Arteta disappointed by Arsenal’s lack of January signings

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed disappointment over the club’s failure to make any signings during the January transfer window.

The Gunners were expected to bring in an attacker following Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury last month, while Bukayo Saka remains sidelined with a hamstring issue.

“We had a clear intention, which is always to explore opportunities to improve our squad with players who can make an impact,” Arteta said ahead of 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 we are also very aware that we only want to bring in certain kinds of players and have to be very disciplined with that. I think we were. It’s about finding the right profile, a player we believe can make us much better.”

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire, speaking to BBC Sport before Arteta’s press conference, explained that Arsenal’s lack of transfer activity was influenced by a tough market for buyers.

“The market Arsenal were looking at had relatively few available players,” Maguire said. “With the Champions League and Europa League extending into January, clubs were reluctant to sell. Arsenal likely felt there wasn’t a player who could significantly improve the starting XI or regular squad.”

With limited options, Arteta admitted Arsenal’s attack would have to be “flexible” and that he might have to “try something different” to cope with injuries.

Three players departed Arsenal during the window: defenders Ayden Heaven, 17, and Josh Robinson, 20, joined Manchester United and Wigan Athletic, respectively, while Brazilian forward Marquinhos moved to Cruzeiro on loan until the end of the season.

Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League after Sunday’s emphatic 5-1 win over Manchester City, trailing leaders Liverpool by six points, having played one game more.