Julian Alvarez will not be joining Arsenal; the Argentine forward has decided to stay with Atletico Madrid after a protracted transfer saga that also saw him flirt with a move to Barcelona. This development leaves Mikel Arteta without the marquee striker he had been targeting for the summer. The saga surrounding Alvarez stretched right up to the transfer deadline, but the player never displayed a genuine desire to swap the Spanish capital for London. While Arsenal kept a watchful eye on the possibility of bringing him back to the Premier League, the club ultimately had to accept his decision to remain in Spain.
Arteta, speaking after Arsenal’s loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, urged his side to be "ambitious" and "swift" in the market. Whether the Gunners have lived up to those expectations is now a matter of intense debate. At the start of the window, Arsenal’s primary target was Morgan Rogers, a prolific forward who eventually chose Chelsea for a £117 million fee that Arsenal deemed excessive.
The club then turned its attention to Vinicius Junior, hoping to replicate the Brazilian’s impact at Real Madrid, but that pursuit also fell through. In the end, the only forward signing Arsenal managed was Greek striker Christos Tzolis, who arrived on a free transfer. Tzolis becomes the sole new addition to a frontline that has already seen the departure of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus, with young prospect Ethan Nwaneri heading to Borussia Dortmund on loan. Four attackers have left and only one has arrived, prompting questions about whether Arsenal have left themselves vulnerable in attack both in terms of quality and sheer numbers.
The left‑wing position is now especially thin. Tzolis is the only recognised specialist for that role until at least January. While Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke can fill in, they are also expected to provide cover for midfield talisman Martin Ødegaard and wide‑man Bukayo Saka. Eze showed flashes of promise off the bench against Aston Villa, demonstrating he can operate on the left, but neither he nor Tzolis possess the blistering pace and one‑on‑one dribbling that Arteta traditionally favours.
They are not the type of players who make frequent runs behind the defence the way Martinelli once did. Can Tzolis shoulder the left‑wing responsibilities for the bulk of the season?
Those familiar with the Greek international note his exceptional recovery rate; he can play three days after a full match without a noticeable dip in performance. Last season at Club Brugge he logged just under 4,400 minutes, roughly 900 minutes fewer than the combined output of Martinelli and Trossard for Arsenal last term. To match that workload, Tzolis would need to feature in about ten more games this campaign, a demand that raises concerns about fatigue and squad rotation.
The centre‑forward area is equally precarious. With Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökeres sharing duties up front and the exit of Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal are effectively one striker short compared to the previous season. Earlier this summer Arteta admitted that the title race had slipped away in November when the Gunners were left with only Mikel Merino as a viable lone striker, a role Merino can fill but is not a long‑term solution.
Nevertheless, Arsenal have bolstered the attacking midfield with the £75 million acquisition of Bruno Guimarães. The Brazilian midfielder was among the Premier League’s best at breaking down opposition defences last season and made an instant impression on his debut against Aston Villa, offering a new creative dimension that could offset the loss of a traditional centre‑forward. Adding to the depth chart is 16‑year‑old Max Dowman, whose status has risen from a peripheral “wild‑card” to a genuine first‑team option.
Dowman can operate on the right wing or as a number 10, providing additional cover when Madueke and Eze are deployed elsewhere. Overall, Arsenal still possess sufficient personnel to field two players in every position, with some areas even offering three options.
The club’s overhaul of its medical department this summer promises better injury management, potentially increasing the availability of key figures such as Saka and Ødegaard and, by extension, strengthening the forward line. Defensively, Arsenal addressed a glaring need created by William Saliba’s long‑term injury by signing centre‑back Ezri Konsa.
With Jurrien Timber and Ben White also battling injury histories—White even struggled against Villa on Monday night—the extra right‑back cover is valuable. The back‑up defensive roster, now featuring White, Konsa, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, could be considered a first‑choice backline for many other Premier League sides. Meanwhile, rivals are sharpening their squads. Manchester City have made headline‑grabbing signings, revamping their midfield with Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernández, while Chelsea not only poached Rogers but also reinforced their goalkeeper, defence and experience departments.
Both clubs can claim they are ready to challenge Arsenal for the title, leaving the Gunners to reflect on a summer that, from an attacking perspective, may feel underwhelming. Will the gap between Arsenal and the league’s elite narrow as a result?
The answer will be tested immediately when Arsenal host Chelsea on Sunday at 4.30 pm on Sky Sports. The match will serve as a litmus test for Arteta’s squad depth, tactical flexibility, and whether the team can thrive despite a thinner attacking roster than originally envisioned.