Arsenal simply have to bolster their forward line this summer; it's a fact that was revealed once again on Saturday afternoon as they crashed out of the FA Cup.
The Gunners have an incredible defensive record. They boast two of the finest centre-backs in the land in the form of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
Yet, at the top end of the pitch, things are turning into something of a disaster.
Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes celebrates scoring their second goal with William Saliba
While Viktor Gyokeres did score at the weekend, coming off the bench to do so, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz delivered particularly abject displays, as did Gabriel Martinelli on the left-hand side. For the two Brazilians, that is something of a norm right now, it's not an anomoly and it was rather worrying that they could not even impact the game against Championship opposition.
While throwing money at the situation is now always the best idea, it certainly is this time around. Investment is required.
How Arsenal can strengthen their forward line
The aforementioned Jesus will need to be replaced this summer when, expectedly, he takes his leave from the Emirates Stadium.
As a result, the north Londoners have cast their eyes in the direction of Bayer Leverkusen centre-forward Christian Kofane. Yet, additions will also be required on the flanks where Bukayo Saka is struggling and Leandro Trossard has not scored in over four months.
Saka-Trossard-Arsenal
Michael Olise has been talked about in the past but that feels something of a pipe dream. Antoine Semenyo was also a target before he signed for Manchester City while PSG's Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has also been linked in recent weeks.
The cream of the crop have all been touted with making a move to the Emirates Stadium and that even includes Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior
That's according to a report from TEAMtalk that suggests that, with his contact situation at the Bernabeu currently rather dicey, intermediaries have been in talks with a number of clubs to inform them that he could be available this summer.
Among those are European giants Bayern Munich and PSG, but back at home, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have all been told they could potentially sign him.
Vini Jr has been offered a new contract to extend his stay in Spain but hasn't signed fresh terms yet. It's reported that Real are unwilling to make the Brazilian a higher offer, leading to the belief that he could depart when the summer window opens.
That said, previous reports have suggested he could be worth as much as £130m.
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Why Vinicius Junior could solve Arsenal's wide problem
It's been difficult to identify too many problems at Arsenal this season but there is undoubtedly one emerging in the wide areas, particularly throughout 2026.
Saka is enduring the most challenging period of his senior career, having scored just twice since early December. Meanwhile, on the opposite flank it's an even more worrying situation.
Bukayo-Saka-Arsenal (2)
Trossard has not found the net in his last 18 games in all competitions, a run of form that stretches back to 30th December when he scored against Aston Villa.
As for Gabriel Martinelli, he has not scored at club level since finding the net against Wigan Athletic on 15th February in the FA Cup.
With injuries decimating the squad, Mikel Arteta has needed more from his wide players but this is not a new problem. Last term, Trossard and Martinelli only scored ten goals apiece. They miss that genuine superstar talent, particularly with Saka's numbers waning.
How they must crave the mercurial Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean is one of the best players we've seen in the Emirates era, scoring as many as 24 Premier League goals during the 2016/17 season.
Alexis Sanchez Arsenal record (timeless)
A player with a monster mentality, incredible trickery and the ability to create something out of nothing, he is very much cut from a similar cloth as the aforementioned Vinicius Junior.
Not since Alexis have Arsenal had a left winger capable of influencing a game as much as he but in Vini Jr, they would find their solution.
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior reacts
Celebrated as "the best [player] in the world" by Arsenal royalty Thierry Henry back in 2024, the Real Madrid winger has proven himself to be one of the most dangerous wingers on the globe in recent years.
Boasting a career-best haul of 24 goals in one season back in 2023/24, he's as ruthless a goalscorer as Alexis once was but he's also a mighty fine creator, supplying a whopping 66 assists in the last four and a half seasons.
Alexis was very similar in that regard, netting 80 goals and laying on 44 assists during his time in the English capital.
Alexis (16/17) vs Vini Jr (23/24): League only
Stat (per 90 mins)
Goals
Shots
Shot accuracy
Conversion rate
Assists
Chances created
Take-ons completed
Duels won
A quick look at Sanchez's numbers from his best season in England vs one of Vinicius Junior's best in Spain tells you just how good the latter is.
He's an explosive talent, an extraordinary winger who would not just represent an upgrade on the below-par Martinelli and Trossard, but also possibly an upgrade on prime Alexis. That's quite something.
The Brazilian did not just score more goals per 90 minutes but he also completed more take-ons and had a better shot accuracy as well as conversion rate.
For a winger, they are usually bemoaned for a lack of end product but that is certainly not the case with the Madrid superstar.
Arsenal are crying out for a game-changing attacker and they could find one here. The trouble is, a move does feel extremely unlikely at this moment in time.
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