Mikel Arteta has praised Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak following a match-winning display in a scathing assessment of Arsenal's attacking options.

The Gunners suffered a setback in their pursuit of domestic silverware after falling to a 2-0 defeat at home to the Magpies, in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.

Much has been made about the north London club's attacking options, while Arsenal's attacking ambitions in the January transfer window have been evident, following links with the likes of Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Ivan Toney and Victor Osimhen.

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Fit-again Kai Havertz led the line for Arsenal on Tuesday night, but struggled in the final third as he managed just one shot on target with three shots off target - one of which was blocked by Newcastle.

With a six-point deficit to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and the mammoth task of overcoming the two-goal deficit at St. James' Park in the second-leg next month, Arteta now faces an important January transfer window as they look to find a goal-scoring solution.

Arteta provided a bleak response to their attacking issues, speaking after the encounter, he said: "Yeah obviously and the ball arrived to him, that he created and had a lot of big changes."

The Spaniard went on: "He was involved in both goals as well, unfortunately the two times he had the ball in the box - and that's what happens when you have real quality up front and they can make the difference, and they're very clinical."

Gabriel Jesus has been a source of goals for the Gunners, amid their struggles, but has just three Premier League goals in 17 appearances this term.