After ending a 22-year title drought and reaching the Champions League final, Arsenal entered the 2026 summer window with a clear ambition: add a game-changing attacker to a squad that already looks among Europe’s elite. Instead, the Gunners closed the window having strengthened midfield and defence but without a marquee forward, raising questions about whether Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta have left themselves short in the final third.


The Ambition: “Very Ambitious, Fast, and Smart”

Following May’s Champions League final defeat to Paris St-Germain, Arteta outlined the club’s transfer mantra as “very ambitious, very fast, and very smart.” Chief executive Richard Garlick later told the Times that joining the global “super-clubs” is Arsenal’s explicit goal, while acknowledging the available pool of difference-makers is now smaller than in previous years. That reality bit hard as multiple elite attacking targets slipped away.


The Forward Hunt: Rogers, Barcola, Vinícius, Álvarez

Arsenal’s shortlist reflected their desire for level-raisers: Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola, Vinícius Jr, and Julián Álvarez. None arrived.

  • Vinícius Jr: The pursuit became public and hinged on his Real Madrid contract situation. Ultimately, Madrid presented an improved package and Vinícius stayed, despite a period inside Arsenal when staff believed a deal was achievable.
  • Morgan Rogers: Arsenal held firm to an £80m valuation before Chelsea paid £117m to land the former Aston Villa forward.
  • Bradley Barcola: Liverpool succeeded in signing the PSG winger; Arsenal had reservations about the fee required and did not enter a bidding war.
  • Julián Álvarez: With Atletico Madrid refusing to negotiate with Barcelona, Arsenal appeared the only realistic destination. Arteta even laid out plans directly to the player, but Álvarez returned to training in Madrid and the move stalled.

The outcome leaves Arsenal without the world-class forward many supporters expected after a historic season.sports.


Who Arrived: Midfield and Defence Reinforcements

Arsenal’s headline ins focused on balance and depth rather than a new No.9 or left-winger:

  • Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle, £75m) – quickly described by some as a signing of the window, adding elite ball progression and control.
  • Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa, £55m) – statistically outstanding last season for ground-duel success (73.1%) and passing accuracy (95%), signed amid injury concerns around William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.
  • Piero Hincapie (loan made permanent, ~£34.5–37.5m) – adds another left-footed centre-back option.
  • Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge, £34m) – a wide attacker who impressed in the Community Shield and opener but struggled in the win over Aston Villa.
  • Illan Meslier (free) – goalkeeper depth.

Total spending reached roughly £200–210m, with the squad’s overall quality undeniably high.


Who Left: Two Wingers Out, One In

The most contentious part of Arsenal’s window is the outgoings in wide areas:

  • Gabriel Martinelli – close to a club-record sale to Al-Hilal for around £60m (reported between £51–60m).
  • Leandro Trossard – sold to Besiktas for about £15.3m (€20m).
  • Christian Norgaard – moved to Everton for £7m.
  • Gabriel Jesus – joined Barcelona for £12.8m, having made 27 appearances (six goals) last season amid fitness and selection issues.

With Martinelli and Trossard departing, Arsenal have effectively let two senior left-sided forwards go while bringing in Tzolis as the primary wide replacement. That asymmetry is at the heart of the “risk” narrative.


Internal Solutions: Eze, Havertz, Merino, Gyökeres

Arteta’s camp argues the squad’s internal options mitigate the lack of a new elite striker:

  • Eberechi Eze – expected to feature heavily from the left, a role he excelled in at Crystal Palace and during parts of Arsenal’s title run.
  • Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino – both fully fit after injury-affected campaigns, offering striker and No.10 flexibility.
  • Viktor Gyökeres – the £64m signing from Sporting scored 21 goals in his first season but has not played in the opening two Premier League matches, keeping debate over his long-term fit alive.

Arsenal’s bench in the win over Aston Villa featured nine full internationals, including World Cup winners Merino and Martín Zubimendi, underlining the squad’s depth.


The Verdict: Ambition Met with Market Reality

There is no doubt Arsenal wanted a game-changing attacker if one was available at the right price and profile. Missing out does not mean the window was a failure, Guimaraes and Konsa significantly raise the team’s ceiling, but it does leave uncomfortable questions for Arteta, Berta, and co-chair Josh Kroenke about why such an attractive club could not close on any of their primary forward targets.


If goals become scarce, the criticism will intensify. For now, Arsenal remain early title favourites, but the lack of a world-class forward is a calculated risk that could define their season.