It is almost impossible not to get hung up on the performance of Alexander Isak when considering the vast chasm between Newcastle’s ability to finish their chances across the two legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final compared to Arsenal. After the two games, the Gunners ended the tie with an expected goal value of 4.79 compared to the Magpies’ 3.34.

One team outperformed what was expected while the other dramatically did not. It has been a story that has dominated the season for Mikel Arteta as once again his centre-forward Kai Havertz blanked.

Isak is known to be coveted by Arteta, and were he to have his pick of a dream summer signing, the Swede would be at the top of it. However, the likelihood of that happening is very slim unless several doors open to allow such a scenario to emerge.

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Newcastle finishing outside the Champions League places or perhaps European places entirely, and the north east club failing to agree on an extension to his current contract would open the door. Arsenal would somehow need to find a three-figure million-pound sum to secure the player, which could have significant effects on other business the club needs to do.

UEFA Financial Fair Play was a factor in why a forward was not signed permanently in the last two windows. While there will be more freedom in the upcoming summer, that loosening of shackles is not infinite, far from it.

That being said, Havertz barely had a sniff at the goal during the game but one man certainly did, Martin Odegaard. With the scores level after Isak’s goal was ruled out for the tightest of offside calls, the Gunners skipper had the chance to give his side the lead, twice.

Sadly, unlike his finish at Manchester City on Sunday, he failed to convert and reverted back to the form in front of goal we have seen for much of the season. Arsenal’s player of the season for the last two campaigns, as voted by supporters, has simply been a shadow of himself.

Injuries, illness and other factors have played a part, but with Bukayo Saka unavailable, Arsenal need their other stars to step up. It has perhaps gone under the radar how few goals Declan Rice has managed during the campaign.

The England international has just one Premier League goal, with one in the League Cup and the other in the Champions League. Havertz might be in the spotlight, but scapegoating the top scorer when the side are only four goals off their tally in the league at the same stage the previous season – which saw the Gunners break their Premier League goalscoring record for the second successive year – lacks plenty of context.

Injuries have plagued the Gunners, in addition to illness and the misfortune associated with some very contentious decisions, and yet again lady luck reared her head in the worst way as Gabriel Martinelli left the field with what looked like a hamstring injury. football.london asked Mikel Arteta for an update on the situation in the aftermath of the match.

“Yes, he felt something,” he said. “I think it was his hamstring and he wasn't comfortable to continue, so we'll have to do an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.”

Arsenal simply cannot afford to lose another player in their front line but with the injuries to Saka and Gabriel Jesus combined with the very little offering from loanee Raheem Sterling, Arteta has had his hand forced when it comes to playing his starters for so much of the season.

Fans will be looking back at the January transfer window which ended without a single addition and raising their arms with an expression of, “Well? Told you so…”

Few can blame them, and I too have scrutinised the recruitment team for not delivering Arteta at least something in the short term. I agree that the game-changing option was not there. Ollie Watkins, for me was not the right pick, but there were players who perhaps could have offered something.

People might scoff at a loan move for Alvaro Morata, which some reports have claimed was considered. But this was a scenario where a loan for a body would have been much better than doing nothing.

Arsenal have two more competitions to attack, with the league already looking incredibly challenging despite sitting second in the table and their win over Man City moving them nine points clear of their former rivals. Liverpool have simply been too consistent and have had the fortune that the Gunners could only have dreamed of.

The benefit is now that Arsenal will indeed fly to the Middle East for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai. The trip last season preceded an incredible run of form, and even just the chance to rest some key starters against Girona last week saw a top-level display against Man City.

Having ten days now to rest, recover, train and prepare for the trip to Leicester before then another full week before they host West Ham will be an incredible gift. Then comes a trip to the impressive Nottingham Forest, but again, the side will have a full week to prepare.

The Champions League returns in March, and there is hope this is when we might see Bukayo Saka back. There is also hope that Ben White could return after this aforementioned mini-break to Dubai, which will provide more chances for rotation, rest and tactical tweaks to the team.

What Arsenal cannot do, however, is sign any players. This is it, this is the team, these are the trophies that remain on offer and where the season goes from now could be defining in the career of Mikel Arteta.