Mikel Arteta 'disappointed' by Arsenal failure to sign a striker a January | OneFootball

Gunners wanted to bring in a new forward in January but missed out on Ollie Watkins and did not get anyone in

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal are “disappointed” by their failure to sign a striker in January.

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins then emerged as a target, but a deal could not be struck for him either.

Arsenal will now head into the final part of the season with just one fit striker as Gabriel Jesus is out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.

“We had a clear intention, which is always there is a window open to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it,” said Arteta.

“We haven’t achieved it, so we are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kind of players - and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.

“I think we talk very openly from my side of the club perspective about the intention to improve the squad.

“We have the capacity to do it and most importantly to keep improving the team, to keep improving the individuals within the team because it’s the ones that we have and we love and that’s it.

“And for now, there’s no discussion about it and we focus in the things that we have continued to do even though the window was open.

“When you try your best and you do things with the right process, and you see the people that we all share the same intentions and wills and after you don't achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it.

“There always are, but you have to move on and that’s a piece that was important in the moment and now we have to move on and nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We’ll know probably at the end of the season.”

Arsenal have emergency options available if he elects to rest Havertz, citing Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling as candidates to play there.

“We’re going to have to be very flexible in the front line and now the ones that we have and are fit, make sure that they stay fit and they keep contributing,” said Arteta.

“Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there.

“Let’s see in relation to how everybody is, moment, opponent, but at some point, I think we’re going to have to try something different.”