Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing about the club’s transfer business after the window slammed shut

Add as preferred source on Google

The January transfer window has slammed shut, and Arsenal haven’t added a forward to Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The Gunners are depleted in forward areas due to injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

Saka is out until at least March after undergoing hamstring surgery, while Jesus has torn his ACL and will be absent for some time.

Despite this, the Emirates hierarchy were unable to secure a signing before the the 11pm deadline on Monday night.

• READ MORE: Mikel Arteta will be disappointed with latest Arsenal announcement on transfer deadline day deals

Arsenal fans react to the transfer window

With just Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Raheem Sterling available as senior attacking options to Arteta, the Gunners’ offensive unit looks light.

The four of them, plus Ethan Nwaneri, will have to share the minutes for the rest of the season, as Arsenal look to compete on multiple fronts.

The North London outfit were linked with several different players, although many of the potential deals appeared to have serious complications.

Benjamin Sesko was a serious target for Arsenal, while the likes of Ollie Watkins, Matheus Cunha and Mathys Tel were all linked with a switch to N5.

Nothing materialised, and inevitably, the club’s supporters’ aren’t happy.

One posted on X, just hours before the deadline closed: “Obviously something can still happen but quite disappointed at Arsenal failing to strengthen the attack again.

“I can understand wanting to keep our powder dry and Nwaneri changing things. But we needed an attacker before the window. Then Saka + Jesus got injured. We’re short.”

Another shared these concerns over a lack of depth: “With less than 3 hours to go in the January transfer window, it’s a real shame Arsenal have not invested in the team at the earliest opportunity. Thin squad got thinner with injuries, no time to rest any of your starting eleven, won’t get any easier until May comes around.”

Another supporter wrote: “Net spend of +£10m in a season where we needed one final push to finally have a title winning squad. Curious one.”

One fan questioned Arsenal’s approach to the Watkins situation and the thought process behind the links to the player.

“I just don’t get how we think there’s a potential £60m Ollie Watkins sized hole in our team a few days ago, Villa sign 2 forwards… and we don’t get it done,” they wrote.

“Where’s the joined up thinking? I can be ok with being disappointed if I see smart thinking. I don’t.”

Meanwhile, another fan was left bemused at Arsenal’s lack of activity, claiming that there were plenty of options the club could have explored.

They wrote: “It’s really unfair for any fans to gaslight justifiable criticism of Arsenals board throughout their handling of not just January but the entirety of 2024.

“It’s really arrogant to say there are no forwards in world football that could have helped us achieve our goals- we have money.”

Arsenal should’ve taken a risk on Victor Osimhen

While deals for the likes of Cunha and Watkins appeared difficult to pull off, there was one man on the market who could’ve been signed with little hassle.

Victor Osimhen was available for £63 million, with his loan contract at Galatasary involving a break clause which would’ve allowed the Gunners to secure his services without negotiating with Napoli.

Talks over personal terms would’ve had to take place, although given the Nigerian is currently plying his trade in Turkey, it’s likely he’d have been attracted to a move to the Emirates.

Osimhen has a track record of scoring goals at an impressive rate, and boasts the physical attributes suited to the robustness of the Premier League.

Tasking Havertz with playing every single game for the rest of the season is unfair, and Osimhen would’ve alleviated this issue, possibly usurping the German.