Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that the Gunners failed to achieve what they set out to achieve at the start of the January transfer window, which slammed shut without a single new face arriving at the Emirates.
The Gunners boss affirmed on several occasions that he wanted a new option in attack following serious injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, the former of whom will miss the rest of the season with an ACL rupture.
Jesus's devastating issue leaves Arteta with just two options in the number nine role, a misfiring Kai Havertz and an inexperienced Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who only made his senior Arsenal debut last month.
Havertz did register his 15th goal of the season in all competitions in Sunday's 5-1 decimation of Manchester City, but the German also wasted a golden chance in the first half, just as he did against Newcastle United in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals.
Arsenal head to St James' Park for Wednesday's second leg needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit to face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the final, and Arteta fielded questions from the media in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Arteta names four alternative striking options for Arsenal
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Reflecting on a frustrating transfer window, the Gunners boss said: "We had a clear intention which is always when a window opens to explore the opportunities to improve our squad. With players with injuries, we've been impacted and we haven't achieved it.
"We are disappointed in that sense but as well we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.
"When you try your best and do things, you see the people and we share the same intentions, when you don't achieve it okay, for sure there are things to learn from it. But you have to move on and that is a piece that was important in the moment, but now we've moved on."
However, Arteta stressed that Havertz may not have to start every single game amid fears of burnout for the confidence-depleted attacker, having deployed Leandro Trossard in the number nine slot for the recent 2-1 Champions League win against Girona.
The Spaniard also name-checked Gabriel Martinelli, Chelsea loanee Raheem Sterling and 17-year-old wonderkid Ethan Nwaneri as alternative options up front, adding: "We're going to have to be flexible in the front line.
"The ones that are available and fit, make sure they stay fit. Leo can play there, Raheem has played in that position, Ethan I think can play there, Martinelli too. At some point we're going to have to try something different."
Will any injured Arsenal players return against Newcastle?
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While Jesus, Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu are continuing their recoveries from long-term issues, there was optimism that Ben White may have been able to make his return from knee surgery at St James' Park.
The English right-back is understood to be on the cusp of returning to full training after undergoing a procedure in November, but Arteta has admitted that he will not make his competitive comeback just yet.
"No news from the game against City. Ben White is still out, hopefully after the break he will be available. (Bukayo) Saka not available yet," Arteta said.
Arsenal will have a 10-day break in between Wednesday's second leg and their trip Leicester City in the Premier League on February 15, during which the Gunners are expected to fly out to Dubai for their regular warm-weather training camp.
Ben Knapton
