Since becoming Premier League champions, it is safe to say that Arsenal have hardly made use of their competitive advantage in transfer negotiations this summer.
Indeed, after lifting their first title in 22 years, their only additions have been to conclude a move for Piero Hincapie on a permanent basis, sign a third choice goalkeeper in Illan Meslier and add Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
Ben-White-Tzolis
Tzolis may well have registered an assist in a behind closed doors friendly with MK Dons last weekend but he is not the game-changing forward signing many fans were dreaming of.
Still, they have been trying. Morgan Rogers was one of their leading targets but he has joined Chelsea instead. At £117m, he is now the most expensive English player of all time.
Why missing out on Rogers is a blessing in disguise for Arsenal
Just over a week ago, the news emerged that Chelsea had agreed a deal to prise the England man away from Aston Villa for a ludicrous transfer fee.
Morgan-Rogers-Aston-Villa-Europa-League
In reality, Arsenal were never going to match that price tag, despite how much Mikel Arteta wanted him.
The Spaniard will no doubt be frustrated to miss out on such a key target but this could well be a blessing in disguise for the Gunners for a few reasons.
There is no doubting Rogers' quality. He has scored 14 goals in back to back seasons, further registering 28 assists in the last two campaigns. Yet, there was a feeling among supporters that he was not the right profile.
They are not incorrect. While the 24-year-old has played plenty of times on the flanks throughout his professional career, his more natural role for Villa was as an attacking midfielder.
He played 61 times behind the striker for the Villans, as opposed to 35 times on the left. His versatility is a big positive but Arsenal do already have a similar sort of player in Eberechi Eze.
Eze-Gyokeres-Arsenal
What they need is an out and out winger, a direct threat in the mould of Bradley Barcola or Yan Diomande. While the latter is seemingly bound for Real Madrid, the former is on the market after refusing to sign a new contract with PSG.
If Arsenal are able to get their hands on someone like Barcola, it will be job well done.
Arsenal have found their dream Morgan Rogers alternative
Premier League-proven, young, English. It was easy to see why Rogers was Arteta's dream target to bolster the wide areas of Arsenal's team this summer. He simply loves signing someone who has already been there and done it in England.
Rogers-Bellingham-England-World-Cup
Barcola, on the other hand, would be a gamble in that regard but it would appear as though the Gunners have another major target in their sights; Vinicius Junior.
Over the weekend, just a week on from that Rogers blow, it was revealed that the north Londoners are exploring a sensational move for the Brazilian icon this summer.
POLL
A move is made complicated by his contract situation at Real Madrid. He has a year left on his deal and while he is in discussions with the Spanish side about renewing, there has so far been no indication that he will pen fresh terms. As a result, Arsenal are lingering with intent and according to Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the Premier League winners are preparing their "first official offer" to sign Vini Junior.
For a move to go through, it is thought it could take a fee of around £136m, a deal that would make him the biggest transfer in English football history. It would, however, be well worth it.
He isn't just better than the aforementioned Rogers, but he's better than most players in world football. Jude Bellingham hailed him as such just a few years ago. "He's probably the best in the world for me," said Bellingham in 2023.
Well, he's certainly still in that category three years on. Compared to Rogers, he is streets ahead in several important metrics.
Vini Jr vs Rogers in 2025/26
Stats (per 90 mins)
Non-penalty goals
Shots
Big chance involvement
Open play big chances created
Shot-ending carries
Successful dribbles
Progressive actions
Progressive carries
Progressive passes
Defensive ground duels won
The fact is that Vinicius is one of the best carriers of the ball in world football. He ranked among the finest 1% of wingers in Europe's top five leagues last season for progressive carries per 90 minutes in 2025/26. He also ranked among the best 7% for successful dribbles per 90.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
Rogers is widely renowned for his ability to carry the ball successfully across long distances too but Vini is simply on another planet in that regard.
vinicius-real-madrid
Combine that attribute with his end product - he has scored more than 20 goals in each of his last five seasons - and you have one of the most complete wide players to have ever played the game.
If missing out on Rogers means they sign Vinicius Junior instead, fans will have absolutely no complaints. This could be the best signing in the club's history.
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