Vinicius Junior has extended his contract at Real Madrid despite Arsenal making their intentions clear to the winger - so where should the Gunners turn now? football.london's writers have their say!
Vinicius Junior
Arsenal have missed out on the chance of signing Vinicius Junior (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
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Arsenal failed in their bid to try and sign Vinicius Junior and must now decide where they want to turn with just over three weeks of the summer transfer window remaining.
The Brazilian signed a new deal with Real Madrid on Thursday, ending speculation about a possible move to the Emirates Stadium. The 26-year-old signed a six-year contract extension with the Spanish giants and said afterwards that he will remain with Los Blancos 'forever'.
The Gunners had lodged a concrete interest in the winger and there was even confidence among senior figures at the club that a deal could be done, until Real Madrid completely changed their position, folded and offered better terms. Christos Tzolis, Gabriel Martinelli and Eberechi Eze are Mikel Arteta's current options on the left wing and all eyes are now on whether Arsenal will pivot to an alternative to Vinicius Jr.
But who should that alternative be? football.london's writers have their say below!
Sam Truelove
For Arsenal to even be in the conversation of signing someone like Vini Jr just shows how far the club have come. The facts are the Gunners are going into the 2026/27 season as Premier League champions and Champions League finalists. If they sign a player, they need to be of world class ability and Vini Jr was just that.
I think people are sleeping on Christos Tzolis a little bit and I can see the 24-year-old having a decent first season in north London. If someone like Vini Jr were to sign, that may not be the case.
Of course Bradley Barcola, Nico Williams, Kenan Yildiz and Iliman Ndiaye are options but are they what the north Londoners need right now? If I was Andrea Berta, I would maybe go with Tzolis, Gabriel Martinelli and Eberechi Eze and assess the market again in 12 months.
Jake Stokes
If Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign a new left-winger this summer, then Andrea Berta should throw the kitchen sink at a deal for Bradley Barcola. The Paris Saint-Germain star, who's been linked with a move to Liverpool, appears to be the best available player in that position.
Barcola would be a good addition to the Arsenal starting lineup, and he'd certainly be an upgrade on those already at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Unfortunately, though, the France international isn't world-class and, at the moment, he's far from Vinicius Jr.'s level.
Bradley Barcola is an Arsenal transfer alternative to Vinicius Jr
Bradley Barcola is an Arsenal transfer alternative to Vinicius Jr(Image: (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images))
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Of course, Barcola could relish a talismanic role and explode at the Emirates Stadium. But to spend what would probably be a nine-figure sum on a backup target doesn't sound like a great idea, especially so soon to the opening weekend of the new Premier League season.
So, if Arteta is prepared to bide his time, I think the Gunners should just sign Marcus Rashford on loan with an option to buy, just in case he puts up the same, or better, numbers that he did at Barcelona last term. In doing so, Arsenal can bring in a good player while reserving the right to reassess their options next summer.
Aaron Morris
While Vinicius Junior would have been a statement signing this summer, I've always been on the other side of the fence about the Real Madrid talent. With Leandro Trossard heading to Besiktas, Mikel Arteta obviously needed a sure-fire replacement on the left-flank, especially considering how Gabriel Martinelli's future at the Emirates Stadium is up in the air at present.
However, the Gunners have already seemingly sourced a suitable replacement for Trossard in Christos Tzolis - who they spent £34m to bring in from Club Brugge weeks ago. Of course, Vini Jr is Vini Jr - a world-class talent who would walk into any starting XI worldwide.
But to spend £137m on the Brazilian - who has never proven himself on English soil - is bamboozling to me, especially when Tzolis looks more than capable for the task at hand. The Greek forward is well thought of within the Arsenal camp, reportedly smashing fitness records upon his arrival which left Ben White singing his praises.
And Tzolis has already demonstrated what he's capable of in pre-season, bagging a goal on his unofficial debut over Girona and looking more than threatening on the front foot against Real Betis earlier this week.
While Arsenal will likely need to source another left-winger in the event that Martinelli departs ahead of September's deadline, Tzolis, for me, should be given a chance to shine in the first-half of the season, and Arsenal would be wise to bring in someone equally as promising and affordable to play second fiddle.
The club should either invest the funds they've saved by missing out on Vini Jr for a striker to give Viktor Gyokeres competition for his place, or reserve it for January's window in the event that Tzolis underperforms, and only then, reassess their options.
Scott Trotter
While it's difficult not to think Arsenal weren't used as part of negotiation tactics by Vinicius Junior in a bid to extend his stay at Real Madrid, there's no denying it would have been a blockbuster transfer. An opportunity presented itself, albeit briefly, and Arsenal were ready to act.
Should they now go and force the issue to sign someone else on the left? I'm not convinced. Signing someone such as Kvicha Kvaratskhelia would have a similar impact but those players don't tend to be available too often. Bradley Barcola may be available, but with competition and a hefty asking price, it's probably not worth the Gunners overextending themselves.
Christos Tzolis has arrived and could yet make an impact, though if Gabriel Martinelli departs, Mikel Arteta may prefer to round out his team. Perhaps it is worth sticking with the Brazilian for now and reassessing in 12 months' time.
Amie Wilson
With Vinicius Jr no longer an option for Arsenal, it feels like they have a decision to make over whether to move for an alternative option. It does feel like Mikel Arteta could have enough in his squad with Gabriel Martinelli and new signing Christos Tzolis.
Nico Williams
Nico Williams is admired by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta(Image: Getty Images)
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But another attacker, if it’s the right one, could see them take that next step in the Champions League. Looking at the options, Nico Williams is a name that stands out for me.
Arsenal have been previously linked with an interest in the Spanish international, who reportedly has a £77 million release clause in his contract.
Williams has been a consistent scorer and creator in La Liga for Athletic Bilbao over the last few seasons. At 24-year-old he is still to reach his peak.
It feels like with the reported asking prices for Bradley Barcola, and the price that Morgan Rogers went for, Williams could be a clever signing without an astronomical fee attached.