Arsenal may have to alter their plan in the January transfer window after Mikel Arteta met club chiefs in Los Angeles.
The Gunners have surprised many with their start to the Premier League, winning 12 of their 14 games to sit five points clear at the summit. Mikel Arteta is into his third full season at the helm and looks to have made things click in north London after several transfer windows.
Arteta and his colleagues have kept faith in a recruitment strategy that has prioritised youth, but the signing of Gabriel Jesus has been key. The striker joined from Manchester City and has helped transform their fortunes, but his injury could now force the club to act come the New Year.
Losing Jesus has always been a fear for those at the Emirates and, according to the Telegraph, Arteta had been looking to bring in a wide forward once the window opened. That may have to be put on hold however with Jesus' influence through the middle potentially meaning new faces are sought in that area.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have impressed on the flanks whilst others can also deputise if needed. Centrally though Arteta now has Eddie Nketiah as his only fit striker. Jesus' injury came whilst playing for Brazil at the World Cup with the forward now having to undergo surgery.
It means he is set to be sidelined for months - rather than weeks - which leaves Arsenal with a problem to fix if they are to remain competitive with Manchester City their nearest challengers. The Gunners are also competing on three fronts this term with the FA Cup and the Europa League also on their radar.
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Arteta and sporting director Edu were recently in California to discuss matters in the English capital. Stan Kroenke, who owns NFL side the LA Rams, has largely left his son, Josh, to run the Gunners on a day-to-day basis. Arteta and Edu were pictured at the SoFi Stadium with Kroenke Jnr.
It is thought that Arsenal will have around £50m to spend in January, but may have to draw up a new list of targets following the news about Jesus' injury. January is known to be a tough time to recruit with clubs desperate to retain their key assets and, as a result, inflating asking prices.
Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhaylo Mudryk had been Arsenal's prime target. The 21-year-old would've set the north Londoners back around £21m, but he has excelled as a winger, which is not an immediate priority. Mudryk has scored 11 times in 19 outings, but any deal may now have to be delayed until the summer.
