Arsenal transfer update: Mikel Arteta 'given chance' to sign replacement in January after Bukayo Saka injury blow

Mikel Arteta's Gunners might have beaten Crystal Palace 5-1 on Saturday and just about kept their title hopes alive, but the match was overshadowed by Saka's injury in the first half.

Arteta has since revealed that the winger is set to miss out on action for a number of weeks as a result of a hamstring injury, a devastating blow considering the Englishman had produced five goals and 10 assists in the Premier League, with no other teammate registering more than eight direct goal contributions in the top flight.

The Gunners are already six points behind first-placed Liverpool and have played an extra game, and the injury to the 23-year-old has fans concerned that the team could fall further behind the Reds.

However, the Evening Standard reports that the Gunners are likely to be offered the services of PSG forward Kolo Muani on loan in the January window.

Arsenal's attacking options

Kolo Muani has found himself a pariah in France, with the Frenchman having started just twice for the Ligue 1 champions in the top flight this season, but he has still managed to register two goals and one assist.

The 26-year-old has averaged 0.75 goals and assists per 90 in the league this season, more than Gabriel Martinelli's tally of 0.57, Kai Havertz's tally of 0.52 and Gabriel Jesus's tally of 0.50.

PSG have at times struggled to maintain attacks with Kolo Muani leading the forward line, so perhaps he would benefit from playing alongside someone such as Havertz, who could occupy opposition defenders using his physicality.

Whether Kolo Muani can be relied upon to perform should he be given consistent playing time is difficult to tell, and it is unfortunate that Raheem Sterling's knee injury - which is set to rule him out for weeks - is likely to add pressure onto Muani if he were to sign.

To Kolo Muani's credit, he did manage to score 15 league goals and produce 11 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022-23, and a loan deal without an obligation to buy would entail significantly less risk.

The end of Arsenal's title hopes?

Arsenal have become increasingly reliant on Saka to unlock opposition defences this season, with the Gunners' forward regularly creating from the right.

The winger is also one of his side's main set-piece takers, and considering Arteta's team have struggled to score from open play in recent weeks, his absence could reduce Arsenal's effectiveness from dead-ball situations.

Given that the North London club struggled to create many chances in the absence of Martin Odegaard earlier this campaign, it is entirely possible that they experience similar difficulties without Saka.

The Gunners cannot afford to drop many more points in the title race, and in fact can only drop six more if 90 points is seen as the benchmark for winning the Premier League.

Saka's absence could be a good opportunity for Arteta to prove that he can come up with innovate solutions and overcome adversity, but the Englishman's injury is certainly an unwelcome challenge.

Written by

Lewis Nolan