitting on the bench looking at me saying ‘what are you doing?’.
‘It gives them an opportunity to show how good they are.’
MORE : Thierry Henry admits Arsenal have a problem with Gabriel Jesus
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A big claim by the Arsenal boss.