Arsenal failed to sign either Alexander Isak or Ollie Watkins. (Image: Getty.)
board and “worked as hard as they could” to sign a striker in the winter transfer window, according to their former midfielder Ray Parlour, but came up short.
Despite a season-long injury to Gabriel Jesus and being sidelined since December, the Gunners decided against strengthening their attacking options.
The likes of , Benjamin Sesko, Mathys Tel and Viktor Gyokeres were all linked, and the north London club for , but faith was placed in the current crop of forwards.
That plan may have taken a blow after Gabriel Martinelli was forced off injured in their semi-final second leg defeat to , depending on the outcome of his scans.
Parlour has claimed that work took place in order to bring a new forward in last month, but the club did not want to buy for the sake of it, with efforts expected to be intensified in the summer.
“I would say in the summer, a striker is by far the number one priority for and believe Mikel and the board are firmly looking to get their man,” Parlour told Express Sport with NetBet Sports Betting.
Ray Parlour has given his take on Arsenal’s transfer window. (Image: Getty)
“January is always a hard and difficult window to get players in, especially in striker position. But I can imagine Mikel and the board worked as hard as they could to get the right one in.
“You don’t want to waste money and bring in someone who isn’t going to benefit the team, so obviously their first choice wasn’t available now. Not necessarily need to win the title.”
The Gunners could renew interest in Isak, Sesko and Gyokeres, after Tel joined neighbours and any move for Watkins is more unlikely after Jhon Duran made a big-money move to Saudi Arabia.
had failed in convincing Villa to part ways with the international and having turned 29 before the close of the year, his chance to make a dream move did not materialise.
have been left with Leandro Trossard, , Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri as their options for their next match at , if Martinelli does not recover in time.
And Arteta admitted that he was “disappointed” not to see a new forward walk through the door at the Emirates mid-season.
“We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it,” said Arteta. “And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.
“We’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. It’s not a gamble, it’s reality and we have to face the reality.
“I am not worried. Now I focus on the numbers that we have, how to maximise them, how to make the best out of them.”