Mikel Arteta is really “disappointed” Arsenal has ruined the transfer star of January.
But the Gunners – Baas says that “powerhouse” Kai Havertz can bear their attack until the end of the season – starting against Newcastle.
With prolonged injuries to bring Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring) forward, Arsenal urgently needed to add some attacking reinforcements during the winter window.
Instead, the North London giants must chase the best leaders Liverpool and reach the last phases of the Champions League with a team weaker than most of their rivals.
Arsenal has only one Fit Center-Forward in ex-Chelsea Man Havertz, 25, who has decided to stick to what they have instead of bringing in a body to strengthen the team.
The nearest Arteta came in repairing his rush -hour crisis was a pointless £ 45 million approach for Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, 29, late in the window that was quickly finished.
There was also interest in a loan agreement for Bayern Munich -attacker Mathys Tel, 19.
But Emirates Chiefs decided to withdraw before Tottenham dived to sign the Frenchman. Mikel Arteta insists that the lack of transfer activity of the Gunners is not a “gamble”.
The Spaniard claims that Arsenal can now splash the money in the summer – with top goals such as RB Leipzig -striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, with a value of £ 60 million.
Prior to trying to reverse a 2-0 deficit in the semi-final second stage of tonight in the Carabao Cup in Newcastle, Arteta defended the careful attitude of the club.
In the midst of the Horror ACL injury to Jesus last month, the Gunners Chef explained: “We had a clear intention to explore opportunities to improve our team with players who can influence it.
“We didn't achieve it, so we are all disappointed.
“But we are also very aware that we only want to bring certain types of players to the club and be very disciplined.
“Nobody knows if it is better to have done it or not. We will probably know at the end of this season.
“It's not a gamble – it's reality. We have the players we have and some of them are on loan.
“We have never had a team of 35, 40, 45 players. So many other clubs have 45 players in their list.
“We just don't have that size at the moment. We have had to do so much in recent years and that is where we are.
“So we will also have to evolve there and have more and more players from the academy.
“And those who are here must be fitter for longer. We must be sharp. '
After the resignation of EDU in November, Arsenal relied on inexperienced interim sports director Jason Ayto to negotiate deals, in addition to Arteta, director Richard Garlick and Head of Recruitment James Ellis.
Arteta revealed that the club will make a decision about who takes the position permanently “relatively fast”.
He explained: “If you do your best and do things with the right process, and the people see that we all share the same intentions and Willes, and after you have not achieved it, there are certainly things to learn from it. There are always.
“Jason and the team really did well. But then it is the transfer market – and it is complicated.
“But you have to go on. Now I concentrate on the numbers we have and how they can maximize them. It is remarkable what the team has done so far.
“There are times when we only had 13 players who train – that's just super, super low.
“So I expect that when the players are not fit, we will get better.”
Forward Jesus' great knee surgery may keep him out for the rest of 2025, while Gunners Talisman Saka focuses on a return in March.
So Arteta only has to trust in Havertz to deliver the goods for the rest of the campaign.
So far, Havertz has 15 goals in all competitions – a career the best in England – and this term 29 of Arsenal's 37 games has started.
If he got injured, it would be a hammer blow for a Champions League last-16-significant game next month and while they try to close the six-point gap to Arne Slot's Reds who also have a competition in hand.
Havertz scored in the 5-1 victory of Sunday at Manchester City. Asked if he could start every game until May, Arteta said: “It's possible.
“He played a lot of football, but his robustness, his availability, has been incredible.
“He is a powerhouse genetically. It is so well built. He is a player who asks everything you ask him, he is happy to do. His body simply absorbs everything.
“And when you see the professional side, how he lives his life, it is flawless.
“If something works, don't touch him.”
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