Mikel Arteta insists he is content with the "incredible" attacking options at his disposal, despite Arsenal selling Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli late in the transfer window without signing another forward.
The Premier League transfer window slammed shut on Tuesday, with Arsenal having added four players to their title-winning squad from 2025-26.
Only one of those additions, however, was an attacker, with Christos Tzolis joining from Club Brugge. Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Illan Meslier also came in, while Piero Hincapie's loan move from Bayer Leverkusen was made permanent.
Meanwhile, this week's sales of Jesus to Barcelona and Martinelli to Al-Hilal came off the back of Leandro Trossard joining Besiktas earlier in the window.
Arsenal were strongly linked with a move for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez throughout the summer, but Los Colchoneros ultimately kept hold of the Argentine, who had been pushing to join Barcelona.
Some supporters have suggested Arsenal are now light in the attacking areas, but when asked about that sentiment ahead of Sunday's clash with Chelsea, Arteta said: "I don't know, these are just opinions.
"The window is closed and I prefer to look at all the incredible things that we have in this squad, not to spend any more time on the things that are not part of us right now. That's it and that's my main responsibility.
"I love my players, that's what I can say. In which bracket you want to put them, I don't know. I think at the end of the season we'll put everybody in their place and let's trust them.
"Let's make sure that we are right behind them and we do everything we can to help the incredible talent that they have."
Asked about Martinelli's legacy at Arsenal, for whom he made 278 appearances and scored 62 goals in all competitions, Arteta said: "With Gabi, I have gratitude.
Arrived as a boy. Left as a champion.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 3, 2026
N5 will always be your home, Gabi pic.twitter.com/is3tQDzhct
"It's been a pleasure to work with him and be part of his journey. The Gabi I met and the one that just left had a huge transformation, both personally and professionally.
"The impact he had on the club... his ambition, his love for the game and the way he has helped us to grow and achieve our goals, he has been a critical player. The story ends, and we wish him all the best in a different one."
Sunday's game will be an early test of Arsenal's title credentials as they face one of the three other teams to open 2026-27 with back-to-back Premier League wins.
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League matches against Chelsea (W6 D3), their best unbeaten run against them since a run of 19 between 1995 and 2005.
However, Xabi Alonso has had an immediate impact upon taking charge at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea being one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the division this season.
Chelsea's two Premier League matches this term have contained 12 goals (seven for, five against), the joint-third most in any side's first two games of a campaign in the competition, behind only Arsenal in 2004-05 (13) and Leeds United in 2020-21 (14).
The Blues could become the first side to see their opening three games of a top-flight season all contain five or more goals since Arsenal in 1988-89, and Arteta admits Alonso's Bundesliga title success with Leverkusen in 2023-24 was an inspiration to him.
He said of Alonso: "Obviously, we've known each other for so long, we have experienced different countries, different moments, and to go abroad and deliver what he has done – the same with Andoni [Iraola] as well – I think it's remarkable.
"It shows you that doing what you feel, and being able to translate that to a club and ultimately achieve the goals that you want is possible, regardless of where you are born and where you're from."