Mikel Arteta sent new warning as fresh hint Arsenal striker transfer is already completed

Mikel Arteta has been warned he will have no excuses if sign a new striker as expected this summer. The key weakness in the Gunners' squad has been a lack of a forward this year.

Both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz , with midfielder Mikel Merino being forced to play up-front. The lack of a regular goalscorer has put paid to any hopes Arteta had of finally ending Arsenal's title drought.

The Londoners have not won the for more than 20 years, with the Invincibles season of 2003/2004 being the last time they finished top of the table. The lack of a star striker in the summer window.

Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres with moves to the Emirates Stadium. Gunners legend Martin Keown believes a deal has already been completed for a new forward.

The former defender, who won three titles in his time at Arsenal, is confident the club's board have finally acted. But he warned Arteta that if a striker does arrive, he will have no more excuses if he fails to win a trophy next year.

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"I’d be surprised if that deal for that new centre forward is not done, three-quarters done, already. That’s what needs to be done, it’s very obvious. That’s the target. I don’t know anything but I have a feeling it could be there," Keown told TNT Sports.

"I don’t know who it will be but I have a feeling the work will be done. He [Arteta] won’t be able to say to Arsenal again after the next window, ‘why haven’t you bought a centre-forward?' because I’m pretty certain.

"Gyokeres' goals are handy. I don’t know if he’s got the necessary pace. Pace frightens defenders. Isak’s kind of pace is what you’re looking for but where are you going to find it?

"He was talking about Nico Williams in his interview. Those are the kinds of people who will be coming in. People with pace, who can make a difference. It won’t just be one player, I think it will be a group of players.

"Arteta is relentless and he won’t stop until he gets that trophy in his hands. He’s just beginning really. I know it’s been five years but he doesn’t look a tired man for me. He’s enjoying being the manager of Arsenal and there’s a lot more to come."

Arsenal have finished second in both of the last two seasons and look set to finish as runners-up once again this term. Leaders sit 12 points ahead of Arteta's side heading into this weekend's round of games.

Merino has done as well as can be expected in his emergency role, scoring four times in the top-flight since first being deployed up front. The arrival of a new striker would like mean a move for Havertz into a role of back-up.

The German had emerged as Arteta's first-choice striker, but he would be unlikely to keep hold of that job. Instead, the stage is set for a top-level player to take over and supercharge Arteta's bid for the title.

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