Alvarez Remains at Atletico – Does Arsenal’s Attack Lack Depth?

Julian Alvarez will not be joining Arsenal this summer. Instead, the Argentine forward has opted to stay at Atletico Madrid after a brief flirtation with a move to Barcelona, leaving Arsenal’s transfer plans once again in limbo.

The Gunners’ manager, Mikel Arteta, had publicly stated that his side needed to be "ambitious" and "quick" in the market, but the summer window has largely failed to deliver the striking options he coveted. The transfer saga began with Arsenal targeting Morgan Rogers as their primary forward acquisition.

Rogers eventually headed to Chelsea for a reported £117 million fee, a price Arsenal deemed excessive. The club then turned its attention to a high‑profile pursuit of Vinícius Júnior, but the Brazilian remained at Real Madrid, leaving Arsenal without a marquee striker.

Alvarez’s situation added another layer of drama. Throughout the transfer deadline period, the Argentine showed little enthusiasm for a move to the Premier League.

While Arsenal lingered on the sidelines, Christos Tzolis emerged as the sole forward signing, arriving from Club Brugge to fill the void left by departing attackers. The summer departures have been significant.

Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all left the club, and promising youngster Ethan Nwaneri was loaned to Borussia Dortmund. In total, Arsenal have lost four forwards and brought in only one, raising concerns about squad depth and the ability to rotate players over a grueling season. The left‑wing position is now particularly fragile.

Tzolis, while technically proficient, is the only recognized specialist in that role until the January window opens. Both Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke can operate on the flank, but they are also expected to provide cover for midfielders Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka. Eze demonstrated his versatility after coming off the bench against Aston Villa, but neither he nor Tzolis possess the blistering pace and one‑on‑one threat that Arteta traditionally favours. Their style differs markedly from Martinelli’s propensity to cut inside and run behind defenders.

Can Tzolis shoulder the left‑wing responsibilities for the majority of the campaign? Reports suggest he has an impressive recovery rate, capable of playing again just three days after a full match.

Last season at Club Brugge he accumulated just under 4,400 minutes, roughly 900 minutes fewer than the combined total of Martinelli and Trossard for Arsenal in 2025‑26. To match that output, Tzolis would need to feature in about ten more games than he did last term, a workload that could test his stamina and consistency. The centre‑forward area is equally concerning.

With Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyökerés sharing duties up front and the departure of Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal are effectively one striker short compared with the previous season. Earlier this summer Arteta admitted that the title race seemed to slip away in November when the Gunners were reduced to a single viable striker, Mikel Merino, who can also fill the role but is not a long‑term solution.

Despite the lack of a new traditional striker, Arsenal have bolstered their attacking options through the £75 million acquisition of Bruno Guimarães. The Brazilian midfielder, who impressed in his Premier League debut against Aston Villa, brings a dynamic ability to break down opposition defences and link play between midfield and attack. While not a centre‑forward, his presence adds a valuable dimension to the front three, potentially compensating for the numerical shortfall.

Another emerging talent is 16‑year‑old Max Dowman, who is expected to assume a more prominent role after a largely peripheral season. Dowman could operate on the right wing or as a number‑10, providing additional flexibility when Madueke and Eze are deployed elsewhere. His development will be closely monitored, as Arsenal aim to nurture home‑grown players to fill gaps left by senior departures. Depth across the squad remains a strong point for the Gunners.

Arsenal possess at least two, and often three, players for each position, a luxury that many rivals lack. The club also invested heavily in revamping its medical department over the summer, hoping to improve injury prevention and recovery for key figures such as Saka and Ødegaard. A healthier squad could translate into more consistent availability for the attacking unit.

Defensively, Arsenal addressed a lingering issue caused by William Saliba’s long‑term injury by signing centre‑back Ezri Konsa. With Jurrien Timber and Ben White also battling injury histories—White, for instance, struggled against Aston Villa on Monday night—the additional cover at right‑back is valuable. The back‑line now includes White, Konsa, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapié, forming a depth chart that would rival many Premier League sides as a first‑choice defence.

Meanwhile, rivals Manchester City have made headline‑grabbing signings, reinforcing their midfield with Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernández. Chelsea, having swooped on Morgan Rogers, also strengthened multiple areas, notably the goalkeeper position, defensive unit and experienced personnel. Both clubs appear well‑equipped to challenge Arsenal for the title.

In summary, Arsenal’s transfer window has left the attacking department thinner than desired. Four forwards have departed, and only one has arrived, creating potential rotation challenges and a reliance on versatile youngsters to fill the gaps. While the addition of Guimarães and the emergence of players like Dowman provide some optimism, the lack of a natural, high‑tempo left winger and a dedicated centre‑forward could expose the Gunners in a tightly contested title race.

The true test will come when Arsenal face Chelsea this Sunday at 4.30 pm on Sky Sports. That match will offer an early indicator of whether the squad’s depth and new signings can compensate for the offensive shortfall, and whether Artetta’s ambition and speed in the market will translate into on‑field success.