Arsenal’s two top striker targets on deadline day have been named as fans told to ‘stay alert’

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Ever since news of Gabriel Jesus’ knee injury at Arsenal, the discourse around bringing in a new striker at the club completely changed.

Mikel Arteta has now been willing to speak openly about Arsenal signing a new number nine, something that would have seldom happened in the past.

But it would seem that both Arteta and Arsenal have recognised the need to lessen the burden on Kai Havertz, who has already played an incredible amount of minutes this season.

Arsenal will need Havertz fresh and fit for their big Champions League ties to come, the kind of games which really suit his attributes.

That being said, if either Ollie Watkins or Mathys Tel were around to dovetail with the German, Arsenal may still be able to realise their trophy ambitions this season.

Ollie Watkins and Mathys Tel still top of Arsenal’s striker list

According to Sky Sports journalist Gary Cotterill, who was reporting live on air from within the Emirates Stadium on deadline day, both Waktins and Tel remain top of Arsenal’s shortlist.

It would seem as if a deal for Watkins would still be Arsenal’s number one play, but a switch for Tel to arrive in N5 also isn’t being ruled out.

READ MORE: How much Aston Villa are ready to sell Ollie Watkins to Arsenal for on deadline day

Cotterill explained: “Mikel Arteta would still like one [a striker]. He had a glint in his eye when he was asked after the match, he said ‘anything can happen’ and we know those who are looking at the market at anything short term, medium and long-term and anything that can improve the squad.

“There has been all kinds of strikers linked this January. Top of the list as we go into deadline day is Ollie Watkins, who has scored 10 in the Premier League, just one more by the way than Kai Havertz, despite those confidence problems.

“But the difficulty there seem to be the club don’t want him to go even if the player himself might be keen to join Arsenal.

“The difficulty with the other name near the top of the list is Mathys Tel, is different. The player himself doesn’t seem that keen to leave Bayern Munich, particularly on a permanent deal or a loan with an obligation, even though Bayern seem happy for him to leave.

“It was the stay humble day the Emirates yesterday, today it’s the stay alert day, stay poised day, still open to anything day with just under 16 hours to go.”

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang shows why Ollie Watkins is the perfect signing

Of course, it’s worth noting that Watkins suffered an injury for Villa during their defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

Watkins came off at half-time owing to some muscle pain, news which might be slightly alarming from an Arsenal point of view – perhaps pushing their interest towards Tel.

The England international has a superb fitness record in his career to date, one of the reasons Arsenal would be willing to spend big on the 29-year-old.

And any fans who are worried about the striker’s age might be best reminded of the impact that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had in north London when he arrived at a similar age.

An exciting situation to follow, and Arsenal supporters would surely be delighted if either Tel or Watkins were to be photographed in their kit within the next 24 hours.