Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s recent goal rush will not change their summer transfer plans.
The Gunners have been heavily linked with a signing a new No9 and have scouted several players, including Brentford’s Ivan Toney, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP.
Talk of a new striker intensified in January as Arsenal struggled for firepower on a run of just one goal in three straight defeats around the turn of the year.
Since then, however, the Gunners have been in red-hot form and have scored 31 goals while winning seven Premier League games on the spin.
But, asked if Arsenal still want to sign a striker this summer even with their current form, Arteta said: “The plans that we have for the summer are very clear.
“They were done almost at the start of the season understanding what we can have, the contract situations with some players, and how we can improve certain areas of the team. This situation doesn’t change that.”
Arsenal will come up against one of their targets, Toney, on Saturday when they face Brentford at Emirates Stadium.
Toney will have one year left on his contract at the end of season and the Bees are ready to cash in on him. And asked if he could rule out signing the England striker this summer, Arteta said: “I don’t talk about any other player.
“If not I’ll have to rule out every other player in the market, because we’re linked with a lot of players.”
Arsenal will be without loanee goalkeeper David Raya for this weekend’s game as he is ineligible to face his parent club.
Aaron Ramsdale is set to start in goal in what will be his first appearance since the Gunners lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup in January.
“He’s fully prepared, he’s training every day,” said Arteta. “He’s desperate to play like the rest of the boys that haven’t had that many opportunities. Saturday will be a great opportunity for him.”
