"I understand": Watts drops update on Arsenal's striker search, Arteta will be fuming - opinion

Arsenal have been dealt another blow in their hopes to sign a striker this January transfer window…

As one target in Fiorentina marksman Dusan Vlahovic is on the verge of completing a move to Serie A giants Juventus over the Gunners, it appears as if Lille talisman Jonathan David will not become an Arsenal player either, at least not before Monday’s deadline.

That’s according to Goal journalist Charles Watts, who provided an update on the club’s desperate striker search.

“Jonathan David, we know Arsenal like him. From what I understand, he won’t be leaving in January. He will be leaving in the summer,” he revealed to his YouTube channel earlier this week.

It’s no secret that the north London outfit are on the hunt for a new centre-forward and their need for one before next week has increased tenfold in recent weeks as goals have started to dry up even more.

Mikel Arteta’s side have failed to score in four straight matches across all competitions, in which they were also knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship outfit Nottingham Forest.

Among the problems is the long-term future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has not featured for the club since December 6th following his “latest disciplinary breach” – something that also saw him stripped of the captaincy. Al Hilal are keen to sign him this month, too, as per The Athletic.

Then there are the contractual situations of Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, who both look destined to depart the Emirates Stadium for nothing in the summer.

If all three go in the coming months, then Arteta will not have a senior striker on the books, hence the desperation to resolve the issue sooner rather than later.

The Spanish head coach has even been spotted in America with owner Stan