Mikel Arteta joins the Arsenal transfer following injuries to Bukaya Saka and Raheem Sterling

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted the Gunners may be forced to turn around transfer market after Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling were injured.

Saka limped off during the recent win over Crystal Palace with a hamstring problem which Arteta predicted would rule him out for “many weeks“, before substitute Raheem Sterling dropped out of training with a knee problem.

That leaves Arsenal without natural right-backs as they head into the busy festive period, and Arteta has admitted a new signing may be needed.

“If something incredible is available and the club is willing to do it, we will have to consider it,” Arteta said. “The preparations are complete and we are ready if something happens.

“We didn’t predict the situation with Bukaya and Raheem at the same time. We predicted it would be something else: for example, the defensive line. We started the season with one of the weakest teams in the Premier League – we knew that.”

Saka faces extended stay on the sidelines / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Arteta, however, stressed that Arsenal’s squad is full of players who have experience filling in on the right side of the attack.

“[Gabriel Martinelli]it’s the first one we’ve gone through, especially because he’s already played there,” Arteta explained. “He played the last match there against Everton and the last match of the season. He was very good. He was very good the other day, scored a goal and made an assist and is a good option to have.

“Chatty [Jesus] played there. Ethan [Nwaneri] he played there, Leo [Trossard] can play there relative to how that unit moves. Kai [Havertz] can play there, asking him different things.

“We’ll see, we’ll try different things and ask them what they think about it.”