Leandro Trossard has left to join Besiktas in a deal worth £15.3 million plus add-ons, with The Gunners strengthening their squad with the signing of Club Brugge attacker and Greece international Christos Tzolis for a reported fee of £34 million.
But the task of luring Vinicius away from the Bernabeu will be a far less straightforward transaction.
On Saturday, The Athletic's David Ornstein broke the news that the Premier League champions are ready to make their move after it was agreed by the club's hierarchy that the 26-year-old's profile aligned itself with their recruitment strategy.
Following a disappointing exit in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Brazil, the player is currently on holiday and is likely assessing his options ahead of committing one way or another on his future.
But news of Arsenal's interest will no doubt pique his attention as well as the club's fanbase, who will hope their newly acquired status as the champions of England for the first time in 22 years translates to an elevated calibre of player who can be attracted to Emirates Stadium.
With Jose Mourinho back in charge of the Spanish club, Vinicius finds himself at a pivotal phase of his career, four years out from the next World Cup, but Real Madrid themselves will want to know long before the end of the summer transfer window if the forward is willing to be a focal point of the rebuild that has already started under their Portuguese head coach.
With his current contract set to expire in 12 months' time, something has got to give in order for Madrid not to risk losing him on a free transfer in 2027 - so Arsenal's readiness to test the waters could well spark a bidding war for one of Europe's most coveted stars.
Should Mikel Arteta miss out on his target, it will be viewed in some quarters as an untimely setback and reminiscent of the days under Arsene Wenger when so many players slipped through the net before going on to have glittering careers elsewhere.
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Even in 2022 under Arteta, Raphinha reportedly rejected Arsenal and moved to Barcelona - but the risk of failure is not something that will detract the Spaniard as he looks to improve on a forward line that was accused of becoming too reliant on set-pieces and an overly coached brand of football.
Their near miss in the UEFA Champions League last season demonstrated that Arteta’s side are close to the very top of European football - but perhaps still missing the individual brilliance required to decide the biggest moments. Vinicius could be that final piece.
In light of Trossard's departure and the swirling speculation regarding the Madrid forward and a potential move to Arsenal, TNT Sports have delved into the numbers behind the attacking options that were at Arteta's disposal last season - compared with the man on everyone's lips.
Vinicius the ball-carrying king
While Vinicius's output in front of goal is certainly impressive, the statistics suggest Arsenal's interest goes far beyond simply adding another goalscorer.
Instead, the Real Madrid forward offers a ball-carrying ability that Arteta's squad currently lack.
According to Opta, Vinicius covered 153.8 metres of progressive carrying per 90 minutes across all competitions during the 2025/26 season, comfortably outperforming every Arsenal attacker.
Even Noni Madueke, the closest comparison, averaged more than 35 metres fewer per game, while Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli trailed even further behind. It highlights one of Vinicius' defining qualities - his ability to receive possession deep, beat opponents and carry the ball significant distances, relieving pressure before instantly turning defence into attack.
Player Progressive Carry Distance per 90 (m)
Vinicius Junior 153.8
Noni Madueke 117.2
Bukayo Saka 86.0
Gabriel Martinelli 72.4
Leandro Trossard 57.4
Kai Havertz 43.4
Viktor Gyokeres 29.6
2025/26 all competitions (Source: Opta)
That willingness to drive forward is also reflected in where he receives the ball. Vinicius averaged 9.7 touches inside the opposition penalty area every 90 minutes, the highest figure among the players compared and significantly more than Arsenal's existing options.
While The Gunners boast several creative wide players, none consistently arrive in dangerous central areas as frequently as the Brazilian, whose movement constantly forces defenders backwards.
Player Touches in Opposition Box (per 90)
Vinicius Junior 9.7
Noni Madueke 8.1
Bukayo Saka 7.2
Kai Havertz 6.3
Gabriel Martinelli 6.1
Viktor Gyökeres 5.7
Leandro Trossard 5.0
2025/26 all competitions (Source: Opta)
Perhaps the strongest argument for Arsenal pursuing Vinicius lies in what happens once he starts running with the ball. Few players in Europe create danger through carrying possession as effectively.
He recorded 1.7 shot-ending carries and 1.2 chance-creating carries per 90 minutes, both comfortably ahead of Arsenal's current attackers, while no player in the comparison came close to matching his 10 goal-ending carries and nine assist-ending carries across the campaign.
Those figures underline a player who does not simply participate in attacks - he drives them himself.
