Mikel Arteta 'disappointed' over Arsenal's failure to sign striker in transfer window
Mikel Arteta admits he was disappointed Arsenal did not sign a new striker but believes it is not a gamble in the club's bid for Premier League glory.
The Gunners ramped up their pursuit of a forward after Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending injury in their FA Cup exit against Manchester United on 12 January.
But after they fell short in their swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa - a move it is understood appears unlikely even in the summer - Arsenal will continue their quest for silverware with only Kai Havertz as their sole recognised senior striker.
A frustrated Arteta said he will now have to be "very flexible" with his attacking tactics as the Spaniard tasked Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling with leading the line if Havertz is unavailable.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal's second leg of their semi-final Carabao Cup tie against Newcastle at St James' Park on Wednesday night, Arteta said: "We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. And we haven't achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.
"We are very aware that we only want to bring a certain kind of player in and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.
"After you don't achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We'll know probably at the end of the season.
"But we're going to have to be very flexible with the front line. Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there, too. At some point, we're going to have to try something different."
Havertz, 25,