Arsenal’s Failed Alvarez Pursuit Leaves Arteta Facing Attacking Depth Test

Arsenal emerged from the summer transfer window with a stronger squad in several areas, but Mikel Arteta’s failure to secure a marquee forward has left the Premier League champions facing a significant test of their attacking depth.

Julián Álvarez became the latest high-profile target to remain beyond Arsenal’s reach, with the Argentina international staying at Atlético Madrid after a summer in which Barcelona had been his preferred destination. Arsenal were positioned as another possible option but were ultimately unable to persuade the former Manchester City forward to return to England.

His decision completed a frustrating sequence for Arsenal. Morgan Rogers, Vinícius Júnior and Álvarez were all considered as the club searched for another elite attacker, yet none arrived at the Emirates Stadium.

Instead, Christos Tzolis finished the window as Arsenal’s only new addition to the front three.

That would have represented less of a concern had Arsenal retained the attacking group that helped them win the Premier League last season. Instead, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus all departed, while Ethan Nwaneri joined Borussia Dortmund on loan.

The result is a squad that may possess greater overall quality in midfield and defence but has considerably less established depth across the forward line.

Arsenal’s Search for an Elite Forward Ends Without a Signing

Arteta had made Arsenal’s intentions clear after their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, calling for the club to operate ambitiously and decisively in the market.

Their attacking recruitment subsequently revolved around several major targets.

Rogers was among Arsenal’s priority options, but Chelsea eventually secured the England international for £117 million. Arsenal then explored the possibility of signing Vinícius from Real Madrid before the Brazil international remained at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Álvarez became the final major possibility as the deadline approached, but the 2022 World Cup winner ultimately stayed with Atlético.

The consequence is striking when Arsenal’s departures are considered alongside their arrivals.

Trossard made 30 starts last season, Martinelli 25, Jesus nine and Nwaneri four. Collectively, the four players who have now left permanently or temporarily accounted for 68 starts. Arsenal have effectively replaced that volume of first-team involvement with one specialist attacking signing.

That does not automatically mean Arteta’s squad is weaker, but it changes the margin for error significantly.

Tzolis Faces a Major Role on Arsenal’s Left

Tzolis will carry much of the responsibility for replacing Arsenal’s production from the left.

The Greece international arrived from Club Brugge for around £34 million after establishing himself as one of the Belgian club’s leading attacking players. He scored 43 goals in 108 appearances for Brugge, demonstrating the finishing ability that persuaded Arsenal to bring him back to English football.

His durability could prove just as important.

Tzolis played close to 4,400 minutes for Brugge last season. That is only around 900 fewer than Martinelli and Trossard managed between them for Arsenal, illustrating both his capacity for a heavy workload and the demands he could face in north London.

The issue is not simply whether Tzolis can play regularly. It is whether Arsenal have another natural option capable of replicating his role if he is unavailable.

Eberechi Eze can operate from the left and produced an encouraging contribution there after coming on against Aston Villa. Noni Madueke is another possibility.

However, both players have responsibilities elsewhere. Eze provides creative cover around Martin Ødegaard’s position, while Madueke is also an important alternative to Bukayo Saka on the right.

There is also a stylistic consideration. Martinelli offered Arsenal direct running, acceleration and a persistent threat behind opposing defensive lines. Neither Eze nor Tzolis naturally attacks space in exactly the same way.

Arteta therefore has alternatives, but not necessarily like-for-like replacements.

Centre-Forward Depth Is Another Question

The situation through the middle creates a similar concern.

Viktor Gyökeres and Kai Havertz give Arsenal two established centre-forward options, while Mikel Merino has previously been used as an emergency striker.

Yet Jesus’ departure removes another specialist from that rotation.

That is particularly notable given Arsenal’s difficulties with attacking injuries last season. Arteta has previously acknowledged how damaging periods of limited striker availability became during the title race.

Jesus had played only a limited role during 2026, so his departure does not remove a player who was consistently starting matches. Nevertheless, the importance of a third senior centre-forward often becomes apparent only when injuries or fixture congestion arrive.

Arsenal will again compete across the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cups, making squad availability increasingly important as the season progresses.

Guimarães Gives Arsenal a Different Type of Attacking Weapon

There are important reasons why Arsenal should not view their summer entirely negatively.

The £75 million arrival of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle significantly strengthens a midfield that already contains Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Ødegaard.

Guimarães is not another winger or striker, but his ability to progress possession and find teammates beyond opposition midfield lines could improve Arsenal’s attacking efficiency.

The Brazil international returned from a minor injury to make his league debut for Arsenal against Aston Villa, having missed the opening victory against Coventry.

Eze also provides positional versatility, while 16-year-old Max Dowman offers another intriguing option. Dowman can operate centrally or from the right and is expected to receive more first-team opportunities after emerging around Arteta’s senior squad at a remarkably young age.

Better availability would also alter the equation.

If Saka, Ødegaard, Havertz and Arsenal’s other leading attacking players remain fit for longer periods, the absence of another major signing may become far less damaging.

The problem is that Arsenal have reduced the number of proven alternatives available if that ideal scenario does not materialise.

Arsenal Strengthened Elsewhere While Their Rivals Added Quality

The contrast between Arsenal’s attacking business and their recruitment elsewhere is significant.

Ezri Konsa, Piero Hincapié and other defensive options have given Arteta exceptional depth behind his preferred back line, while Guimarães adds another elite-level midfielder.

Arsenal therefore appear well equipped defensively and centrally.

Their leading title rivals were aggressive too.

Manchester City reshaped their midfield with major additions including Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Enzo Fernández, while Chelsea combined the £117 million acquisition of Rogers with reinforcements elsewhere in their squad.

That does not mean Arsenal have surrendered the advantage they built by winning the Premier League last season. Their starting XI remains strong, and the squad still contains considerable tactical flexibility.

But the champions enter the new campaign with a narrower range of established attacking options than Arteta might have expected when the window opened.

Has Arsenal’s Transfer Window Opened Up the Title Race?

Arsenal’s summer should ultimately be judged with more nuance than simply counting arrivals and departures.

Guimarães represents a substantial upgrade in midfield. Their defensive depth is formidable, and players such as Tzolis, Eze and Dowman give Arteta different ways to structure his attack.

What Arsenal failed to acquire was the transformative forward they spent much of the summer pursuing.

Missing out on one elite target can happen to any club. Missing out on Rogers, Vinícius and Álvarez becomes more significant when Martinelli, Trossard and Jesus are then allowed to leave.

Tzolis may prove capable of carrying the additional responsibility, while Gyökeres and Havertz provide strong options centrally. But an injury to Saka, Tzolis or one of Arsenal’s centre-forwards could quickly expose the reduced numbers.

The first major examination arrives against Chelsea on September 6, when the champions face one of the clubs that strengthened most aggressively during the summer.

Arsenal remain equipped to defend their Premier League crown. The question is whether their decision to prioritise quality and versatility over additional attacking numbers has left their rivals with a greater opportunity to close the gap.