Arsenal legend David Seaman has insisted the club are desperately searching for a new striker in the January transfer window. The Gunners lost ground in the Premier League title race after giving up a 2-0 lead to draw with Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday.

Earlier that day, Liverpool defeated Brentford thanks to stoppage-time goals from Darwin Nunez, compounding Arsenal’s two dropped points. It left Mikel Arteta’s side six points behind Liverpool, having played a game more than their title rivals.

The team have been accused of lacking a prolific striker , though Kai Havertz has scored eight league goals so far this term and Gabriel Jesus briefly found form before suffering a likely season-ending ACL injury. With the latter now on the sidelines, the Gunners have been linked with a move for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

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Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino to bolster their defence and midfield in the summer but failed to bring in a new goalscorer. Despite big-money deals rarely occurring during the January window, Seaman is certain that the Gunners are working hard behind the scenes to solve their striker problem.

“We thought we were [strengthening] with Merino and Calafiorii and thought that was going to be enough,” Seaman said on talkSPORT . “Everybody was still saying, ‘We still need a striker’.

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens with that, whether they do get someone, because I know for a fact that they are trying like mad to get one. But whether it’s the one they want now or the one they want in the summer.”

While the Gunners have been linked with a long list of strikers, one name previously touted for a move to north London was Ivan Toney before he joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli. “I’m sure there are other ones in the pipeline and we’ll have to wait and see,” Seaman added.

Arsenal have been praised for their defence this season, conceding just 21 goals, but have scored seven less than league leaders Liverpool, despite playing an extra game. Seaman is aware that the club cannot afford many more mistakes in the title race but the goalkeeper shares fans’ concerns about the Gunners’ forward line.

"It just looks like we’re trying to get a marquee striker, the finished article, in the January transfer window, but it doesn’t happen that often because the selling clubs don’t want to let go,” Seaman admitted. “Obviously, the Jesus injury is going to be long-term; Saka is long-term but he will come back before the end of the season. When you’ve got big players like that out your team, you’re going to struggle.

“[Jesus] found some form and some goals but even when he was playing, it reminded me of Harry Kane when he was at Tottenham, how he would drop deep too much. [Havertz] is not an out-and-out striker, but he’s trying and scored some good goals. He’s scored some important goals, missed a couple at the weekend, but it’s so frustrating.”

However, Seaman has not given up on Arsenal’s title hopes as he looks beyond the disappointing draw with Villa. “I still feel there’s going to be a few more changes. A week before this, Liverpool dropped points at Forest,” Seaman said. “For me, it’s not over at all but we can’t afford to have any more results like that.”