Arsenal’s pursuit of a marquee left-wing signing has hit a significant setback. Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has committed his future to the Spanish giants by signing a new contract, ending any hope of a move to north London. It comes soon after former top target Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea for £117million, leaving Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta needing a new plan to strengthen the attack before the transfer window closes.
Vinicius Jr’s New Contract Ends Arsenal’s Dream Move
Arsenal made a genuine attempt to convince Vinicius to consider a move, but the Brazilian has now signed fresh terms at the Bernabeu. Berta typically works by lining up several targets for a single position, moving on to the next-best option whenever a deal falls through a method already seen when Rogers was allowed to join Chelsea rather than have Arsenal match Chelsea’s valuation. With both Rogers and Vinicius no longer available, Arsenal’s list of elite attacking options has narrowed considerably heading into the closing weeks of the window.
Option One: Target Another Top-Class Winger
Arsenal have made no secret of their desire to upgrade the left-wing position, an area neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli fully made their own in recent seasons. Trossard’s early-window sale to Besiktas reflected the club’s willingness to move on from the 31-year-old, even after a productive season as first-choice. New signing Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge, but Arsenal are still believed to want a genuine top-tier talent in the Vinicius mould.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori underlined the importance of adding that calibre of player, saying Arsenal need players of that level to compete on multiple fronts, while Arteta has stressed that further top-end signings are required if Arsenal are to fight for every trophy this season. PSG’s Bradley Barcola remains an option, with two years left on his contract and no signs of agreeing fresh terms in Paris. However, his £145million valuation could prove a sticking point, given Arsenal’s stated reluctance to overpay for a position rather than a specific player. Liverpool are also interested in Barcola, and a move to Anfield is understood to hold genuine appeal for the Frenchman. Arsenal’s interest in RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande has meanwhile come to nothing, with the winger instead joining Vinicius at Real Madrid in a £120million deal.
Option Two: Stick With the Current Options
With their top two left-wing targets no longer attainable, Arsenal may simply choose to work with their existing options rather than settle for a lesser alternative. Marcus Rashford and Rafael Leao, both strongly linked with exits from Manchester United and AC Milan respectively, are being floated as the next tier of possible targets though both would represent a gamble. Arteta has consistently prioritised genuine quality over squad depth for its own sake, raising questions over whether a third or fourth-choice option is really worth pursuing.
Much of the optimism around this approach centres on Tzolis, who is highly rated inside the Arsenal camp. Arteta praised the Greek international’s directness and goal instinct after his debut goal in the 4-1 pre-season win over Girona, and if Tzolis can come close to reproducing the 51 goal contributions in 52 games he managed for Club Brugge last season, the risk could pay off even accounting for the gap in league standard between Belgium’s top flight and the Premier League. Gabriel Martinelli’s situation also remains unresolved, with just one year left on his contract. He managed only one Premier League goal last season, albeit a crucial strike against Manchester City, alongside six Champions League goals, and Arsenal’s reluctance to open new terms suggests they would be open to a sale though his title-winning experience may still make him worth keeping for now.
Option Three: Strengthen a Different Area of the Squad
Arsenal do not necessarily need to solve their left-wing question to improve the attack overall. The club retains a strong interest in Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who has made his wish to leave the LaLiga club known. Signing Alvarez could pave the way for Gabriel Jesus to depart, leaving a formidable striker trio of Alvarez, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres. The complication is that Alvarez’s stated preference is a move to Barcelona, and Atletico are reluctant to sell him to a domestic rival, meaning Arsenal would need to convince him that north London is the better option.
Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi has also been on Arsenal’s radar, but the Cherries have made clear he is not for sale this summer, and a three-to-four month injury layoff would in any case limit his usefulness in the short term. With William Saliba sidelined for an extended period because of a back injury, Arsenal could also choose to redirect funds towards defensive reinforcements, with Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa valued at around £60million among the names of interest.
Where Does This Leave Arsenal’s Summer?
Missing out on Vinicius Jr is undoubtedly a blow, but Arsenal’s window has not been without progress. Bruno Guimaraes represents a clear upgrade in the position vacated by Christian Norgaard, while Tzolis offers a younger and potentially higher-ceiling alternative to Trossard. The bigger question is whether Arteta and Berta can still land a genuine difference-maker in attack before the window shuts, or whether Arsenal will enter the new season looking to defend their title with largely the same forward line that won it.
Frequently Asked Questions: Arsenal’s Transfer Plan B
Why did Arsenal miss out on Vinicius Jr?
Vinicius Junior signed a new long-term contract with Real Madrid, ending any prospect of a move to Arsenal this summer despite the Gunners’ interest.
Who else is Arsenal looking at after Vinicius Jr and Morgan Rogers?
PSG’s Bradley Barcola remains a target, though his £145million valuation is a concern, while Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and defensive options such as Ezri Konsa are also being considered.
Will Arsenal keep Gabriel Martinelli?
His contract situation is unresolved with one year left to run, and Arsenal have not rushed to offer new terms, suggesting they would consider a sale though his experience winning the Premier League title could see him retained.
Is Christos Tzolis a replacement for Leandro Trossard?
Tzolis, signed from Club Brugge, is highly regarded internally and scored on his pre-season debut against Girona. Arsenal will hope he can replicate his prolific form from Belgium, though the step up in league quality is a factor.
Final Word
Arsenal’s attacking rebuild has not gone entirely to plan, with two of their top targets now off the table. Whether Arteta turns to Barcola, digs in with Tzolis and Martinelli, or redirects resources toward the striker position or defence, the next few weeks of the transfer window will go a long way toward determining whether Arsenal can mount a serious title defence in 2026/27.
