Arsenal’s failure to sign Julian Alvarez has left Mikel Arteta without the elite attacker he wanted, after the Premier League champions ended the summer transfer window with four forwards departing and only one arriving.
Alvarez will remain at Atletico Madrid after a protracted saga involving Arsenal and Barcelona. The Argentina international had been seeking a move to the Catalan club, while Arsenal waited in the hope that he could be persuaded to return to the Premier League. ([skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13579965/arsenal-fail-to-sign-julian-alvarez-and-with-no-elite-attacker-in-are-mikel-artetas-team-short-in-the-forward-options))
The outcome represents a setback for Arteta, who called for Arsenal to be “ambitious” and “fast” in the market after their Champions League final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain. The club’s attempts to reinforce its attack ultimately fell short of that ambition.
Arsenal began the window with Morgan Rogers as their principal forward target, but Chelsea secured the England international in a £117 million deal. A subsequent approach for Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior also failed, before Alvarez became the focus of the club’s late recruitment efforts. ([skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13579965/arsenal-fail-to-sign-julian-alvarez-and-with-no-elite-attacker-in-are-mikel-artetas-team-short-in-the-forward-options))
Christos Tzolis was the only new arrival for the front three. At the same time, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus left the squad, while Ethan Nwaneri joined Borussia Dortmund on loan.
Jesus has since completed a move to Barcelona, with the Spanish club confirming that the Brazilian striker has signed until June 2029. His departure further reduces Arsenal’s options in an attack that already lacked depth in several areas. ([fcbarcelona.com](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/news/4570072/gabriel-jesus-signs-for-fc-barcelona/amp?utm_source=openai))
Arsenal’s attacking options under pressure
The most exposed position is the left wing, where Tzolis is now the only recognised specialist until January. Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke can operate there, but both are also expected to provide cover for captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
Eze demonstrated against Aston Villa that he can contribute from the flank, yet neither he nor Tzolis offers quite the same pace and direct running that Martinelli brought to the position. Arsenal’s former winger was particularly effective at attacking space behind opposing defences.
Tzolis may be able to shoulder a significant workload. He played almost 4,400 minutes for Club Brugge last season, a figure that suggests he is capable of recovering quickly between matches. Even so, the workload required of him at Arsenal could amount to roughly 10 more matches than he played in the previous campaign.
Centre-forward is another area where Arsenal are thinner than last season. Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres remain available, with Mikel Merino capable of filling in if required, but Jesus’ exit leaves the club with one fewer senior option.
That decision appears particularly striking given Arteta’s admission earlier in the summer that he feared the title had slipped away when Arsenal were reduced to a single available striker last season. Although Jesus made little impact in 2026, his departure removes another experienced player from the manager’s attacking resources.
There are reasons for Arsenal to believe their squad can cope. Bruno Guimaraes, signed for £75 million, adds drive and creativity from midfield and made an encouraging impression on his Premier League debut against Aston Villa. His ability to break the opposition’s defensive line could provide a different route to goal without another forward being recruited. ([skysports.com](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13579965/arsenal-fail-to-sign-julian-alvarez-and-with-no-elite-attacker-in-are-mikel-artetas-team-short-in-the-forward-options))
Arsenal are also preparing a more prominent role for 16-year-old Max Dowman. The teenager can cover the right wing and No 10 positions, potentially allowing Madueke and Eze to be used more regularly on the left when necessary.
The club believes it has two players, and in some positions three, for every role. A major overhaul of the medical department may also help if it improves the availability of key players such as Saka and Odegaard, whose fitness will be central to Arsenal’s prospects.
Defensively, Arsenal have added depth to cover William Saliba’s long-term injury, with Ezri Konsa joining a group that includes Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie. But the attacking department remains the obvious concern.
Manchester City and Chelsea have strengthened significant areas of their squads, meaning Arsenal’s rivals appear better equipped for a prolonged title contest. The Gunners’ campaign will provide the immediate test of whether their existing forwards can compensate for the failure to land Alvarez.
