Arsenal's priority coming into the January transfer window was to add reinforcements to Mikel Arteta's options in attack due to Bukayo Saka's injury. 12 days into the window and they may now have no choice but to spend.

Before his injury before Christmas, Saka scored nine goals and assisted another 13 in 24 appearances. His absence has left Arteta short in attack. Ethan Nwaneri's injury problem left him even shorter, but against Manchester United, the problem got worse.

The Gunners started Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli against Ruben Amorim's team with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji on the bench. By half-time, Arsenal suffered another injury.

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Jesus was stretchered off in the 40th minute and replaced by Sterling. The Brazilian went down holding his left knee after a clash with Lisandro Martinez early in the second half before then landing awkwardly on the same knee when tackling Bruno Fernandes.

The forward suffered a serious knee injury in 2022, a problem that kept him out of action for a sustained period of time. He had shown encouraging form over Christmas with six goals in four games - including a hat-trick in the EFL Cup clash over Crystal Palace.

With no idea how long he may be out for or how serious the problem is, Arsenal may have no choice but to sign a forward this month. After selling Eddie Nketiah in the summer, the Gunners are alarmingly short in the final third going into the Premier League title race run-in.

football.london understands that there is a sense that a new attacker won't be signed barring a surprise. Jesus' injury could be that surprise that may force Arteta to turn to one of the many options available to him.

In the loan market, Marcus Rashford, Evan Ferguson and Randal Kolo Muani are available and have been linked with a move away from their current clubs. Permanently, Victor Osimhen could leave Napoli, despite being on loan at Galatasaray, while Nico Williams remains a firm target.

"Arsenal are lacking a threat and presence up front," Alan Shearer said, who scored 260 Premier League goals. It's a problem that has consistently held them back and something that has been expected to be addressed in the past two transfer windows.

With 22 days until the window closes, Arsenal may be running out of reasons to sign a forward this month.