Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed his disappointment after the club failed to secure a striker during the January transfer window.
Despite publicly stating the need for attacking reinforcements following injuries to key players Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, the Gunners were unable to complete any deals.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins proved unsuccessful, with the Birmingham club rejecting a bid in the region of £40 million ($50m).
Arteta acknowledged the club’s efforts, stating, “We had a clear intention which is obvious. There is a window open to explore the possibilities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. We haven’t achieved it.”
While admitting his disappointment, Arteta emphasized the importance of financial discipline.
“So we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kind of players. We have to be very disciplined with that as well and I think we were.”
He declined to elaborate on the specific reasons for the failed transfers, citing a “combination of things.”
The manager’s comments suggest a cautious approach to spending, even with potential summer targets like Red Bull Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Newcastle’s Alexander Isak on the horizon.
“What I mean about that is in everything, in the kind of profile, in the kind of player that we believe can really make us much better. Financially. In a lot of ways, there are a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there, try to improve,” Arteta explained.
Arteta previously hinted that Arsenal’s lack of striker signings last summer had left the squad “short.”
When questioned about the gamble of not adding to his squad in January, he clarified, “It is not a gamble, it is reality. We have to face the reality as well that we have. We have the players that we have.”
He pointed to the club’s relatively small squad size compared to other top clubs, adding, “We have never had a squad of 35, 40, 45 players. So many other clubs they have 45 players on the list. We don’t have that size at the moment. It is our reality.”
Arsenal face a tough challenge in their upcoming Carabao Cup semifinal second leg against Newcastle, where they will need to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
