Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Arsenal fans may have seen their team splash big money in the transfer window this past summer to strengthen their squad, but it's fair to say that there was a feeling of disappointment at the same time.
Mikel Arteta brought in Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimaraes, and Ezri Konsa to strengthen his squad this summer, having won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. But the Gunners allowed Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to depart as they looked to bring in a new left-winger too, but a deal didn't materialise.
Morgan Rogers was seen as a top target when the window started, only for Chelsea to gazump them with a £117m deal that convinced the forward to move to west London instead. Arsenal then went all-in to get a deal for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr over the line as he was in a contract dispute with the Spanish giants, but he eventually found an agreement to renew his deal at the Bernabeu instead.
Instead of going for alternative options, Arsenal decided not to pursue a move for a new forward in the end, leaving Arteta with Tzolis, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, and Max Dowman as his winger options until January.
But while the Vini Jr deal was looked at as an opportunity that couldn't be ignored, there was another deal that actually happened in the summer that Arsenal will now be regretting that they didn't enter the frame for.
Historically, the north London club have had a list of winger targets shortlisted, and one of the names at the top was England star Anthony Gordon. But he moved to Barcelona in the summer for £70m, and Arsenal will now be gutted that they missed out on his signature.
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Fees correct prior to summer 2026
Anthony Gordon a 'Difference Maker' Since Barcelona Move
Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Gordon has been in spectacular form since his move to Spain from Newcastle in the summer, registering five assists in five appearances for the Catalan side, before scoring in all three England games so far during this international break, having started on the left-wing in each game against Spain, Czechia, and Croatia.
Speaking after the 2-0 win over Czechia, England skipper Harry Kane heaped praise on the winger, calling him a 'difference maker'.
Arsenal Should Have Signed Gordon
REUTERS/Bruna Casas
A left-winger should have been among the absolute top priorities for Arsenal in the summer, and considering the fact they were more than willing to pay big money to get people in, Gordon should have been a no-brainer.
Newcastle let him move on for £70m, but he has all the attributes that would have helped Arsenal to go up another level. He has pace, works hard, is a good finisher, knows the Premier League, and is a great age to continue developing and get even better.
Vini Jr would undoubtedly have been a game-changing signing and a real statement of intent, but a deal for Gordon was there to be done even before that in the window, and Arsenal would have been better off by getting a deal over the line for him when they had the chance.