Arteta disappointed by Arsenal’s January signing

Mikel Arteta has expressed his disappointment over Arsenal’s inability to sign a striker during the January transfer window, but he believes the club must remain “very disciplined” to stay on course for future success.

Last week, Arsenal’s £40 million ($50m) bid for Ollie Watkins was rejected by Aston Villa, and despite Arteta’s public acknowledgment that the Gunners needed attacking reinforcements following injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus, the club could not bring in any new players.

“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,” Arteta stated. “So we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players. We have to be very disciplined with that as well and I think we were. I wouldn’t like to go into too much detail. We couldn’t do it for certain reasons and we have to accept it, that’s it. It was a combination of things.”

When asked how this discipline could affect Arsenal’s plans for the summer, especially with long-term targets like Benjamin Sesko from Red Bull Leipzig and Alexander Isak from Newcastle potentially available, Arteta explained: “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 had previously suggested that Arsenal’s decision not to sign a striker in the summer had left them “short” in terms of numbers. When asked whether it was a gamble to not add to his squad mid-season, he responded: “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.”

Arteta pointed out that some of Arsenal’s players are currently on loan, and the club does not have the luxury of a squad as large as those of many other clubs. “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.”

The Arsenal manager acknowledged the club’s financial situation, which has led them to adopt a more sustainable model. “We have had to do so much in the last few years, that’s where we are, so we will have to evolve there as well and have more, more players from the academy and the ones that are here to be fitter for longer,” Arteta continued. “That is a job that is permanent and it keeps evolving. We need to be on our toes.”

Looking ahead, Arteta’s focus shifts to Arsenal’s upcoming match against Newcastle in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal on Wednesday. Arsenal will travel to St. James’ Park, aiming to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

Caption: Mikel Arteta