Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is ready to call upon Declan Rice as an emergency option at centre-back in the absence of William Saliba. Saliba missed Saturday’s draw with Aston Villa due to a hamstring injury picked up in the north London derby last Wednesday.

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has emplored Mikel Arteta to sign a new striker before the January transfer window closes. Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka have further reduced the Gunners’ attacking options and a lack of firepower is undermining the north London club’s title aspirations.

Mikel Arteta was full of confidence in the summer that Arsenal could cope without a number of their departed attacking stars, but the Spaniard is now taking a different line