Player Shot-ending Carries p90 Chance-ending Carries p90
Vinicius Junior 1.7 1.2
Bukayo Saka 1.2 0.9
Noni Madueke 0.8 0.6
Gabriel Martinelli 0.6 0.5
Leandro Trossard 0.6 0.6
Kai Havertz 0.5 0.3
Viktor Gyokeres 0.4 0.1
2025/26 all competitions (Source: Opta)
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Vinicius Junior would instantly improve Arsenal's attacking threat
Image credit: Getty Images
Vinicius' creative numbers further reinforce that profile. Only Saka created more chances per 90 minutes among the players compared, with the Arsenal winger remaining the club's primary playmaker.
However, Vinicius would immediately become Arsenal's second-most productive creator while offering a far greater carrying threat than any of Arteta's existing wide options. It is a different kind of creativity - one born from beating defenders rather than simply finding team-mates with passes.
Player Chances Created Per 90
Bukayo Saka 2.5
Vinicius Junior 2.1
Noni Madueke 1.8
Gabriel Martinelli 1.5
Leandro Trossard 1.5
Kai Havertz 1.5
Viktor Gyokeres 0.8
Player Goal-ending Carries Assist-ending Carries
Vinicius Junior 10 9
Gabriel Martinelli 5 3
Bukayo Saka 3 4
Leandro Trossard 2 5
Viktor Gyokeres 3 0
Kai Havertz 2 1
Noni Madueke 1 0
2025/26 all competitions (Source: Opta)
His dribbling numbers tell a similar story. Vinicius completed 2.6 dribbles per 90 minutes, matching Madueke for the highest average in the group.
On its own, that figure is impressive, but combined with his progressive carrying, touches inside the box and chance creation, it illustrates why he remains one of the most feared one-on-one players in world football. His dribbles consistently lead somewhere meaningful rather than merely advancing possession.
Player Completed Dribbles p90 Success Rate
Vinicius Junior 2.6 40.5%
Noni Madueke 2.6 48.5%
Bukayo Saka 1.8 42.4%
Gabriel Martinelli 1.8 45.7%
Leandro Trossard 1.1 40.0%
Kai Havertz 0.5 42.9%
Viktor Gyokeres 0.3 22.8%
2025/26 all competitions (Source: Opta)
The Brazilian also wins more fouls than any Arsenal attacker, averaging 2.4 per 90 minutes.
While often overlooked, that ability to draw challenges relieves pressure, earns dangerous free-kicks and disrupts organised defensive structures. It is another way in which Vinicius influences matches beyond goals and assists.
Player Fouls Won Per 90
Vinicius Júnior 2.4
Bukayo Saka 2.0
Leandro Trossard 1.8
Noni Madueke 1.5
Viktor Gyokeres 1.4
Gabriel Martinelli 1.0
Kai Havertz 1.0
2025/26 all competitions (Source: Opta)
His attacking intent is further demonstrated by his shot volume. Vinicius attempted 3.5 shots per 90 minutes, comfortably the highest figure among the players compared, while also generating an expected goals figure of 0.5 per 90.
Although he marginally underperformed his xG, his underlying numbers show he consistently finds high-quality shooting positions and remains one of Europe's most reliable attacking outlets over the course of a full season.
Player Shots p90 Shots on Target p90 xG p90
Vinicius Junior 3.5 1.5 0.5
Bukayo Saka 3.0 1.3 0.3
Kai Havertz 2.6 0.9 0.6
Gabriel Martinelli 2.5 1.0 0.4
Leandro Trossard 2.5 0.7 0.2
Viktor Gyokeres 2.4 1.0 0.5
Noni Madueke 2.3 1.0 0.2
2025/26 All competitions (Source: Opta)
How Arsenal's existing forwards complement Vinicius
There are, of course, areas where Arsenal's current players retain an advantage. Saka remains the side's leading creator, producing more chances, a higher expected-assists figure and more passes into the penalty area than Vinicius.
Martinelli boasts a slightly higher dribble-success rate, while Madueke matches the Brazilian's volume of completed dribbles. Viktor Gyokeres, meanwhile, proved the more clinical finisher last season, outperforming his expected goals with a superior shot-conversion rate.
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Video credit: SNTV
Those caveats, however, only reinforce the appeal of Vinicius rather than diminish it. Arsenal would not be signing a like-for-like replacement for Trossard, an upgrade on Martinelli or another version of Saka.
Instead, they would be adding a different dimension to their attack through a winger capable of progressing the ball over extraordinary distances, repeatedly driving into the penalty area and creating opportunities through his own individual actions.
Viewed collectively, the numbers paint a compelling picture. Vinicius is not simply an elite scorer or creator, he is arguably the most complete ball-carrying winger among the players compared.
His combination of progressive carries, touches in the opposition box, shot-ending runs and chance creation through dribbling offers Arsenal a profile they currently do not possess.
If Arteta is looking for a player capable of breaking open deep defensive blocks while also transforming transitions into clear-cut opportunities, the statistics provide a clear explanation for why Vinicius sits so high on the club's wishlist.
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