Recently, Arsenal caused a major stir when they were linked with a move for one of La Liga’s top superstars. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is likely to be on the move this summer, but not many would’ve predicted that he might end up at the Emirates Stadium.
The news was initially broken by David Ornstein on X (formerly Twitter). As predicted, it caused quite a stir, but we noticed some immediate issues.
Today, we’ll talk you through why we think Arsenal should not make a move for Vinicius Junior in the ongoing transfer window. Additionally, we’ll also present a couple of alternatives.
The Gunners aren’t the only massive club in the Premier League who have been linked with a move for the Brazilian international. Liverpool have also reportedly been in the mix, but are understood to have turned the opportunity to sign him down [via TEAMtalk].
Vinicius Junior 2025/26 La Liga Stats
Games Goals Assists
Vini Jr. 36 16 6
Vinicius Junior 2026 World Cup Stats
Games Goals Assists
Vini Jr. 5 4 1
Why Arsenal SHOULDN’T Sign Vinicius Junior
Make no mistake – Vinicius Junior is one of the best footballers in the world and perhaps the number one winger on the globe. On top of this, the Gunners need a new left winger.
To that end, bringing Vinicius on board makes sense. However, the more one delves into it, the less applicable of a signing he seems.
We must address the finances involved. Madrid have set an asking price of £137 million, according to Spanish outlet SPORT. On top of this, the Gunners will also have to hand him a jaw-dropping wage – he is already on £400,000 a week at the Bernabeu and is unlikely to be amicable towards a wage cut.
According to Capology, Arsenal’s highest disclosed earner at the moment is Bukayo Saka, who is on £300,000 a week. Arsenal would have to exceed this amount by at least another £100,000 per week for Vinicius to keep him happy.
Such a wage is likely to cause disruption within the Arsenal camp. If they smash their wage structure in such a way, it’s likely that existing players at the club may begin demanding similar contracts.
On top of this, Vinicius is untested in the Premier League. We have seen many La Liga stars come over to England and fail to make much of an impression – with the numbers that are currently on the table, Arsenal cannot afford to take such a risk.
Who Arsenal Should Sign Instead
Besides, there are other, cheaper wingers on the market right now. One of them is Bradley Barcola, who is not only of a similar calibre to Vinicius, he is also much younger at just 23.
Granted, he also is untested in the Premier League, but seems more cut out for it. A rapid wide man with underrated physicality, he can hit teams on the break with ferocious consistency.
Another option would be Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams. Again, he has never played in the Premier League, but would likely take to England’s top tier like a duck to water.
Both of these players wouldn’t be as expensive as Vinicius, whilst having the potential to produce similar numbers. Having already signed Christian Tzolis earlier in the summer, they may not need to sign anyone at all if Gabriel Martinelli remains at the club.
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