“We will have to start making some very important decisions if we want to move up a gear. We will have to demonstrate this ambition, because we are entirely capable of it, but it will require a lot of ambition, speed and intelligence from us. » This is how Mikel Arteta spoke about the 2026 summer transfer window on the evening of the defeat in the Champions League final against PSG. The Spanish coach of the Gunners was able to see that it was preferable, to turn matches around, to have players with extraordinary individual talent.
The strong points consolidated but…
The transfer window is now closed, and Arsenal has recruited a replacement goalkeeper (Meslier, July 9), a left winger (Tzolis, July 23), a central midfielder (Bruno Guimarães, August 8), and a central defender (Konsa, August 21). Neither very fast, nor very ambitious, if we want to be a bit cynical. Arsenal reinforced two sectors which were their strength last season, defense and midfield, with a potential starter in the person of Guimaraes, and a defender capable of effectively replacing the injured Saliba. But this transfer window is sorely lacking in offensive talent and a destabilizing player, something the Gunners were already criticized for last season.
Christos Tzolis is the only offensive arrival, while 4 players from this sector have left Arsenal. The two regulars in the left lane, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, were sold, Gabriel Jesus was sold at the gong to FC Barcelona and the returning Ethan Nwaneri went to Borussia Dortmund. Arsenal were more stripped than strengthened, and Tzolis alone, despite obvious talent, is not the one hoped for to take the London attack to the next level.
Arsenal got lost on the wrong targets
Did Arsenal target the wrong target throughout the summer? He first targeted Morgan Rogers, a complicated transfer due to price and competition, and it was Chelsea who came out on top. Then Vinicius Junior was another lead. Seductive as possible but inevitably quagmire. Arsenal perhaps served the intentions of the player, who ultimately extended his contract to Real Madrid, more than anything else… Finally, Arsenal positioned itself on Julian Alvarez, who never considered the Gunners as a credible solution, being determined to join FC Barcelona and no one else.
These complex and expensive files caused Arsenal to waste time, far from the definition of the transfer window set by Arteta on May 31. We would have easily imagined the Gunners positioning themselves on a Barcola or a Malick Fofana, the golden blow of the last day of the transfer window. In the end, Mikel Arteta will leave for a pivotal season with fewer offensive options. But will be able to rely on what has made the Gunners strong until then.
