Chris Sutton cannot understand what Mikel Arteta has just done at Arsenal, it’s ‘odd’

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Arsenal are still actively looking for a new striker in the transfer window.

It has been common knowledge for everyone that the Gunners have needed a new centre-forward. That became even more of a priority after Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending injury.

Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers over the last few weeks, but no move has materialised so far, even though we’ve entered the final three days of the window.

Arteta has made a bid for one striker though, but Chris Sutton can’t understand that move.

Chris Sutton explains why he finds Arsenal’s move for Ollie Watkins is a ‘little odd’

Arsenal have had a bid rejected for Ollie Watkins by Aston Villa.

The Gunners have explored moves for several strikers over the last few weeks, but nobody really expected them to make a move for the England forward.

Paul Merson even branded Arsenal’s move for Watkins as ‘a farce’.

Sutton has now had his say on the situation, and he has questioned why Arteta waited until the 29th day of the window to make his move.

He wrote on BBC Sport: “It’s a little odd how Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been adamant for so long that he does not need another striker.

“Then, all of a sudden, we get to the end of January and they put in an offer for Ollie Watkins at Villa.

“It all feels a little bit late to me. Why not do it at the start of January? I know they have had a couple of injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus but I don’t understand the delay and it feels a little bit like they are making it up as they go along.”

Sutton is completely wrong to say one thing about Mikel Arteta

Sutton criticising Arsenal for their delay in making a move for Watkins is completely right – the Gunners should have made a bid much sooner.

However, his comments about Arteta are not true at all.

The Arsenal manager has never once said that he does not want a new striker. In fact, in recent weeks, Arteta has made it clear that he wants another forward signed.

The assumption among certain pundits that it’s Arteta who has been against a new striker over the years is laughable considering that he has targeted moves for Dusan Vlahovic, Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko and now Watkins.

The fact that none of them have been signed is on the club, not Arteta.