Mikel Arteta ‘disappointed’ by Arsenal failure to sign a striker a January

Arteta wanted Arsenal to strengthen their attacking options to help their title pursuit of Liverpool (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal are “disappointed” by their failure to sign a striker in January.

The Gunners wanted to bring in a new forward but failed in a move for Ollie Watkins and ultimately did not get anyone in.

Speaking on Tuesday, Arteta said: “We had a clear intention. We haven’t achieved it. So we are disappointed.

“But we are aware that we only want to bring certain types of players, so we have to be disciplined.”

Arsenal made a bid for Watkins but Aston Villa chose to sell Jhon Duran to Al Nassr instead.

Arteta wanted a No 9 who could make an immediate impact in the second half of the season, as Arsenal bid to hunt down Liverpool in the Premier League title race and also target a deep run in the Champions League.

But Arteta has said he and the club were aligned in the view that they did not want to simply bring in a “body”, and the Gunners could not find the right player at the right price in January.

Arsenal and will now target a top-level frontman in the summer.

Their failure to sign anyone leaves Arsenal short in attack, with Kai Havertz their only fit recognised centre-forward.