MIKEL Arteta has warned Newcastle United that Arsenal are heading for St James' Park full of belief after their statement victory over Manchester City in the Premier League.

And although Arsenal's boss admitted his disappointment at the club's failure to sign a striker in the January transfer window, he's backing his side to overturn the 2-0 deficit against Newcastle and book their place in the Carabao Cup final.

“The next stop is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is and you can feel it,” said Arteta ahead of Wednesday night's semi-final second leg on Tyneside.

“The momentum is with us and we have a break (after the game against Newcastle) so now is the the moment to go full gas.

“We’re excited, willing, hungry and enthusiastic because we are very close to playing a final and hopefully we can achieve that tomorrow.”

Arteta was hopeful of adding to his forward line in January but Arsenal failed in their transfer pursuit.

The Gunners ramped up their pursuit of a forward after Gabriel Jesus suffered a season-ending injury in their FA Cup exit against Manchester United on January 12.

But after they fell short in their swoop to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa – a move it is understood appears unlikely even in the summer – Arsenal will continue their quest for silverware with only Kai Havertz as their sole recognised senior striker.

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A frustrated Arteta said he will now have to be “very flexible” with his attacking tactics as the Spaniard tasked Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling with leading the line if Havertz is unavailable.

He said: “We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.

“We are very aware that we only want to bring a certain kind of player in and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.

“After you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We’ll know probably at the end of the season.

“But we’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. Leo can play in that position. Raheem has played in that position. Ethan, I think, can play in that position. Martinelli can play there, too. At some point, we’re going to have to try something different.”

Havertz, 25, has faced criticism this season and missed a glaring opportunity in Arsenal’s 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City on Sunday.

However, the former Chelsea man did get his name on the scoresheet in the rout which keeps Arsenal’s title dream alive and has returned 15 goals from 33 appearances so far this term.

Of Arsenal’s failed striker pursuit, Arteta continued: “It’s not a gamble, it’s reality and we have to face the reality. I am not worried. Now I focus on the numbers that we have, how to maximise them, how to make the best out of them.

“With all the problems that we have already had, it’s remarkable what the team has done (this season) so I have full faith in them.”