Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Arsenal remain actively engaged in the pursuit of additional signings this summer, although he acknowledges that the pool of players capable of elevating the side to the next tier is relatively limited. The Gunners recently experienced disappointment when their bid for Real Madrid’s rising star Vinícius Júnior fell through after the Brazilian chose to extend his contract with the Spanish giants. A second missed opportunity involved Morgan Rogers, a highly regarded prospect who ultimately opted to join Chelsea after leaving Aston Villa earlier in the campaign. In spite of those setbacks, Arsenal successfully secured the £75 million acquisition of Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães on Saturday.
Guimarães made his inaugural appearance for the club on Wednesday, coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium. While his arrival represents a significant boost, 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.
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 will succeed because it does not only depend on us." The reigning Premier League champions have identified several high‑profile targets, including Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez and Paris Saint‑Germain winger Bradley Barcola. Their search for a marquee attacking acquisition appears likely to extend deep into the transfer window, as the club navigates a market where truly elite options are scarce.
"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 pressed about the potential impact of such signings on Arsenal’s wage structure, Arteta deferred to sporting director Andrea Berta and the board, stating, "I'll leave that question to [sporting director] Andrea [Berta] 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." The manager expressed satisfaction with Guimarães’ debut against Como.
The midfielder, who arrived from Newcastle only four days earlier, impressed as a half‑time substitute and could be 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, and Manchester United remain long‑term suitors. Despite the rumors, the 19‑year‑old made a memorable contribution in the friendly, scoring Arsenal’s goal against Como and celebrating with a heartfelt gesture toward the home supporters. "It's good to score a goal, you should be emotional when you score a goal," Arteta commented on 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 speculation about our player, it's a good sign. That means we attract attention and they're doing a good job." Arteta also highlighted Lewis‑Skelly’s impressive pre‑season form, noting that 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, Arsenal’s transfer strategy this summer reflects a blend of ambition and realism.
While the club is eager to add depth and quality, Arteta is candid about the constraints of the market and the need for patience. The manager’s focus remains on integrating new arrivals, maximising the potential of existing squad members, and maintaining a cohesive, motivated group capable of competing on multiple fronts. As the window progresses, fans can expect continued activity, careful negotiation, and a clear message from the Arsenal hierarchy: the pursuit of excellence never stops, even when the perfect target is hard to secure.