Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment over Arsenal’s lack of signings in the January transfer window, acknowledging that the club will have to be “flexible in the front line” to cope with limited attacking options.
Arsenal had hoped to strengthen their squad after injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus but were unable to secure reinforcements before the deadline. A £40 million bid for Ollie Watkins was rejected by Aston Villa, while interest in Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel was not pursued, with the forward instead joining Tottenham on loan.
Despite the frustration, Arteta emphasized that Arsenal’s financial position will be stronger in the summer, when they are expected to renew their pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. However, he admitted that any further injury setbacks could leave the team short of options for the remainder of the season.
“We had a clear intention to explore opportunities to improve our squad,” Arteta said. “We haven’t achieved it, so we are disappointed in that sense, but we only want to bring in certain kinds of players and must be disciplined with that.”
When asked if Arsenal were taking a risk by not signing attacking reinforcements, Arteta responded: “It’s not a gamble, it’s reality. We have to face the reality that we have. We’re going to have to evolve and make use of players from the academy. The ones we have need to stay fit and keep contributing.”
With Kai Havertz as Arsenal’s only recognized centre-forward, Arteta suggested that Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri could also play in attacking roles. Nwaneri, who turns 18 next month, is only two goals away from matching Wayne Rooney’s record of nine senior goals before his 18th birthday.
Arteta is optimistic about Havertz’s ability to handle the demands of the season. “His robustness and availability are unbelievable,” he said. “He feels better when he’s playing every three days. Against Girona, we gave him a rest, and he felt fresher. Then he had a very demanding game physically against Manchester City. We will see how the players are, but performing well and scoring goals always helps.”
Arsenal faces a crucial second leg against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final, needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit to reach Wembley. However, after a dominant 5-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, Arsenal have built strong momentum with four consecutive wins in all competitions.
“The emotional state of the team now is very different compared to right after the first leg,” Arteta said. “We come from strong performances and great wins, especially the last one against Man City. Momentum is with us, and after this game, we have a break, so it’s the moment to go full gas and try to win the tie.”
