Arsenal are active and working to try and find an attacking signing before the January transfer window closes, football.london understands. The club were keen on making additions prior to the injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus, however, news that the Brazilian will be missing for a period of time extending potentially beyond the summer window has transformed the situation.

Mikel Arteta was asked after the win against Tottenham in the North London Derby once again after being peppered with transfer and striker-related queries in the post-match press conference regarding the need for a striker or more generally a forward. In what has been a break perhaps from his usual approach, he has gone beyond admitting what was known in the club’s activity this winter, and gone to a very committed angle of suggesting that a forward signing is almost a necessity.

Asked by Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports if they would look to sign a striker he replied: “Yes, for sure.” The Gunners boss added: “Because we lost two players, big players, Bukayo [Saka], who can be out for up to three months, that’s a long time, and Gabby, who is going to be out for a long, long, long time.”

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This now leads on to the question of who? Who is there that Arsenal could land during this winter window in not just helping fill the void left by Saka and Jesus, but potentially take the Gunners to the next level?

The striker Arsenal wanted in the summer was Benjamin Sesko. While the deal never reached any advanced stage, with the Slovenian international wishing to resolve his future quickly and the Gunners unable to commit early with Eddie Nketiah’s future at that point unresolved, he stayed with RB Leipzig and signed a new deal.

There was a release clause in his previous contract but new discussions were had which created a new scenario for Red Bull’s latest prodigy. Ironically, any discussion may reunite Arteta with an old adversary, Jurgen Klopp.

The former Liverpool head coach has taken up a role as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer. In a press conference, he was asked about Sesko and his plans for the player.

"My plans for him to score more goals like this for us," he said. "I've known him for a while, I knew him at Salzburg, I was thinking where did they get this player?

“I have no plans for him, don't get it wrong, I will not show up at training and tell him what to do. I don't have to tell Marco Rose what he will do, he wants to help him score as much as somehow possible.

“He has space for improvement, he will say the same, an incredible skillset and potential. Happy to have him.”

football.london understands that the interest in Sesko has not evaporated after the failed summer interest and Arsenal have watched the forward closely. After a slower start to this season, he has now picked up form and now scored in his last five successive Bundesliga matches.

There is an understanding that Sesko could leave Leipzig in the summer despite signing his new deal, what has been described as a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ without a specific written clause. It remains however to be seen whether this exists in the January window and to get him, Arsenal may have to pay more than they would have expected.

The likes of Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen are all older and would certainly require a larger pay packet to make the switch to north London. Sesko is a younger, potentially more financially viable option with plenty of room to grow, learn and improve while having a base level of quality that would see him make an impact between now and the end of the season.

However, Arsenal are considering several different options and will not rush into a decision despite the heavy schedule. The Gunners face Aston Villa on the weekend before returning to Champions League action followed by trips to Wolves and Girona before the window closes a day before the visit of Manchester City.