Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the reason why he didn't sign a striker during the summer transfer window is that no quality players were available in the market.
The Frenchman came under heavy fire from furious fans after he decided not to buy a new player to strengthen his offensive department.
Striker Danny Welbeck is expected to be out until the end of the year after having a knee operation with Olivier Giroud expected to lead the Arsenal attack until the return of the Englishman.
"I told you many times, you look at what happened on the transfer market at the end of the day and you will see," Wenger told reporters.
"In the end you do not buy to give one hope, you want to buy because the players who come in can help your squad to be stronger. Buying and selling is one way to strengthen your team but that's not the only way.
"I can understand everyone's hope, but if you look at what happened it shows you that there is a shortage of solutions out there.
"It [Danny Welbeck's injury] doesn't change anything.
"You either find someone who strengthens your squad or not. Whether we have players injured or no doesn't change the problem, that's what I don't understand from the media.
"First of all I am surprised that people accused me of lying when I was in the press conference on Friday morning, [at that point] I did not know Welbeck had a bad setback. I did not lie to you, I gave you the information I had.
"We [now] have to focus on what is in front of us. I said to you, and I didn't lie, that we were ready to do something, but you have to be convinced that it's not just to please people, that it [has to be] an efficient solution. And the efficient solution didn't turn up. As well you have to be brave enough to say no."
