Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment over the club’s inability to secure any signings during the winter transfer window but commended the team’s disciplined approach.
The Gunners had been expected to bolster their attacking options following Gabriel Jesus’s season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury last month. Additionally, the continued absence of Bukayo Saka due to a hamstring injury has added to their challenges upfront.
“We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can make an impact,” Arteta said before Arsenal’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle on Wednesday.
“With players injured, we’ve been impacted and we haven’t achieved it. We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well. I think that we were.
“It’s in the profile, a player that we believe can make us much better. Financially there is a lot of ways, a lot of things that we must stay in the lane that has taken us this far and from there try to improve.”
Speaking to BBC Sport before Arteta’s news conference, football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained that Arsenal’s lack of business was a decision made in a tough market for buyers.
“As far as the market they would be looking at [is concerned] there are relatively few players,” Maguire said.
“We’ve got the extension of the Champions League and Europa League [into January] so clubs were reluctant to sell.
“So if Arsenal wanted to recruit they’ve really got to go into a rarefied market. I guess they felt there wasn’t somebody who would improve the starting XI or regular 16.”
Arteta acknowledged the need for flexibility in Arsenal’s attack, stating that he might have to “try something different” to cope with the ongoing injury challenges.
Meanwhile, three players departed the club during the winter transfer window. Teenage defender Ayden Heaven, 17, moved to Manchester United, while Josh Robinson, 20, joined Wigan Athletic. Brazilian forward Marquinhos secured a loan move to Cruzeiro until the end of the season.
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table following their impressive 5-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday. They are six points behind league leaders Liverpool, having played one game more.