Arsenal’s injury crisis has deepened, with Bukayo Saka set to remain sidelined for another eight weeks, adding to the club’s struggles after failing to sign a forward in the January transfer window.
The 23-year-old winger tore his right hamstring during Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Crystal Palace on December 21 and has been out ever since. His absence has been compounded by long-term injuries to two of Arsenal’s other key forwards.
Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury last month, which is expected to keep him out for most of 2025. Meanwhile, after a mid-season training camp in Dubai, top scorer Kai Havertz was ruled out for the rest of the season following hamstring surgery.
Gabriel Martinelli is also facing about a month on the sidelines after picking up an injury against Newcastle. According to The Mirror, Saka’s recovery is now expected to take longer than initially thought, pushing his return date to mid-April.
With four attacking players unavailable, Mikel Arteta is left with only Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and youngster Ethan Nwaneri for Saturday’s clash against Leicester as Arsenal look to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, managed by Arne Slot.
Despite their worsening injury situation, Arsenal were unable to bring in a new forward during the winter transfer window. Arteta recently admitted the club made efforts to strengthen the squad but ultimately fell short, describing the outcome as “disappointing.”
As Arsenal trail Liverpool by seven points, Arteta has made it clear that reinforcing the squad remains a priority. Speaking to journalists, he said:
“We had a clear intention which is obvious. There is a window open to explore the possibilities to improve our squad with players that can impact it.
“We haven’t achieved it. So we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kind of players. We have to be very disciplined with that as well and I think we were.”
Arsenal ready formal offer for superstar, Arteta thinks he can win them the Champions League
Arsenal could still pursue Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak in the transfer market, with reports suggesting Mikel Arteta views him as the ideal player to lead the club to their first-ever Champions League title.
Since joining Newcastle in the summer of 2022, Isak has grown into a Premier League standout. Despite an injury-hit first season where he scored 10 goals in 22 games, he bounced back with 21 goals in 30 league appearances last season.
This year, he has already netted 17 times in just 22 matches under Eddie Howe, bringing his total to 48 league goals in 74 games for the Magpies.
Arteta believes Isak’s goal-scoring ability could translate well to the Champions League, prompting Arsenal to prepare a bid for the Swedish striker.
According to Fichajes, Isak has become one of the most sought-after players in European football over the past three seasons since his move from Real Sociedad, with Arsenal emerging as the club most eager to secure his signature.
| Alexander Isak’s Premier League statistics – Newcastle squad ranking | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stats | Output | Squad rank |
| Appearances | 22 | =7th |
| Goals | 17 | 1st |
| Key Passes Per Game | 1.6 | 2nd |
| Shots Per Game | 2.9 | 1st |
| Dribbles Per Game | 1.5 | 1st |
| Match rating | 7.51 | 1st |
Arsenal’s strong interest in Alexander Isak stems from Mikel Arteta’s belief that the Swedish striker could be the “key piece” to elevate the team and challenge for their first-ever Champions League title.
However, Newcastle are reluctant to part ways with their star forward, and any negotiations would likely start at €120 million (£100 million). Isak’s ability to glide through defensive lines, combined with his underrated strength and sharp goal-scoring instincts, has made him one of the Premier League’s top attackers. With Arsenal in need of a striker—currently relying on Kai Havertz—they see him as the perfect addition to raise their attacking level.
Newcastle, focused on establishing themselves as a regular Champions League contender, are aware of the growing interest in Isak and won’t let him leave easily.
However, a compelling offer could open the door for negotiations, and Arsenal are closely monitoring the situation in case the striker is tempted by a move to north London.
