Arsenal's failure to secure three key attacking targets this summer has left manager Mikel Arteta with a squad that lacks depth and pace, forcing the club towards a likely January transfer move. The Premier League side, currently 2nd in the table with six points from two wins, missed out on Morgan Rogers, Vinicius Jr, and Julian Alvarez during the window, as reported by Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer for the Independent.
Despite a perfect start to the season with four goals scored and none conceded, the club's summer business has raised concerns. Arsenal lost three Premier League-ready forwards and signed only one unproven forward, Christos Tzolis. This leaves the attack with less depth and less pace than the squad possessed last season, a situation felt more acutely at the Emirates than at other clubs.
Why is Arsenal's attack considered weaker?
The squad's attacking options are now more limited. The club waited too long in the window, allowing prices to rise for some targets, while also respecting Chelsea's valuation for another player. Sales were described as haphazard. This comes after Arsenal considered signing Antoine Semenyo earlier in the summer, but ultimately did not complete a deal. The low margins in many matches last season, due to absences of Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard, and Bukayo Saka, highlighted the existing vulnerability.
While the defense, featuring Ezri Konsa, is considered among the strongest in the world, and the signing of Bruno Guimaraes is viewed as transformative, the overall squad is not seen as complete. Some consider it the best in world football, yet the attack is clearly more lacking than before. You can view the full squad for the current campaign.
What does this mean for Mikel Arteta?
Arteta, now the longest-serving manager in Arsenal's history with complete control, faces a critical period. "We will have to start making some very important decisions if we want to reach another level," the Basque said. "We are going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it is going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart."
His one clear choice is to address the issue in the next transfer window. Sporting director Andrea Berta is likely already planning for January, with Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi a potential target. The club's overall squad building under this regime is still viewed as classic and effective, but this summer's failures in the forward line present a significant challenge.
How does the current form affect the situation?
Arsenal's strong early form, with two wins from two games, temporarily masks the underlying issue. They sit 2nd in the standings, but the next fixture is a major test against Chelsea at home on September 6th. The Blues are currently 4th, making this a key early-season clash. The team's immediate focus will be on maintaining their perfect defensive record and finding goals from a thinner attacking group.
The need for reinforcements is not about panic but about sustaining a title challenge. The upcoming match data and future fixtures will test the current group's resilience. Arteta and his staff must now prove they can manage with the resources at hand until the winter window opens, when the club is expected to be active in the market to finally rectify its summer shortcomings. Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on September 6, 2026.
