Mikel Arteta left the door open for Arsenal to make a deadline day move for a forward as they continue to monitor Julian Alvarez.
The champions recorded their second straight win at the start of their Premier League title defence, as Bukayo Saka’s second-half goal was enough to seal a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa.
Arsenal have pursued Alvarez all summer. The Atletico Madrid forward would like to move to Barcelona but club chiefs have said they will not sell him to their La Liga rivals – opening the door for a potential £130million move.
‘If we can improve the squad we will,’ he said. ‘The depth has to be really big when we are fighting in four competitions so we are going to try to do that.’
Asked directly about Alvarez, Arteta said: ‘I don’t know. That’s for the people upstairs.’
Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta brought Alvarez to Atletico Madrid from Manchester City and has dreamed all summer of signing him for a second time.
Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta brought Alvarez to Atletico Madrid from Manchester City and has dreamed all summer of signing him for a second time
Whether Alvarez arrives or not, Arsenal look formidable. They were always the better side against Villa and saw out the game comfortably – in sharp contrast to last season, when Emi Buendia won it for Unai Emery’s men in stoppage time.
Arsenal looked distraught when that goal went in and Arteta revealed he has used those memories to inspire his team.
He said: ‘We used what happened last year to bring more energy, conviction and belief – that image of the players on the floor totally gutted. When we had to be dominant and had to suffer we did both and I’m very pleased.’
Even though this was better from Villa after their 4-0 hammering at Brighton on the opening day, they are still without a point or a goal in their opening two matches.
Emery handed debuts to goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and forward Nicolas Jackson and would hope to include fellow signings Ibrahim Mbaye, Leon Goretzka and Taylor Harwood-Bellis at Hull.
Emery said: ‘They are favourites to win the Premier League and we are trying to build a team, but a lot of positive things. The first step forward today is positive.
‘To lose is painful, but after we must try to get positive things. This is the reason I am optimistic. There are 38 matches. After two matches, we don’t have a point but hopefully we can get better.
‘We can feel confident after this result because of the way we want to build a team again.’
