Mikel Arteta sends summer transfer hint and shuts down Arsenal striker theory

Much has been made of Arsenal's need to sign a new striker in the summer, but manager Mikel Arteta doesn't seem to agree with that theory.

The Gunners crashed out of the Champions League on Wednesday night after losing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. The Bundesliga giants progressed to the last four after a 3-2 aggregate victory that highlighted some of the flaws in Arsenal's current set-up.

Arteta's side were guilty of spurning some big chances in the first leg at the Emirates, before failing to really lay a glove on their hosts at the Allianz. Both games supported the popular theory that if Arsenal are to start winning the major honours again, they must land a new striker that guarantees them goals.

One person who seems to think so is Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel. The former Red Devils goalkeeper conducted an interview with Arteta in the immediate aftermath of the defeat by Bayern and asked if elimination from the Champions League could be put down to not having a 'proper striker' up front.

"No, I don’t think so because we’re the team that’s scored more goals in the Premier League and you’re talking about like this," Arteta replied. Schmeichel was quick to point out that that's because Arsenal get their goals from 'everywhere', but the Gunners boss fired back.

"From everywhere, and we have to," Arteta added. "Because the reality is we don’t have a striker who is going to score 35, 40 goals – and we have to live with that.

"We have many other qualities. And today’s the day to stick behind the players because they have given us so much, they have taken us on this journey and we still have the Premier League to play."

Arsenal have been linked with a number of strikers