David Seaman thinks Eddie Nketiah could potentially become “upset” if Arsenal make a striker signing in the January transfer window.
The Gunners weighing up their options in the January transfer window with a number of strikers linked to the Emirates Stadium.
An injury picked up by Gabriel Jesus at the World Cup has left Mikel Arteta with Nketiah as the only senior striker available for selection.
Nketiah has been in brilliant form since the World Cup break with the Englishman bagging five goals in his last five matches in all competitions.
There is no guarantee Arsenal will bring in a striker over the winter window with the Gunners keeping the timeframe of Jesus injury return under wraps.
And Seaman reckons it could have a negative impact on Arteta’s side if it blocks Nketiah from getting any game time.
Seaman told talkSPORT: “The problem you’ve got is you don’t know how long Gabriel Jesus is going to be out for.
“If that is a shorter term injury then no you don’t [need a replacement]. If it’s longer term then you’ve got to think about it because you don’t want Jesus and Nketiah being back at full fitness and then another striker is overload.
“Does that upset either striker? I’m sure it would upset Nketiah if he wasn’t getting game-time.
“It is a difficult one and it all depends on the injury status of Jesus, how long is he going to be out for?”
Emile Smith Rowe played his first minutes for Arsenal since the beginning of September on Monday night as the Gunners eased past Oxford United 3-0 in the FA Cup third round.
Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League and Smith Rowe thinks the Gunners can use last season’s 3-0 defeat at Tottenham to spur them on to victory in the north London derby at the weekend.
“We are going to train really hard and we will use the energy, how we felt last year, and use it going into the game,” Smith Rowe said after the win over Oxford.
“I feel like maybe (we will use the defeat in the build-up to this game) but obviously most of us already know how it felt back then.
“A win would be massive for us. I think it couldn’t come at a better time. We are feeling really good at the moment.
“All the boys know what it means to play in these kind of games. We are all going to rest up now and get ready for it.”
On his groin injury, Smith Rowe added: “A lot of people might not know, but I have had this injury since I was 18, 19.
“It has been quite hard to deal with it over the years. But I am really happy that it is just finally over. I had a successful surgery and I am really feeling really good.
“It was the exact same pain from back then, which has been quite hard to manage. Obviously a lot of people might not know about that from over the years. But I am just happy to come out the other side fully fit.
“I have been itching to get out there and play with the boys. I hope I can make an impact. I hope we can have a great rest of the season.
“It has been difficult being out for this long. I don’t think I have had this (long lay-off) before and it has been tough watching the boys. But at the same time we are top of the league and playing really well, so I can’t complain.
“I was pretty much with them from the start to be honest after surgery. I was in all the meetings and stuff, trying to keep up with the knowledge and learning every day what he (Arteta) was trying to apply in training. It has been much easier than I thought. I am just happy to be back now.”
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