Jamie Carragher has questioned why Arsenal did not launch a move to sign Bradley Barcola during the summer transfer window. The Liverpool icon expressed his confusion on The Overlap's 'Stick to Football' podcast, as reported by Sportskeeda this week.
Arsenal are currently second in the Premier League with six points from two wins, having scored four goals and conceded none. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Chelsea on Sunday, September 6th. The squad is navigating this strong start while dealing with absences, including defenders Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, and Cristhian Mosquera, as listed on our injuries page.
Why did Arsenal avoid the Barcola deal?
The summer saw Arsenal seeking reinforcements on the left wing following the departures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli. Manager Mikel Arteta was linked with moves for Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Jr., but Rogers joined Chelsea and Vinicius Jr. Extended his contract with Real Madrid. This left a gap that new signing Christos Tzolis has begun to fill with a decent start.
Carragher noted this context when discussing the club's strategy. "I’m happy it didn’t happen but I was looking at the Barcola thing," the former defender said. "For me with Arsenal, left wing has always felt like where the drop is compared to [Bukayo] Saka, [Martin] Odegaard, [Kai] Havertz." He suggested that as other targets slipped away, a move for the highly-rated French winger should have been more seriously considered.
Where did Bradley Barcola end up?
Instead of moving to North London, Bradley Barcola completed a high-profile transfer to Liverpool. The deal, worth £123 million including add-ons, was confirmed as a major priority for Reds boss Andoni Iraola. The 24-year-old arrives with an impressive trophy haul from his time at Paris Saint-Germain, including three Ligue 1 titles, back-to-back Champions League trophies, two French Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Iraola emphasized the player's desire to join his project at Anfield. "It was our priority, let's say, to sign a very, very good player in that position," the manager told reporters. "I've learnt from him that he wanted Liverpool a lot." Barcola could make his debut for Liverpool in their Friday match against Ipswich Town.
How does this affect Arsenal's squad balance?
Carragher's comments highlight a perceived imbalance in Arsenal's attacking options. While Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz provide consistent quality on the right and through the middle, the left flank has seen more change. The addition of Christos Tzolis offers promise, but the pundit sensed a missed opportunity to secure a proven winner like Barcola.
"The new kid [Christos] Tzolis has made a decent start," Carragher conceded. "But the longer the Barcola thing went on, and then Arsenal didn’t get Vinicius Jr or Alvarez, I was thinking is that [signing Barcola] not the one?" His analysis suggests the club may have passed on a chance to significantly strengthen a specific area of the pitch. Fans can assess the full attacking options available to Mikel Arteta by viewing the squad list.
What is next for Arsenal after the transfer window?
With the summer business concluded, the focus shifts entirely to performances on the pitch. Arsenal's perfect defensive record and six-point haul place them near the top of the standings, setting up a important early-season clash with London rivals Chelsea. That match at the Emirates Stadium will be a key test for Arteta's reconfigured attacking unit.
The failure to sign a marquee left winger like Barcola means the responsibility now falls on the existing group to maintain the team's strong early form. The coming weeks will reveal whether the current squad depth is sufficient for a sustained title challenge, starting with the high-stakes encounter against fourth-placed Chelsea this Sunday.
