Mikel Arteta promised he would sign players in January that would take Arsenal to the "next level" but that didn't go according to plan.
It was a busy January transfer window for the majority of Premier League clubs as it slammed shut on Monday night.
But the Gunners failed to add any players of real pedigree and if anything, their squad has been diluted with the exit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who joined Barcelona on a free transfer.
The north Londoners were able to get the Gabon international's high salary off their books, but the fact Arsenal let him go for free and didn't have a replacement lined up has been heavily criticised.
Arsenal's priority was a striker and midfielder but they weren't able to strengthen either area despite Arteta's vow that they would sign players that would bring better "better standards" to the club.
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The Spaniard said when the transfer window opened: "It's what we planned, but the market is difficult, it's complicated.
"We knew that but it's a lot to manage and we have to make the right decisions with players that we believe are going to really help us and try to bring in ones that can take us to the next level.
"We are certainly trying, but I don't know if we're going to be able to do it. Let's see, it's not only our intention, but a lot of facts that are needed to happen.
"Players that come here have to be able to take us to the next level. We already have a level, and we want to see much better standards than we already have, and that is how we’re going to recruit."
In fairness to Arsenal, they were looking at players who could feasibly take Arsenal to the "next level."
Dusan Vlahovic has to come under that category and the Gunners did everything they could to sign the Serbian from Fiorentina.
The board were willing to break the bank for the 21-year-old, but ultimately it was the player's decision to join Juventus instead.
Arsenal turned to Alexander Isak as an alternative but they can't be blamed for not paying his £75.4million release clause Real Sociedad are unwilling to budge on.
Arthur Melo's CV is certainly more impressive than the majority of Arsenal's squad, but that was another deal that collapsed as Juve wanted a longer agreement than a six-month loan deal that Arteta's men were proposing.
On paper, all of these players would have improved Arsenal's squad but at the end of the day, they leave January empty-handed, besides the arrivals of American duo Auston Trusty and Matt Turner, as well as teenager Lino Sousa.
Yes, Arteta was adamant on not making any "panic buys" but it seems like a missed opportunity with a place in the top four up for grabs this season, especially when you consider there is no replacement for Aubameyang.
