Julian Alvarez will not be joining Arsenal this summer. Instead, the Argentine striker has confirmed his stay at Atletico Madrid after a brief flirtation with a move to Barcelona, leaving Arsenal’s pursuit of the forward unfulfilled. This development adds to a series of missed targets for Mikel Arteta, who entered the transfer window with clear ambitions to bolster his attacking options.
The summer transfer saga surrounding Alvarez stretched right up to deadline day, but the player never displayed the willingness to relocate to the Premier League. Arsenal’s earlier hopes of securing him were eclipsed by the club’s inability to persuade the Argentine to abandon his Atletico commitments. Consequently, the only notable addition to Arsenal’s front line this window was the acquisition of Greek forward Christos Tzolis, who arrived from Club Brugge. Arsenal’s transfer strategy began with Morgan Rogers as the primary target.
The Gunners were prepared to meet a £117 million price tag, but Chelsea ultimately swooped in, forcing Arsenal to walk away. The next major pursuit was Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, a player whose style aligns with Arteta’s desire for pace and directness.
However, the Brazilian star elected to remain in Spain, leaving Arsenal without a marquee forward. In the wake of these setbacks, the Alvarez episode dominated headlines.
While Arsenal’s scouts and negotiators worked tirelessly, Alvarez’s lack of enthusiasm meant the deal never materialised. The only forward signing to emerge from the window was Tzolis, who will be expected to shoulder a significant portion of the attacking burden.
Compounding the issue, Arsenal also saw three established attackers depart: Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all left the club, and promising teenager Ethan Nwaneri was loaned to Borussia Dortmund. This exodus leaves the Gunners with four forwards out and just one confirmed arrival, raising concerns about depth and quality in the final third. The left‑wing position, traditionally a source of creativity for Arsenal, now rests largely on Tzolis. While he possesses technical ability, he lacks the blistering speed and one‑on‑one dribbling that Artarta favours.
Eze and Noni Madueke can also operate on the flank, but they are frequently required to rotate with midfielders Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka, limiting their availability as pure wingers. Eze’s cameo against Aston Villa demonstrated his capacity to adapt, yet neither he nor Tzolis consistently deliver the penetrating runs that characterised Martinelli’s play. Tzolis’s workload will be a key factor. In his final season with Club Brugge he logged just under 4,400 minutes, roughly 900 minutes fewer than the combined minutes of Martinelli and Trossard for Arsenal last term.
To match that output, he may need to feature in ten additional matches this campaign, a demand that could test his stamina and consistency. The centre‑forward role is equally precarious. With Kai Havertz and Viktor Gökärés sharing duties and the departure of Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal are effectively one striker short compared to the previous season.
Arteta previously warned that the title race could slip away if the squad lacked a reliable number nine, especially after a period in November when only Mikel Merino was available as a true centre‑forward option. While the loss of Jesus – who saw limited game time in 2026 – may not appear catastrophic, it does reduce the tactical flexibility Arteta enjoys.
The club has attempted to offset this by signing Bruno Guimarães for around £75 million. The Brazilian midfielder, renowned for his ability to break down defensive lines, offered a spectacular debut against Aston Villa and could provide an alternative avenue into the box, but he does not replace the traditional target‑man role. Looking ahead, 16‑year‑old Max Dowman could emerge as a valuable utility player. Having been a peripheral figure last season, Dowman may be thrust into more prominent responsibilities, covering the right wing or even operating as a number ten when Madueke and Eze are deployed elsewhere.
His development will be crucial for Arsenal’s depth. Beyond the attack, Arsenal have reinforced other areas of the squad. The medical department overhaul promises improved injury management, potentially keeping key figures like Saka and Ødegaard available for longer stretches. Defensively, the club added Ezri Konsa after William Saliba’s long‑term injury highlighted a vulnerability at centre‑back.
With Jurrien Timber and Ben White still prone to fitness concerns, Konsa, alongside Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, offers a robust backup that many Premier League sides would consider first‑choice. Meanwhile, rivals are strengthening. Manchester City have made headline‑grabbing signings such as Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernández, reshaping their midfield. Chelsea, after snatching Rogers, also bolstered their squad across the goalkeeper, defensive and experience dimensions.
Both clubs appear well‑equipped to challenge Arsenal for the title. In summary, Arsenal’s transfer window can be characterised as a mixed bag: a few strategic additions offset by notable departures, particularly in the forward line. The Gunners now rely heavily on a single new striker, Christos Tzolis, to fill the void left by Martinelli, Trossard and Jesus, while also expecting contributions from versatile players like Eze, Madueke and the emerging Dowman. Whether this reduced attacking depth will hamper Arsenal’s title aspirations will become evident as the season unfolds, especially when they face direct competition from Manchester City and Chelsea in the early fixtures.
The upcoming clash against Chelsea on Sunday, broadcast on Sky Sports at 4.30 pm, will provide an early litmus test for Arteta’s restructured squad.