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Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal have been underperforming in front of goal – but insists they are not thinking of signing a striker in January.

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah started in the 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham on Sunday but both came in for criticism after failing to find the scoresheet.

Arsenal have scored 11 Premier League goals compared to an expected goals total of 11.38 this season, but Arteta said: “There’s various ways to score goals and we are scoring goals.

“But we should have scored many more with the chances we have created.”

However, despite reports suggesting Arteta is keen to sign Ivan Toney when he returns from his suspension in January, the Arsenal boss said when asked about signing a striker: “We’re not thinking at all about that.

“We have really good players up front. It’s true that right now we have some injuries. We will continue with the players we have.”

However, Arteta did namecheck Toney when asked whether the traditional No 9 was being fazed out of football, saying: “It’s coming back.

“There are a few players when you look at Harry Kane, [Erling] Halaand, Ivan Toney, [Aleksandar] Mitrovic. You have examples of players who score a lot of goals.”

Frank: Why should we sell Toney?

Brentford host Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and, although Toney remains unavailable due to his gambling ban, the striker was a topic of conversation for Thomas Frank.

Toney has changed representation and openly talked about the potential of leaving Brentford earlier this season, but when asked whether he could depart in January, Frank said: “I don’t know. The only thing I’m focusing on is the game tomorrow [Wednesday].

“We prepare for transfer windows ahead. We are prepared in any position if something should happen. Let’s see.

“I don’t want to sell him. I want my best players. I say, ‘don’t sell him’. Ivan is a world-class player so why should we sell a world-class player?

“I want him to play here for the rest of his contract but that’s not up to me to decide.”

Merson: Arsenal may need Toney in January

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:

I’ve always said it from day one – Eddie Nketiah is not going to win you the Premier League.

You need a proper centre forward. I’m not blaming Nketiah because they drew 2-2 with Tottenham but with 32 games to go and all the Champions League games they have to play, I don’t think he takes them to the next level. I don’t even think Gabriel Jesus takes them to the next level.

I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday but when I saw the teams, I was majorly worried. Jesus on the wing, Nketiah up front, Fabio Vieira – I don’t think he’s good enough. Then Declan Rice comes off and Jorginho comes on.

It wasn’t Arsenal’s strongest team but when you think about the Champions League and all the games they have to play, it looked a bit weak on Sunday, didn’t it?

It’s alright sitting there and thinking ‘they need a centre forward’ – but who is there?

Only Ivan Toney is available for them in January – there aren’t many centre forwards around in the world. They’re a dying breed.

I heard Michael Owen chatting the other day. Years ago you had him, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Fowler getting 20 to 30 goals a season and they didn’t get a million England caps. Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand too. Now you get to 20 goals in the Premier League and you play for England.

Toney is a good player – he can hold the ball up, he’s good in the air. Arsenal might have to go for him. But there are not a million centre forwards around.

Now, if Arsenal lose against Manchester City on October 8, they will be out of the title race. They would be seven points behind.

A lot of people say: ‘But there are still so many games left’. But Arsenal wouldn’t catch Man City if there were 600 games left if City had a seven-point head start. You just can’t make that up, as from then Arsenal would only have one game against City and it would be away.

That game at the Emirates is a huge match, it’s make or break already.

Neville: Arsenal still missing the right forward

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:

I like forwards who are flexible and can play on the left and right, but you’ve still got to have a couple of players in your team who have that smell of where the ball is going to land.

Not a poacher – the days of traditional poachers are gone – but we’re still talking about someone who knows where to be.

Listening to Sir Alex Ferguson and the England coaches over the years, it was always the way that forwards had to make runs across the defender. But if the ball’s on the other side and gets crossed to the back post, that they can make a run into that area too.

On a corner when it’s getting flicked on, you’ve got to get in at the back post. I think of Ian Wright starting in and around the six-yard box, because I used to mark him at corners and he was a nightmare.

He would always peel around to the back post to make sure if the ball gets glanced on – which it does – that he’s there. Nketiah wasn’t there. He was hanging out and didn’t make that run.

And then earlier with Jesus, when he robbed [James] Maddison, these are big moments in the game. You’ve got to be on the move and be sniffing, smelling, anticipating, and Arsenal haven’t got that.

I really like this Arsenal team and they could go on to win a title or finish second, have a great season and win trophies without that type of player, but it became obvious in this game that it was missing.

Alan Smith pointed it out on commentary too and he knows far more than I do about playing up front.

​​​​​​​Declan Rice has avoided serious injury and could be in contention for Arsenal’s Premier League game at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Rice underwent tests on Monday after feeling discomfort in his back in the north London derby on Sunday, which forced him off at half-time.

Scans have revealed the problem is not a major one, although the midfielder continues to feel discomfort and is not expected to take part in the Carabao Cup game at Brentford on Wednesday.

