Mikel Arteta confirmed that Arsenal remain active in the search for additional signings, but he also warned that the pool of players capable of elevating the side to the next tier is limited. The Gunners recently experienced disappointment when their bid for Vinícius Júnior fell through after the Brazilian opted to extend his contract with Real Madrid. A second target, Morgan Rogers, also slipped away when he chose to join Chelsea from Aston Villa earlier in the summer. Despite those setbacks, Arsenal completed the £75 million acquisition of Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimarães on Saturday.
Guimarães made his unofficial debut on Wednesday in a friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium, and his arrival has sparked optimism about the club's attacking options. Yet Arteta stressed that the quest for extra 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 said.
"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 added that the club's ambition and willingness to act are unquestionable, even if the final outcome cannot be guaranteed solely by Arsenal's efforts. "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," he explained.
Current rumours suggest Arsenal have their eyes on Atletico Madrid's Julian Álvarez and Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola, indicating a continued pursuit of a high-profile attacking addition deep into the transfer window. The Premier League champions recognise that marginal gains often hinge on a handful of elite players, yet they acknowledge the scarcity of such talent on the market.
"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 remarked. "But again, we are actively looking to improve that and we're going to try." When asked whether a marquee signing could disrupt Arsenal's wage structure, Arteta deferred to sporting director Andrea Berta and the board, emphasizing his own role in maximising the performance of the existing squad. "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," he said. Guimarães' debut was a highlight of the pre‑season.
The midfielder entered the match at half‑time against Como, just four days after arriving from Newcastle, and impressed with his composure and drive. His performance has put him in contention for a starting spot 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 intensified speculation around young midfielder Myles Lewis‑Skelly. The 19‑year‑old has attracted interest from Chelsea and remains a long‑term target for Manchester United.
Despite the transfer chatter, Lewis‑Skelly celebrated Arsenal's goal against Como with a heartfelt gesture, holding his hands together toward the home crowd. Arteta praised his emotional response, noting that such passion is a sign of a player who cares deeply about the club.
"It's good to score a goal, you should be emotional when you score a goal," Arteta said of the celebration. "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 a speculation about our player, it's a good sign. That means that we attract attention and they're doing a good job." Arteta also highlighted Lewis‑Skelly's versatility during pre‑season, noting that the coaching staff experimented with him in a deeper midfield role to cover for international absences.
"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," the manager explained. Looking ahead, Arsenal's strategy appears to blend patience with proactive scouting. While the club acknowledges the difficulty of securing top‑tier talent, it remains committed to strengthening the squad wherever possible, whether through a marquee forward, a versatile midfielder, or by nurturing promising youngsters like Lewis‑Skelly.
The upcoming weeks will reveal whether the Gunners can translate their desire into concrete signings that enhance the team's depth and quality, keeping them competitive on all fronts as they defend their Premier League title and chase further silverware.