Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal are still actively seeking additional signings in the coming transfer window, although he cautioned that the pool of players capable of elevating the squad to the next level is relatively limited. The Gunners recently experienced disappointment when their bid for Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior fell through after the Brazilian chose to extend his contract in Madrid, and they also missed out on another high‑profile target, Morgan Rogers, who ultimately completed a move to Chelsea from Aston Villa earlier this summer. Arsenal did, however, secure the £75 million acquisition of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães on Saturday.

Guimarães made his first appearance for the club on Wednesday in a friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium, and his arrival has been hailed as a positive step toward bolstering the team’s creative options. Nevertheless, Arteta stressed that the club’s quest for additional 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. But the approach, the will and the desire of the club, that's unquestionable. We want to try to do that.

However, we cannot promise that we're going to do it because it doesn't only depend on us." The Premier League champions have reportedly set their sights on Atletico Madrid forward Julián Álvarez and Paris Saint‑Germain winger Bradley Barcola, but their hunt for a marquee attacking signing appears likely to stretch deep into the transfer period. Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of finding a player who can make a decisive impact.

"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," he said. "But again, we are actively looking to improve that and we're going to try." When questioned about whether the wage structure could be strained by such high‑profile acquisitions, Arteta deferred to sporting director Andrea Berta and the board, emphasizing that his primary responsibility is to maximise the performance of the players already at Arsenal's disposal.

"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," Arteta replied. Guimarães' debut against Como was well received.

The midfielder entered at half‑time and impressed, despite having only four days with the club after his transfer from Newcastle United. His performance has put him in contention for a starting role in the upcoming Community Shield clash with Manchester City. "Let's see," Arteta said. "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 arrival of Guimarães has also sparked speculation about the future of young midfielder Myles Lewis‑Skelly. Chelsea have reportedly made an enquiry about the 19‑year‑old, and Manchester United have been linked with him as a long‑term target.

Despite the rumours, Lewis‑Skelly made a notable contribution in the friendly, scoring Arsenal's goal against Como and celebrating with a heartfelt gesture towards the home crowd. Arteta praised his enthusiasm, noting, "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. If there is speculation about our player, it's a good sign.

That means we attract attention and they're doing a good job." He added that Lewis‑Skelly had a solid pre‑season, during which the coaching staff experimented with his position, deploying him more as a defensive midfielder (a "six") to cover for the absence of senior central midfielders on international duty. "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, Arteta's comments underline Arsenal's ambition to reinforce the squad while acknowledging the challenges inherent in a competitive market. The manager highlighted the club's clear intent, the willingness to invest, and the need for patience as negotiations progress.

As the transfer window continues, fans can expect further updates on potential targets, and the Gunners will aim to build on the momentum generated by recent signings and promising performances from emerging talents.