Mikel Arteta provides update on Arsenal's transfer plans for new striker

Despite Arsenal's recent woes in front of goal and the increasing clamours for fresh blood in the final third, Mikel Arteta said the addition of a striker this month "doesn't look realistic".

The Gunners fell to yet another defeat on Sunday afternoon as Liverpool made them pay for a litany of wasted chances early on. Arsenal drew a blank in a 2-0 FA Cup defeat to the Reds which means Arteta's side have won just one of their previous seven games across all competitions.

Arsenal have also had over 60 shots in their last three outings, netting just once.

Profligacy has so far crippled otherwise promising season, and their exit from the FA Cup means the club are vying for unlikely - but very much possible - Premier League and Champions League glories.

Mikel Arteta admits Arsenal signing a striker in January 'doesn't look realistic'

Gabriel Jesus' inefficiency combined with underwhelming alternatives means supporters have long been in favour of a striker addition in the January transfer window.

The Gunners have been linked with the likes of Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen, and Dusan Vlahovic, although any move for a desired target has been deemed tough due to the fees involved.

Alas, Arteta provided an updated very few wanted to hear after Sunday's defeat regarding the club's striker situation and any potential business they could conduct this month.

"What I beg the supporters is that they are behind the team, that they’ve done in difficult moments," he said. "Stick with the ones [strikers] we have - they are incredibly good. If not, they don’t do what they’ve done again today, in Anfield and here.

"Stick with them, it’s exactly what they need, that we are fully behind them. Then they feel important, and supported because they deserve it, with their attitude they don’t deserve anything different. That’s my opinion."

The boss also added that the signing of a striker before the January transfer deadline "doesn't look realistic" and noted that it was his job to "improve" the players already on Arsenal's books.

Jesus missed Sunday's defeat with what isn't believed to be a major knee injury, so Kai Havertz got the nod up top. The German, however, lacked conviction in the final third and squandered several excellent openings.