Mikel Arteta says he has “very clear ideas” about the type of striker he wants to sign for Arsenal.

The Gunners have been on the hunt for attacking reinforcements already, but those efforts have stepped up following Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury.

The Brazilian has suffered an ACL injury in his left knee, and will undergo surgery in the coming days, after being carried off on a stretcher during Arsenal’s defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday.

And asked if he has an idea about what kind of forward he would like to bring in, Arteta said: “We have very clear ideas of the players that we want, yes.

“It was before Gabi and it was with Gabi injured right now and we have to wait and see how things develop.”

Pressed what kind of profile of player he would be looking for, Arteta said: “You can speak to [interim sporting director] Jason [Ayto]. You know I’m not going to speak about that.”

The loss of Jesus is a big blow to Arsenal as they are already without fellow forward Bukayo Saka until at least March.

Saka tore his hamstring in a match at Crystal Palace last month and, after undergoing surgery, faces months out.

“Obviously we are losing two very creative, very important, very unpredictable players for us, so that has an impact on the team. That’s for sure,” said Arteta.

“Not for now, it is from the start of the window and before the window we were actively looking at what we can do to plan and improve the squad, impact the squad, if we can.

“Obviously the news of Gabi, that takes the scenario to another dimension as well because the time frame will be longer.”

Arsenal are next in action on Wednesday night when they will host Tottenham in the north London derby.

The Gunners go into the game off the back of being knocked out of the FA Cup and losing the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at home to Newcastle.

Arteta has called on his players to deliver a performance to lift the mood at Emirates Stadium.

“There are a lot of things that happened which are very difficult to control and to understand,” said Arteta.

“The ones that are in our hands, and this is one of them. Let’s create the best atmosphere that the Emirates has seen.

“This is something that is in our hands. If we want, we will create it. What we are going to try with the players and the staff is we are the first ones to embrace that, and hopefully they will follow us.

“I cannot describe how much it helps the narrative, the energy across the club. We have experienced it: a negative one and a positive one, and what is the outcome? So it is our choice.”