Arteta downplay January signing ahead of visit to Brighton

Mikel Arteta plays down January signing as he claims he wants to focus on his players, gives updates on his players ahead of Brighton clash.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given updates on his squad as the Gunners prepare for their visit to Brighton this Saturday. The match is an important one for Arsenal as they seek to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Arteta confirmed Kai Havertz would return to action after recovering from illness. “I think so, yes,” said the Spaniard. “The ones with illness, I think are going to be OK. They will train today and if everybody is fine then they will be available.”

Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling is recovering well. “He is starting to do some stuff on the pitch, so that is great news. Let’s see how he progresses next week and we will see if he is available for the following week,” Arteta stated.

Long-term absentees Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are a concern for the Gunners. Arteta said White was “still a few weeks away” while Tomiyasu, who has been out with a long-term injury, has started to recover. “Tomi has done some stuff on the pitch but we have to see how quick he progresses and how he reacts,” Arteta added.

Despite the January transfer window opening, Arteta played down the prospect of immediate signings, emphasizing that his focus remains on the current squad. “The focus is on the players that we have. If there is somebody in the market that we can afford and we believe they will have a real impact on the team, then we have to be open for that possibility always. At the moment, the focus is on what we have,” said the Arsenal manager. Arteta was also asked about speculation on the exits of players, including Celtic’s interest in Kieran Tierney: “All the players that are here, they want to focus on performing and impacting the team, and if something happens there, then we will assess it.”

Arteta hailed Gabriel Jesus’ recent resurgence in form. The Brazilian striker has scored six goals in his last four matches, a big contrast to the frustrating spell where he had only scored once in his previous 20 games. Arteta spoke to Jesus’ turnaround, saying, “It’s about supporting our players, and the players know that they have to go through some periods sometimes which is not how they planned. But, as well, they have to believe in themselves and we have to make sure that if one day they doubt, we are there to recognize and make sure they feel from our side how much we like them and how happy we are to have them.”

Finally, Arteta praised teenager Ethan Nwaneri, who did well in his outing against Brentford. “He is a player that can play in various positions. It isn’t a position that he has played a lot to be fair, even when he was at academy level, but he can adapt to the demands that we have in a few different positions. I think he did really well the other day,” said Arteta of the young talent.

As Arsenal head into their match at Brighton, Arteta will be hoping recent improvements by his squad, along with the return of key players, can spur them toward a strong second half of the season.