Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal remain active in the hunt for additional signings, even though he acknowledges the pool of players capable of elevating the squad to the next tier is relatively shallow. The Gunners recently experienced disappointment when their bid for Vinícius Júnior fell through – the Brazilian winger opted to extend his contract with Real Madrid – and they also missed out on another high‑profile target, Morgan Rogers, who ultimately chose Chelsea after leaving Aston Villa earlier this summer. In contrast, Arsenal successfully secured the services of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães for a reported fee of £75 million. Guimarães made his debut on Wednesday in a friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium, marking his first appearance just four days after arriving from Newcastle United.
While his arrival is a positive step, Arteta stressed that the club’s quest for added firepower is far from over. "There is more that we want to do because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth to the squad, we need to do that," Arteta explained. "We are actively trying to do so. The thing in the market is that it doesn't just depend on you.
We are very clear on that." He went on to emphasize the club’s determination, adding, "But the approach, the will and the desire of the club, that's unquestionable. We want to try to do that.
But we cannot promise that we're going to do it because it doesn't only depend on us." Arsenal’s scouting network has reportedly set its sights on Atletico Madrid’s Julian Álvarez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola as potential marquee acquisitions. However, the search for a top‑class attacking player appears likely to stretch deep into the summer window, given the limited number of elite forwards available for purchase. "I think for the margins to improve, there are very few players in the market that are available to do that and bring that to the club," Arteta said. "But again, we are actively looking to improve that and we're going to try." When questioned about the impact that high‑profile signings could have on Arsenal’s wage structure, the manager deflected to sporting director Andrea Berta and the board, stating, "I'll leave that question to Andrea and the board.
My job is more to focus on getting the best out of the players that we have, to create that connection between them and to make every player feel important, regardless of the wages." Guimarães’ debut was a highlight of the pre‑season schedule. The midfielder entered the match at halftime and impressed with his energy and composure, despite having only three training sessions under his belt. Arteta noted, "He only had three training sessions, but he looked good. He was really pushing to play some minutes.
I think he wanted to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately. And you sense immediately, I believe, a strong connection at play that is going to make us better." The Brazilian’s performance has put him in contention for a starting role in the upcoming Community Shield clash against Manchester City, a match that will serve as an early test of the squad’s cohesion under the new manager. Meanwhile, 19‑year‑old midfielder Myles Lewis‑Skelly has been linked with a possible exit following Guimarães’ arrival. Chelsea have reportedly made an enquiry, and Manchester United remain long‑term suitors.
Despite the speculation, Lewis‑Skelly made a notable contribution in the friendly against Como, scoring Arsenal’s goal and celebrating with a heartfelt gesture toward the home crowd. Arteta praised his emotional response, saying, "It's good to score a goal, you should be emotional when you score a goal.
He's a very emotional player. I remember when he did all the gestures on the pitch last season. I'm not going to talk about any speculation." Arteta added that interest in his young players is a positive sign for the club’s reputation: "If there is a speculation about our player, it's a good sign.
That means that we attract attention and they're doing a good job. I think he had a really good pre‑season. I think we asked him to play in a different position, because he played more as a six, because we lacked central midfielders, obviously with international duties, and I think he had a really consistent pre‑season." Overall, Arsenal’s transfer strategy this summer reflects a blend of pragmatism and ambition.
While the club has already secured a key midfield addition in Guimarães, Arteta and his staff are clearly intent on bolstering the attacking options, even if the market offers limited choices. The manager’s focus remains on fostering unity within the squad, maximizing the potential of existing players, and ensuring that any new arrivals integrate smoothly into a team that is eager to build on its recent Premier League triumph. The coming weeks will reveal whether Arsenal can navigate the complexities of the transfer market to assemble a roster capable of sustaining success on both domestic and European fronts.