FEE AGREED: Arsenal agree a huge transfer fee to secure attacker’s signing as the forward desperately want to join The Gunners

Arsenal may have just suffered a big blow in their pursuit of a new striker.

Mikel Arteta has been desperate for reinforcements in attack. He has even publicly claimed that he wants a new striker before the window shuts.

Arsenal have been linked with several names over the last few weeks, but no move has materialised for any of them so far.

Now, one of Arteta’s key targets has suffered an injury just a couple of days before the transfer deadline.

Arsenal target Ollie Watkins suffers injury during Aston Villa’s defeat to Wolves
Arsenal have been very keen to sign Ollie Watkins over the last few days.

The Gunners have explored moves for several strikers since the start of the window, but the Aston Villa star emerged as a key target recently.

Arsenal’s bid for Watkins was rejected by Aston Villa, and a second offer from Arteta’s side was said to be in the works.

However, there could be a big problem now.

During Villa’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves, Emery was forced to withdraw Watkins at half-time after a muscular injury.

“I changed him because he was feeling pain in his muscle. Tomorrow we will test him.” Emery said after the game.

Muscular issues are always worrying – Arsenal know that very well having seen Bukayo Saka tear his hamstring in December.

It remains to be seen if Arsenal will take a chance on the ‘incredible‘ Watkins even if he is ruled out for a few weeks.

Arsenal have signed an injured player before
Watkins’ injury just two days before transfer deadline day definitely complicates things.

Arsenal need a forward who will come in and have an instant impact. They need goals to stay within touching distance of Liverpool in the title race.

With that in mind, it makes little sense to invest in Watkins if he’s going to be out for a significant period, but Arsenal have pulled off such a deal in the past.

Arsene Wenger signed Kim Kallstrom in January 2014 even though the midfielder was injured. He missed the first 10 games after his arrival due to his back issue and ended up playing just 138 minutes of football in all competitions.

Kallstrom did, however, score a very important penalty in the FA Cup semi-final that helped Arsenal make it into the final and win it.