Julian Álvarez will not be joining Arsenal this summer; instead, the Argentine forward is staying put at Atletico Madrid after a protracted transfer saga that saw him flirt with a move to Barcelona before ultimately deciding against a Premier League switch. Arsenal’s chief, Mikel Arteta, therefore missed out on a marquee signing that had featured prominently in his summer plans.
The saga surrounding Álvarez stretched right up to the final day of the transfer window. While Arsenal lingered in the background, hoping to persuade the 22‑year‑old to make the leap back to England, the player showed little appetite for a Gunners deal.
In the end, the only forward Arsenal managed to bring in was Greek youngster Christos Tzolis, who arrived from Club Brugge on a permanent deal. This left the Gunners with a net loss of four attackers – Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all departed, and promising teenager Ethan Nwaneri was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund – while only one new name was added to the front line. Arteta’s post‑Champions League comments after the loss to Paris Saint‑Germain stressed the need for the club to be "ambitious" and "quick" in the market.
Whether the summer’s activity satisfied those criteria is still up for debate. The initial target was Morgan Rogers, a versatile forward who commanded a £117 million fee from Chelsea – a price Arsenal deemed excessive.
The next big hope was Vinícius Júnior, but the Brazilian prodigy chose to stay at Real Madrid, leaving the Gunners to scramble for alternatives. With the forward department now thinner, questions arise about the squad’s ability to sustain a title challenge. The left‑wing position, traditionally a source of pace and creativity, is now largely shouldered by Tzolis. While he demonstrated his stamina by logging nearly 4,400 minutes for Club Brugge last season, that figure still falls short of the combined minutes of Martinelli and Trossard for Arsenal in 2025‑26.
Moreover, Tzolis does not possess the same explosive one‑on‑one qualities that Arteta values; he is more of a workhorse than a direct threat behind the defence. The club will likely have to rely on Eze and Noni Madueke to share the workload, but both players also provide cover for midfield stars Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka, limiting their availability solely as wingers.
Eze’s cameo against Aston Villa showed he can operate on the left flank, yet his style is more about cutting inside than sprinting down the touchline. Madueke, meanwhile, offers flair but is still developing the consistency required for a full season of Premier League action. If Tzolis is expected to shoulder the majority of left‑wing duties, his durability will be tested.
The physical demands of the league could see him needing to feature in roughly ten more games than he did in Belgium, raising concerns about fatigue and injury risk. The centre‑forward role is another area of concern. With the departure of Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal are left with Kai Havertz and the newly signed Viktor Gyökeres as the only recognized strikers.
Arteta himself admitted in July that the team’s title hopes looked shaky in November when the squad was reduced to a single out‑and‑out striker, Mikel Merino, who can fill in but is not a natural number nine. The loss of Jesus, who saw limited minutes in 2026, still leaves a numerical gap that the club has not fully addressed. Arsenal have tried to offset this shortfall by adding Bruno Guimarães for £75 million.
The Brazilian midfielder, who impressed with his ability to break lines and transition quickly, provides an additional attacking outlet from deeper positions. His debut against Aston Villa highlighted his knack for late runs into the box and precise passing, offering a different dimension to the Gunners’ forward play. Another potential solution lies in the emergence of 16‑year‑old Max Dowman.
Previously considered a fringe player, Dowman is now earmarked for a larger role, capable of covering the right wing and the number‑10 slot when the likes of Madueke and Eze are deployed elsewhere. His versatility could prove valuable in a season where squad rotation will be essential. Depth across the board remains a hallmark of Arsenal’s squad. The club boasts at least two options for every position, with some areas even featuring three.
Over the summer, Arsenal overhauled their medical department, aiming to improve player availability – a factor that could keep key talents like Saka and Ødegaard on the pitch more consistently. Defensive reinforcements, such as the signing of Ezri Konsa to cover for the long‑term injury to William Saliba, also add resilience. With Jurrien Timber, Ben White, and the new back‑up options of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, the Gunners possess a defensive bench that rivals many Premier League sides.
Nevertheless, rivals are not standing still. Manchester City have bolstered their midfield with signings like Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernández, while Chelsea not only poached Rogers but also shored up their goalkeeper, defence and experience departments. Both clubs appear well‑equipped to challenge for the title, leaving Arsenal to wonder whether their comparatively modest attacking overhaul will be enough. In summary, Arsenal enter the new campaign with a front line that is thinner both in quality and quantity.
The reliance on a single left‑winger, the limited options at centre‑forward, and the departure of several proven attackers raise legitimate concerns about the team’s offensive firepower. While the midfield additions and defensive depth provide a solid foundation, the Gunners will need to extract maximum performance from the players they have and perhaps look to the winter window for further reinforcement.
The true test will come on the pitch, starting with the upcoming clash against Chelsea on Sunday at 4.30 pm on Sky Sports – a match that could offer an early indicator of whether Arsenal’s attacking deficiencies have been adequately addressed.