Arsenal are Premier League champions but so far in the transfer window they have not acted like it.
That was until now. They have missed out on Morgan Rogers, are haggling over a fee for Bruno Guimaraes and it feels like their chances of landing a major marquee signing are falling by the wayside.
However, they are at the table for Vinicius Junior. This would be a remarkable statement of intent. It would be the most impressive transfer they have ever completed.
Brazil-Vinicius-JuniorReuters/Vincent Carchietta
The Brazilian's contract will expire at Real Madrid in a year and he is set to hold conversations this week with the Spanish side about a renewal. If he does not pen new terms then it will likely give Arsenal the greenlight to begin club-to-club negotiations. They are already chatting to the player's agent about a potential swoop.
How Vinicius Junior compares to Arsenal's wingers
Andrea Berta has one main goal this summer; sign an elite forward player.
Why? Well, last season was a struggle for the Gunners in the final third, even if they did end their 22-year wait for a Premier League title.
Their issues were primarily on the flanks. Leandro Trossard notably scored just one goal in 2026 for Arsenal, albeit it was a vital one away at West Ham.
Trossard-Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli scored 11 times in all competitions but just one of those strikes came in the league. Noni Madueke was also largely underwhelming, netting three goals in the Premier League.
It was also a frustrating season both with injury and form for their talisman, Bukayo Saka. By his lofty standards, 2025/26 was a rather poor one. The English wide man registered seven goals and seven assists in 31 league fixtures.
Those figures are precisely why Arteta needs more from his wide men. Vinicius Junior, billed as one of the best wingers on the planet, would be the dream addition, therefore.
In recent seasons, he has not just beaten Arsenal's wide players for goal involvements, but he has absolutely demolished them.
Vini Jr vs Arsenal wingers (last five seasons)
Player
Vinicius Junior
Bukayo Saka
Christos Tzolis
Gabriel Martinelli
Noni Madueke
Last season, the Brazilian icon scored 22 goals. It was his fifth consecutive campaign making it beyond the 20 goal mark. He is a truly captivating player.
That said, quite rightly, he's not the only winger on the club's radar.
Arsenal's perfect Vinicius Junior alternative
Christos Tzolis signed for Arsenal last week but the Gunners need more in pursuit of back-to-back Premier League title wins.
Alternatives to Vini include the likes of Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi and RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa, while Marcus Rashford has even been floated in some circles.
However, none of those options are better than Vinicius Junior. They are also no better than PSG superstar Bradley Barcola.
bradley-barcola-franceREUTERS/Sam Navarro
The Frenchman is not signing a new contract with the Paris side and amid claims he is Liverpool's leading target, Arsenal are also in the frame to lure him away from Ligue 1.
The Telegraph report that he is being discussed at length behind the scenes at Arsenal and it's easy to see why. If they cannot get their hands on Vini, he is the perfect alternative.
Why? Well, they're actually rather similar players. They love scoring, they love creating and they love beating a defender with their trickery and dribbling ability.
Barcola vs Vini Jr - 2025/26 league stats
Stats (per 90 mins)
Non-penalty goals
Shots
Open play big chances created
Open play expected assists
Successful dribbles
Progressive carries
Progressive passes
When it comes to carrying the ball, Vini is one of the best in the world in that department. His haul of 8.25 progressive carries per 90 minutes last term was rather staggering. Barcola does not come close but for successful dribbles, they are pretty closely matched.
Regardless of what those metrics suggests, they are two of the most electrifying wingers around. While Vinicius Junior has often been in the conversation to win the Ballon d'Or, the PSG superstar has been described as "one of the best wingers in the world" by Como scout Ben Mattinson. He was even dubbed by journalist Robin Bairner as "the next Mbappe" such are his glittering array of qualities.
For a long time, Vini has been one of the most consistent wide players in Europe. He scored 22 goals last season. However, Barcola has proven he can more than match that sort of tally.
The 23-year-old scored 13 times last term but in 2024/25, as PSG won the Champions League for the first time, he bagged 21 in all competitions. He even found the net on three occasions in eight games at the World Cup.
World-Cup-France-Bradley-Barcola
Unlike Vinicius, Barcola may not have that genuine superstar status just yet but it is only a matter of time before he is recognised among some of the finest players on the planet.
Haaland Arsenal Related
How Arsenal could sign their answer to Erling Haaland this summer
Arsenal are looking for a superstar to transform their attack.