Arsenal’s summer has been anything but straightforward, even for the reigning Premier League champions, as the post-World Cup market continues to move slowly.
Director Andrea Berta targeted Vinicius Junior in what would have been the most expensive deal in Premier League history, but that move ultimately fell through.
The significant budget earmarked for that transfer has not disappeared, and Arsenal are now refocusing their resources on alternative targets to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad.
At the back, Arsenal’s defensive unit remains the envy of the Premier League, built on the foundations that delivered last season’s title triumph.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães remain the finest centre-back partnership in English football, with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori providing quality depth on either flank.
Ezri Konsa has already arrived from Aston Villa for around £50m, adding further cover as Saliba and Timber continue their recoveries from injury early in the new campaign.
Goalkeeper David Raya and Calafiori both produced timely reminders of their quality during the Community Shield, reinforcing confidence in the backline ahead of the season.
In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes has arrived from Newcastle United for around £75m, replacing Martin Zubimendi alongside Declan Rice at the heart of Arteta’s setup.
The Brazilian brings considerably more to the role than his predecessor, registering nine Premier League goals last season compared to Zubimendi’s five, along with 135 ball recoveries to Zubimendi’s 116.
Martin Odegaard completes the midfield trio, and the Norwegian was already showing his class in the Community Shield against Manchester City, sitting Gianluigi Donnarumma down before finding Arsenal’s third goal.
With Rodri and Bernardo Silva no longer at Manchester City, a midfield three of Rice, Guimaraes, and Odegaard is arguably the most complete unit in the Premier League right now.
Up front, questions remain around Arsenal’s attack despite Viktor Gyokeres ending last season with 21 goals, with only 14 of those coming in the Premier League and his record against the top six drawing particular scrutiny.
Jamie Carragher famously predicted that a player like Gyokeres would not solve Arteta’s problems in attack, and that assessment has proven difficult to argue against given the Swede’s struggles in big games.
Julian Alvarez represents the dream solution, with the Atletico Madrid forward recording 20 goals and nine assists in 49 appearances last season, plus eight goal involvements against the league’s top six compared to Gyokeres’s four.
Atletico Madrid have fended off approaches from both Real Madrid and Barcelona for Alvarez, but a fee believed to be in excess of £130m could yet tempt the Spanish club.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Kenan Yildiz from Juventus for a reported £87m, with the 21-year-old Turkish winger contributing 11 goals and ten assists for the Italian club last season.
Yildiz would bring genuine star quality to the left flank and would likely signal the end of Gabriel Martinelli’s time at the Emirates should the deal materialise.
Christos Tzolis has already arrived to replace Leandro Trossard, though the club clearly believe further attacking reinforcements are necessary to challenge for a second consecutive title.
If Alvarez and Yildiz join Bukayo Saka in Arsenal’s attack, Arteta’s frontline would be transformed from a perceived weakness into one of the most dangerous in European football.
A dream XI of Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Guimaraes, Odegaard, Yildiz, Alvarez, and Saka would make Arsenal formidable contenders to defend their Premier League crown.