Arsenal have made an enquiry to sign Igor Paixão from Marseille as they anticipate an exit in the wide areas, according to transfer insider Franchise, with Mikel Arteta understood to be a long-standing admirer of the Brazilian dating back to his time at Feyenoord.
#AFC made enquiry to sign Igor Paixao from Marseille as they anticipate exit. Mikel Arteta big fan of the Brazilian since #Feyenoord but not the only club interested – if Arsenal formalise their interest, they would be his top choice. #AVFC and #ACMilan among others interested.… pic.twitter.com/IrNJW1ySCL
— Franchise (@franchisexcl) August 25, 2026
Why Igor Paixão appeals to Mikel Arteta
Arteta’s interest here is not new, which is the detail worth paying attention to. He has rated Paixão since the winger’s Feyenoord days, and that kind of long-term admiration tends to carry weight when Arsenal actually get to the point of making a move. Crucially, if Arsenal formalise their interest, Paixão would reportedly have them as his top choice, which immediately gives the Gunners an advantage in a race that already includes other suitors.
Arsenal are not alone in looking at him. Aston Villa and AC Milan are among the clubs also interested, so this will not be a straightforward run at the player if it develops into something more concrete. But an enquiry combined with the player’s own preference is a decent starting position to be in.
Where an Igor Paixão deal fits into Arsenal’s window
The timing makes sense given Arsenal are anticipating a departure in the forward areas, with Gabriel Martinelli’s own future dominating a lot of the noise around the club this summer. Losing a senior wide option would leave a gap that needs filling before the window shuts, and Paixão is exactly the sort of profile Arteta has previously gone out of his way to track.
Importantly, this is understood to be entirely separate from Arsenal’s ongoing pursuit of Julián Álvarez. The two situations are not linked, meaning this is not a fallback plan or a consolation move if the Álvarez deal collapses. Arsenal are working on both fronts at once, which tells you something about how busy the final week of this window could get at the Emirates.