Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s lack of movement in the January transfer window after the club’s top-four dreams were left on the verge of collapse.
Newcastle beat the Gunners 2-0 on Monday night to leave them two points off Tottenham going into the final weekend, with a significantly worse goal difference to boot.
Having made a number of signings over the summer, Arsenal failed to land a first-team player in January while allowing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers to leave.
“We have done what we can, and with what we were allowed to do, what we could do and the resources we had from the start of the season,” manager Arteta told reporters.
“The team that we were able to build is what we were able to build and it’s the team that has taken us all the way here.”
Arsenal are facing a season in the Europa League after suffering their sixth defeat in 11 league games.
“We need to win and we need a defeat from [Spurs], and we know that in football, that’s always possible, and if anything happens, you have to be there in order to do that,” he added.
“Today, you have to put your head down, swallow all the disappointment that we all feel, hopefully, and tomorrow start again.”
