For many, this January transfer window was a disappointing one for Arsenal.
The Gunners were able to ship out plenty of players, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari and Flo Balogun leaving on loan, while Calum Chambers, Sead Kolasinac and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang all left on a permanent basis.
However, it is the incomings that left fans most frustrated. Despite being linked to Dusan Vlahovic, Alexander Isak, Arthur and plenty of others, the only player who officially ended up signing was Auston Trusty, although the American centre-back was immediately sent back out on loan to KSE owned Colorado Rapids.
This may seem like it has left Arsenal threadbare going into the latter stages of the season, but Mikel Arteta is still insistent that his side are well placed to push for the Champions League places.
"We have a squad full of enthusiasm and passion, but the right amount of quality and passion as well which I think is very much needed," the Spaniard told Arsenal.com as the Gunners came to the end of their mid-season warm weather training camp in Dubai.
"We are really looking forward to [the second half of the season].
"We know what the aim is at the end of the season. Where we want to be, it's high but I think it's possible. We're going to have a real good go in the second half of the season to achieve it."
The lack of transfers in January can largely be down to a new policy of player recruitment Edu and Josh Kroenke have put into place that focuses on carrying out due diligence to ensure that players brought in are the right ones.
As a result, it seems that they will wait till the summer window to do crucial business in the centre-forward, central midfield and right-back positions, where there will be more room for negotiations on price.
For now though, Arteta was keen to praise the six summer signings he had made - Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Martin Odegaard - and the process that brought them to the Emirates.
"It was a very thorough process," the Spaniard said.
"We identified the players that we wanted. For many months we did all the scouting necessary, we had a really clear profile of what we wanted personally and professionally and I think they've settled extraordinarily well.
"I think what they've done at such a young age, in a new club and the size of this club, I think it's remarkable."
As for the remainder of the season, having now been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions and with no European football for the first time in a quarter of a century, Arsenal's clear aim is claiming the final top-four place.
It will be difficult as they face stern competition from Manchester United, West Ham and local rivals Tottenham, but Arteta still feels that his young squad has what it takes.
"I'm very confident because I see how much they want it," the 39-year-old said.
"We have lost points that sometimes shows the maturity that we have in the squad, but at the same time we've won some games that is because of the enthusiasm that we have and the energy that they bring to the team.
"So we need to keep maintaining that balance right and give those players confidence. When the players feel supported and that we arrive behind them with no fear, that's when they really fulfil their capacity. It's our job to do it.
"I think our fans have been really crucial on that as well because they've really felt that they are behind them."
