Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal remain proactive in the search for additional signings this summer, even though the pool of players capable of elevating the squad to the next tier is relatively limited. The Gunners recently experienced disappointment when their bid for Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior fell through after the Brazilian opted to extend his contract with the Spanish giants.
A second target, Morgan Rogers, also slipped away when he chose to join Chelsea from Aston Villa earlier in the season. Despite those setbacks, Arsenal completed a high-profile acquisition on Saturday, securing Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarês for a reported £75 million. Guimarês made his first appearance for the club on Wednesday in a friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium, coming on at half‑time and impressing the coaching staff with his composure and energy just four days after arriving from Newcastle United.
His debut has already sparked speculation that he could be in contention for a starting role in the upcoming Community Shield clash with Manchester City. "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 manager highlighted that Arsenal are keeping an eye on several high‑profile attackers, naming Atletico Madrid's Julian Álvarez and Paris Saint‑Germain's Bradley Barcola as potential targets.
Yet, he admitted that the search for a marquee forward is likely to extend well into the latter stages of the transfer window, given the scarcity 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 added.
"But again, we are actively looking to improve that and we're going to try." When questioned about how big‑ticket signings could affect Arsenal's wage structure, Arteta deferred to sporting director Andrea Berta and the board, stating, "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." Guimarês' debut was a pleasant surprise for the manager. "Let's see," Arteta said, noting that the midfielder had only three training sessions under his belt but already displayed a strong desire to earn minutes on the pitch. "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 Guimarês has also reignited speculation around the future of 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 rumors, Lewis‑Skelly made a memorable contribution in the friendly against Como, scoring Arsenal's only goal and celebrating with a heartfelt gesture toward the home supporters. 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." Arteta also emphasized that speculation about Arsenal players is a positive sign, indicating the club's growing reputation. "If there is speculation about our player, it's a good sign.
That means we attract attention and they're doing a good job." Looking ahead, the manager believes Lewis‑Skelly had an excellent pre‑season and has been utilized in a slightly different role. Traditionally a central midfielder, he was deployed more as a defensive midfielder (a "six") during the pre‑season to cover for the absence of senior midfielders on international duty. Arteta noted, "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 paint a picture of a club that is eager to strengthen its roster but is also realistic about the challenges of the current transfer market. While Arsenal have already secured a key midfield addition in Guimarês, the pursuit of a top‑class striker remains ongoing, with names like Álvarez and Barcola on the radar. The manager's focus, however, stays on integrating new signings, maintaining squad harmony, and ensuring that every player, regardless of contract size, feels valued and motivated to contribute to the team's success. The upcoming weeks will reveal how far Arsenal can push their ambitions before the transfer deadline closes.