Rice will continue to be assessed this week ahead of the trip to Bournemouth, as will Leandro Trossard, who missed the draw with Tottenham because of a slight muscle issue.

The news means Rice is set to be fit for Arsenal’s match against title rivals Manchester City on Sunday October 8, live on Sky Sports – although the champions will be without Rodri after he was sent off in their win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta will host a news conference on Tuesday ahead of the trip to Brentford, when he is also expected to provide updates on the fitness of Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey, while Jurrien Timber is a long-term absentee with a serious knee injury.

After the draw with Spurs – which saw Jorginho, Rice’s replacement, make an error for one of the visitors’ goals – Arteta said of the summer signing: “He had a back injury. He was really uncomfortable during the match.

“We had to take him out. We have to assess him. It’s strange for someone like him to come off.”

Rice has started every Arsenal game since signing for a club-record fee of £105m from West Ham this summer and scored a late winner against Manchester United earlier this month.

Merson Says: Arsenal may need to get Toney in January

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:

I’ve always said it from day one – Eddie Nketiah is not going to win you the Premier League.

You need a proper centre forward. I’m not blaming Nketiah because they drew 2-2 with Tottenham but with 32 games to go and all the Champions League games they have to play, I don’t think he takes them to the next level. I don’t even think Gabriel Jesus takes them to the next level.

I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday but when I saw the teams, I was majorly worried. Jesus on the wing, Nketiah up front, Fabio Vieira – I don’t think he’s good enough. Then Declan Rice comes off and Jorginho comes on.

It wasn’t Arsenal’s strongest team but when you think about the Champions League and all the games they have to play, it looked a bit weak on Sunday, didn’t it?

It’s alright sitting there and thinking ‘they need a centre forward’ – but who is there?

Only Ivan Toney is available for them in January – there aren’t many centre forwards around in the world. They’re a dying breed.

I heard Michael Owen chatting the other day: years ago you had him, Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Fowler getting 20 to 30 goals a season and they didn’t get a million England caps. Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand too. Now you get to 20 goals in the Premier League and you play for England.

Toney is a good player – he can hold the ball up, he’s good in the air. Arsenal might have to go for him. But there are not a million centre forwards around.

Now, if Arsenal lose against Manchester City on October 8, they will be out of the title race. They would be seven points behind.

A lot of people say ‘there are still so many games left’. But Arsenal wouldn’t catch Man City if there were 600 games left if City had a seven-point head start. You just can’t make that up, as from then Arsenal would only have one game against City and it would be away.

That game at the Emirates is a huge match, it’s make or break already.

Dermot Gallagher gives his verdict on the flashpoints of the Premier League weekend, including Eddie Nketiah’s reckless challenge on Guglielmo Vicario in the north London derby.

Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham

Should Nketiah have been sent off?

INCIDENT: Eddie Nketiah lunges in on Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and catches him. Referee Rob Jones gives Nketiah a yellow card and VAR decides not to add any more to the punishment.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “Why would you make a challenge like that? I don’t think he could win the ball. If he got a red card there, he wouldn’t have had any arguments. Luckily, he doesn’t catch him full on.

“If he does catch his leg, Nketiah is in big, big trouble. As would the goalkeeper.

“It was checked by the VAR, it was felt that the referee had got the decision right.”

Was Romero’s handball for Arsenal’s penalty the right call?

INCIDENT: Cristian Romero is penalised for handling in the Arsenal penalty area after Ben White’s shot hits his arm near the goalline. Rob Jones was sent to the VAR monitor and awarded a penalty, but did not send Romero off.

The incident came after VAR ruled no penalty for a similar handball by Romero during Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Manchester United in August.

DERMOT SAYS: CORRECT DECISION

“Does Romero use his arms to balance for what he’s going into? Yes. But his arms are out, it strikes his arm. It blocks the shot going in. He might feel hard done by to concede a penalty, but he’s lucky because if Bissouma wasn’t behind him, he would have also been sent off as it was heading to the goal with no defender.

“His arm is out, VAR has seen it, it’s heading towards the goal. It didn’t surprise me when I saw the replay.”

Should Arsenal have had another penalty?

INCIDENT: Destiny Udogie jumps to clear Reiss Nelson’s corner and his arm touches the ball while under pressure from Gabriel. Rob Jones awards a corner and VAR does not spot a handball.

DERMOT SAYS: CORRECT DECISION

“This is one where he is jumping with his arms. He also doesn’t really block anything. He would have been really unlucky to concede a penalty there.”

Luton 1-1 Wolves

Was the Luton penalty call against Wolves correct?

INCIDENT: Luton are awarded a controversial penalty after Joao Gomes is adjudged to have handled in the area. Carlton Morris scores to make it 1-1.

