Mikel Arteta concedes Arsenal may find it tough to cope if they fail to sign an attacker in the January transfer window after Chelsea won the race to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.
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Arsenal held discussions this month to sign the Portugal international, who has been pushing to leave Atletico after his struggles under Diego Simeon.
But, Chelsea are now on the brink of finalising a loan move for Felix after they agreed a £9 million deal with Atletico.
The Blues will also subsidise Felix’s salary in full, which is reported to be in the region of £275,000 per week.
When asked about Chelsea winning the race to sign Felix from Atletico Madrid, Arteta told ITV on Monday: ‘My job is to make those players as good as I can.
‘I will try to do that and if we have any reinforcements, great.’
Arsenal had made the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk their main priority for the January window and reports in Ukraine on Monday claimed that they are now close to reaching an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk.
Speaking in his post-match press conference after Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Oxford United in the FA Cup third round, Arteta also discussed Arsenal’s lack of options after Gabriel Jesus’ injury.
‘The problem is we have only one [striker],’ Arteta said. ‘And to go for that many months until Gabby is back is not easy.
‘But we have to get the most out of the players that we have at the moment and if we can have some reinforcements, great.’
