Arteta ‘disappointed’ made mess of transfer but says Kai can carry their attack

MIKEL ARTETA is really “disappointed” Arsenal messed up the January transfer window.

But the Gunners boss says “powerhouse” Kai Havertz can carry their attack until the end of the season — starting against Newcastle.

With long-term injuries to forwards Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Arsenal were in desperate need of adding some attacking reinforcements during the winter window.

Instead, the North London giants must chase down Prem leaders Liverpool and reach the latter stages of the Champions League with a squad weaker than most of their rivals.

Arsenal have just one fit centre-forward in ex-Chelsea man Havertz, 25, having decided to stick with what they have instead of bringing in a body to bolster the team.

The closest Arteta came to fixing his striker crisis was a futile £45million approach for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, 29, late in the window that was quickly rejected.

There was also interest in a loan deal for Bayern Munich attacker Mathys Tel, 19.

But Emirates chiefs decided to back out of a move before Tottenham swooped to sign the Frenchman. Mikel Arteta insists the Gunners’ lack of transfer activity is NOT a “gamble”.

The Spaniard claims Arsenal can now splash the cash in the summer — with top targets such as RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, valued at £60m.

Ahead of trying to turn around a 2-0 deficit in tonight’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Newcastle, Arteta defended the club’s cautious stance.

Amid the horror ACL injury to Jesus last month, the Gunners chief explained: “We had a clear intention to explore opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it.

"We haven’t achieved it so we are all disappointed.

“But, as well, we are very aware that we only want to bring certain kinds of players to the club and have to be very disciplined.

“Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We will know probably at the end of this season.

“It’s not a gamble — it is reality. We have the players that we have and some of them are on loan.

“We’ve never had a squad of 35, 40, 45 players. So many other clubs, they have 45 players in their list.

“We just don’t have that size at the moment. We have had to do so much in the last few years and that’s where we are.

“So we’re going to have to evolve there as well and have more and  more players from the academy.

“And the ones that are here need to be fitter longer. We need to be on our toes.”

Following the resignation of Edu in November, Arsenal have relied on inexperienced interim sporting director Jason Ayto to negotiate deals, alongside Arteta, managing director Richard Garlick and head of recruitment James Ellis.

Arteta revealed the club will make a decision on who takes up the  post permanently “relatively quickly”.

He explained: “When you try your best and you do things with the right process, and see the people that we all share the same intentions and wills, and after you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it. There always are.

“Jason and the team have done a really good job. But then it’s the transfer market — and it’s complicated.

“But you have to move on. Now I focus on the numbers that we have and just how to maximise them. It’s remarkable what the team have done so far.

“There are times when we have only had 13 players out there training — that’s just super, super low.

“So I’m expecting when the players who are not fit return we’re going to be better.”

Forward Jesus’ major knee operation will potentially keep him out for the rest of 2025, while Gunners talisman Saka is targeting a March return.

So Arteta must rely solely on Havertz to deliver the goods for the rest of the campaign.

Havertz boasts 15 goals in  all competitions so far — a career best in England — and has started 29 of Arsenal’s 37 games this term.

If he got injured, it would be a hammer blow ahead of a Champions League last-16 tie next month and as they try to close the six-point gap to Arne Slot’s Reds who also have a game in hand.

Havertz scored in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Manchester City. Asked if he  could start every game until May, Arteta said: “It’s possible.

"He has played a lot of football but his robustness, his availability, has been unbelievable.

“Genetically, he is a powerhouse. He’s so well-built. He’s a player that anything you ask him, he is happy to do. His body just absorbs everything.

“And when you see the professional side, how he lives his life, it is immaculate.

"When something works, don’t touch him.”

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