Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta (42) has expressed his “disappointment” over the club’s inability to secure a new striker before the transfer window closed on Monday.
The Gunners were unsuccessful in their attempts to sign England striker Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, with their £60 million offer turned down last week.
After failing to secure an alternative deal following the Watkins setback, Arsenal concluded the January transfer period with uncertainties surrounding their forward line, which has been significantly impacted by the long-term injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
As the team prepares for Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle, Arteta acknowledged the frustrations stemming from the lack of transfer activity.
“We had frank discussions about our aim to enhance the squad if possible. The injuries have affected us, and we haven’t been able to follow through,” Arteta remarked to the media on Tuesday.
“We are disappointed in that regard, but we also recognise that we only want to sign players who fit certain criteria.
“There were specific reasons we couldn’t do it, and we have to come to terms with that. It was a combination of factors. We must remain disciplined in this approach.”
During this transfer window, Arsenal operated without their former sporting director Edu, who resigned in November after significantly influencing the club’s transfer strategy.
Despite Edu’s close association with Arteta, the Spaniard assured that he had no grievances regarding Arsenal’s recruitment process, even after the unsuccessful pursuit for a striker.
“When you give your all and follow the right process, but the outcome isn’t what you hoped for, that’s just how it goes. There are certainly lessons to be taken from it, but we must now focus on moving forward,” he stated.
‘Need to be adaptable’
While Arsenal will have to navigate a weakened attacking line for the time being, they appeared unaffected during their impressive 5-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday.
German forward Kai Havertz and young attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri both scored in that encounter, and Arteta remains optimistic about the talent within his squad.
“From this point onward, there’s no need for further discussion. We concentrate on enhancing the team we have. The achievements of the squad have been remarkable, and I have complete faith in them,” he affirmed.
“We will need to be adaptable in our attacking setup. We must ensure the players stay fit, contributing, and able to perform in their roles. At some point, we may need to experiment with different tactics.”
Arsenal face a daunting challenge at St James’ Park on Wednesday after losing the first leg 2-0 at home in January.
Newcastle also secured a 1-0 victory over the Gunners in the Premier League in November.
“They are a very challenging team to compete against. Clearly, this season has seen two markedly different matches,” Arteta commented.
He is hopeful that the victory over City will instil confidence in his players as they aim for their first League Cup final appearance since 2018.
“When you compare the emotional state of the team after the first leg to now, following the Manchester City match, it’s drastically different. The next target is the final, and we understand its significance,” said Arteta, whose side last won the League Cup in 1993.
“The energy we gained from the City game and the way we played is crucial. It’s time to go all in and seize the opportunity.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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