DERMOT SAYS: CORRECT DECISION

“Difficult decision I think. Normally if it deflects off a player then hits the arm, it goes unpunished. It does that, no doubt about it.

“It deflects off him at speed. But the fact his arm is so high, it’s unusually high, means it will be punished. Once the referee gives it and feeds it back to the VAR, it’s going to be given. His arm is so high, so he has to give it.

“The referee speaks to the VAR. The first thing the VAR will have said is: ‘you’ve given handball, why?’ The referee would have said: ‘I’m aware it comes off his thigh, but his arm is so high’. It’s all about the proximity of his arm and how high it is.

“You might not like it, I don’t like it, but his arm is so high. Once the referee gives it, it will never be overturned.

“On balance, I can see why the referee has given it. It’s just so unusual. Handball is no longer easy, they have so many tick boxes to follow. They go through a mental checklist, one of them is: ‘have they made their body bigger?’ There is no doubt that he has.”

Was Bellegarde right to be sent off?

INCIDENT: Wolves midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is sent off for violent conduct for a challenge on Tom Lockyer. The referee sent him off in real time and VAR agreed with the decision.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “You can’t do that as a player but it’s a great learning point for the referee.

“I think it’s a red card but hopefully the referee will see that he has to blow the whistle as he walks past and get control of that. He had that in his vision, don’t leave two players angry on the floor. The assistant kept his eye on that and told him what Bellegarde did and it was a red card offence.”

Man City 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Was Rodri’s red card justified?

INCIDENT: Manchester City’s Rodri is sent off for holding Morgan Gibbs-White by the neck.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “Casemiro on Will Hughes was the same thing. He grabbed him by the throat and he was sent off. You ask for consistency and there it is.

“When you put your hands on a player’s throat, you run a massive risk. That’s what the referee has seen.”

Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa

Was VAR right to upgrade Gusto yellow to a red card?

INCIDENT: Chelsea defender Malo Gusto fouls Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne and is awarded a yellow card by Jared Gillet. The official gives a yellow card but VAR recommends it is upgraded to a red. Gillet gives a red card after visiting the monitor.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “It’s a red card, I thought it was when I first saw it. He’s jumped in and caught him with his studs.

“One thing you have as a player, you have a duty of care to your opponent. You can’t plant your studs on the opponent.

“The time taken to look at it was the referee looking at it, not the VAR. The VAR made the decision very, very quickly.”

Sheffield United 0- 8 Newcastle

Should Newcastle’s first of eight have been ruled out?

INCIDENT: Anthony Gordon gets the ball on the byline and squares for Sean Longstaff to score Newcastle’s opener against Sheffield United.

The Blades players felt Gordon had taken the ball out of play and that he controlled the ball with his hand in the build-up.

DERMOT’S VERDICT: “The whole of the ball has to be over the whole of the line. It obviously isn’t. As he brings it over it hits his hand which ironically keeps it in play. It is deemed not deliberate, but he doesn’t go on to score. So therefore the new interpretation is that it has to be deliberate for it to be given as handball. The referee and VAR said no so the goal is given.”

James Maddison has jokingly responded to Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal forward copied the Tottenham midfielder’s darts celebration in Sunday’s north London derby.

Saka mimicked Maddison’s arrows celebration after taking the shot which deflected off Cristian Romero for Arsenal’s 26th-minute opener in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

But 16 minutes later Maddison cleverly beat Saka on the left to set up Heung-Min Son for Tottenham’s equaliser.

Asked about his England team-mate copying his celebration, Maddison told SPURSPLAY: “Me and Bukayo had a bit of banter and a bit of trash talking on international duty.

“And I got told he did the darts celebration – he must have still been doing it when I turned him for the first goal I think, so I’ll have a little word with him in there!”

Maddison continued to poke fun at Saka when questioned by Sky Sports News after the game.

Asked by reporter Michael Bridge: “A quick 501 at Ally Pally against Bukayo Saka, do you reckon?”

A laughing Maddison then responded: “His action was terrible though, wasn’t it?!”

The 26-year-old also had the last laugh on the pitch as he helped to cancel out Saka’s second-half penalty which had put Arsenal 2-1 up in the 56th minute.

But just 90 seconds later, Maddison nicked the ball off Jorginho to then slip in Son for his second of the game and ensure Tottenham remain unbeaten in the Premier League under new boss Ange Postecoglou.

What’s next?

Saturday 30th September 5:00pm


Kick off 5:30pm

Maddison will be hoping to perform his darts celebration in Tottenham’s next game at home against unbeaten Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, with kick-off at 5.30pm.

Arsenal, meanwhile, go to Brentford in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday at 7.45pm, before Mikel Arteta’s side return to Premier League action at Bournemouth on Saturday at 3pm.