The Arsenal transfer warchest remained closed in January, as at the potential expense of Premier League, Champions League and EFL Cup glory, the Gunners hierarchy decided against splashing the cash on a shiny new attacker.
It was a risk seemingly worth taking in the board's eyes as they push for a marquee summer deal, but one that backfired just two days later, as Gabriel Martinelli pulled up with a hamstring problem in Wednesday's EFL Cup loss to Newcastle United.
The severity of Martinelli's issue remains unknown - there is every chance he could return immediately after Arsenal's Dubai break - but for now, he joins long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka in the Gunners' treatment room.
With Martinelli, Saka and Jesus all working their way back from injuries, Arteta is now working with just four senior attackers in Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard, or five if you count recent debutant Nathan Butler-Oyedeji.
What is done is done in the transfer window, but Arsenal could still move for a free agent to tide them over until the summer if Arteta - who admitted that his side's inactivity in January was "disappointing" - believes that it is time to hit the panic button.
Here, Sports Mole picks out three unattached players who Arsenal could sign on a short-term deal.
Wissam Ben Yedder
© Imago
One of the most feared strikers in Ligue 1 just a couple of seasons ago, former France international Wissam Ben Yedder is now on the lookout for his next landing spot after severing ties with Monaco at the end of last season.
The 34-year-old did not bid farewell without another 16-goal season in the 2023-24 Ligue 1 campaign - remarkably his lowest-scoring top-flight year in a Monaco jersey - and he ended his Monegasques spell with a terrific 152 direct goal involvements from 201 matches.
Ben Yedder formerly made a success of himself at Toulouse and Sevilla before making nets bulge for fun in a Monaco jersey, and while he is the furthest thing from a long-term attacking solution, he could at least share the number nine load with Havertz, whom Arteta currently has little choice but to continue playing.
However, the striker was recently given a two-year suspended prison sentence for drink-driving, sexual assault and refusing to co-operate with authorities, and Italian outfit Venezia are said to be in talks to sign him, although nothing has been announced yet.
Ryan Kent
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A player who should be in the prime of his career at 28 years old is instead currently unemployed, as Ryan Kent was severed from his Fenerbahce contract in October after making just one appearance for the Turkish side in the 2024-25 season.
Before an underwhelming spell in Turkey, the English winger was a mainstay of the Rangers attack, picking up a Europa League runners-up medal in the 2021-22 season after laying on five assists en route to the final.
Kent set up a total of 56 goals in 218 matches for Rangers - as well as scoring 33 of his own - although things did not quite work out for him at first in English football, where he failed to make the grade at Liverpool and only scored three goals in 47 games for Barnsley.
Arteta would at least have more scope to play Trossard or Sterling centrally if needs be with Kent on the books, but if a report from As Marca is to be believed, the attacker has chosen to continue his career in Iran due to his peculiar desire to own a pet crocodile.
Diego Costa
© Imago
A mortal enemy of Arsenal fans, Diego Costa's most memorable dealing with the Gunners came as a Chelsea player in 2015, where he managed to get Gabriel Paulista sent off - a decision that was then overturned - while also avoiding a red card for what was later deemed to have been violent conduct on Laurent Koscielny.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the 36-year-old is also waiting for the phone to ring after his short-lived stint at Gremio came to an end; unlike Kent and Ben Yedder, he is not believed to have received any offers yet.
Costa was offered a route back to the Premier League by Wolverhampton Wanderers for the 2022-23 season, a move that did not work out as he managed just one goal in 25 appearances in all competitions, a far cry from the player who hit 20 goals in the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons.
The volatile Costa does not immediately stick out as the sort of player whom Arteta would welcome into his ranks, although some may feel differently given Arsenal's supposed reputation for 'dark arts', and any striker would surely be better than no striker if the worst should happen to an overworked Havertz.
Ben Knapton
