Arsenal left Mikel Arteta ‘disappointed’ with January transfer window | Football | Sport

Arsenal enter transfer deadline day at the top of the Premier League, but their January activity could prove decisive in determining whether they maintain that position. For a stark reminder of how a subdued winter window can derail a campaign, the Gunners need only reflect on 12 months ago.

Boss Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta recognised the necessity for reinforcements during the summer following Arsenal’s failure to clinch the title last term. Yet Arteta had identified these requirements considerably earlier. When Arsenal thrashed Manchester City 5-1 on February 2 last year, they trailed league leaders Liverpool by six points, having played one match more than Arne Slot’s side.

Their attacking options looked perilously sparse, with Gabriel Jesus ruled out for the remainder of the season following a January setback, whilst both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli were still recovering from their own fitness issues.

This left Kai Havertz with precious little competition for places. Arsenal made a belated attempt to land Aston Villa and England forward Ollie Watkins, but the move failed to materialise – much to Arteta’s disappointment.

“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,” Arteta said when the transfer window closed.

“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 and I think that we will.He further stated: “It’s not a gamble, it’s reality.

“I think we have to face the reality as well that we have. We have the players that we have, some of them are on loan. We’ve never had a squad of 35, 40, 45 players. So many other clubs, they have 45 players in their list.

“We don’t have that size at the moment. It’s our reality. We have to do so much in the last few years that’s where we are. So we’re going to have to evolve there as well and have more and have more players from the academy and the ones that are here to be fitted longer. That’s a job that is permanent and it keeps evolving and we need to be on our toes.”

In the end, we’ll never know if an additional signing could have helped Arsenal catch up with Liverpool. Havertz suffered an injury during a warm-weather training camp before Arsenal could even play another league match and didn’t return to the pitch until the final two games of the season.

By that point, Arteta’s side had endured more costly results as the return of Saka and Martinelli, alongside some crucial goals from makeshift striker Mikel Merino, failed to close the deficit.

Arsenal still secured second place but trailed champions Liverpool by 10 points, whilst a determined Champions League campaign concluded with defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.

Compared to 12 months ago, Arsenal find themselves in a much stronger position in terms of league standing and squad depth. Only time will tell whether it proves sufficient.