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Even if Arsenal fail to land Vinícius Júnior—and there are numerous reasons that deal might not materialize—the Gunners still have room to strengthen the left flank of their attack.
The prospect of Vinícius Jr. arriving at the Emirates Stadium and donning an Arsenal shirt surfaced this week as the ultimate opportunistic transfer move, capitalizing on Real Madrid's ongoing failure to tie down his future beyond next summer and the uncertainty that brings.
In reality, the Brazilian winger is eager to remain, and Los Blancos have little desire to part with him. Should he depart—either this year for a fee or next year on a free—it would be the result of stubbornness from both camps, producing an outcome neither side truly desired.
Vinícius Jr. would undeniably be a blockbuster acquisition in many respects—particularly from a commercial and marketing standpoint. However, Arsenal would need to seriously assess whether such a deal is financially viable, and then determine whether dismantling the club's wage structure and risking internal tensions down the road would truly be worthwhile.
Leandro Trossard, a dependable if unspectacular contributor, has departed, sold to Beşiktaş. The Belgian has already been replaced by a younger alternative in Christos Tzolis.
Tzolis posted impressive numbers with Club Brugge in Belgium, but the Premier League represents a significant step up, and he will need to prove his worth, having previously struggled in England at a younger age. He looks more like a squad rotation option and backup rather than an elite-level difference-maker.
Arsenal's other current left winger is Gabriel Martinelli, a player described as having "no significant strengths" by stats platform WhoScored in a widely shared X post this week.
Martinelli featured 53 times across all competitions last season yet managed just five goal contributions in the Premier League. His stronger Champions League record was boosted by facing several weaker opponents in the group stage, and he failed to score during the knockout rounds.
The sense is that for Arsenal to achieve the kind of sustained dominance in England and Europe they aspire to, Martinelli—as the first-choice left winger—needs to be upgraded, and there are several viable candidates available.
Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola is reportedly eager to join Liverpool, though that doesn't necessarily take the Frenchman off the table entirely, as the Reds still need to reach an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.
Barcola, who accumulated 42 goals and assists throughout the 2024–25 campaign—before his playing time was gradually eaten into by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—is arguably the finest option currently available.
PSG are demanding a hefty fee of around $196 million (€170 million, £145 million), a figure Liverpool are currently well short of. Arsenal don't have unlimited funds, but their revenue for 2025–26 was exceptional, and a Vinícius Jr. deal wouldn't look drastically different in cost, with an even higher wage demand.
Barcola has his heart set on Liverpool, but how might his thinking shift if Arsenal entered the picture as a genuine option?
Marcus Rashford
In his role as a versatile backup to Lamine Yamal and Raphinha last season at Barcelona, Marcus Rashford contributed 28 goals and assists across all competitions. At his absolute peak for Manchester United—admittedly three seasons back—he managed 42. That context is worth keeping in mind.
The 28-year-old appeared to acknowledge this week that his dream of a permanent return to Barcelona is unlikely to come to fruition, posting on social media: "I've enjoyed every moment and will take many special memories with me."
Rashford is still expected to report for preseason with United once his post-World Cup break concludes, sometime around mid-August. Yet there seems to be a mutual understanding that, while reintegration remains a possibility, it is not the preferred outcome for either party.
Rafael Leão
Much has been discussed about Rafael Leão this summer without a great deal of concrete movement. The Portuguese winger recently confirmed he had informed AC Milan's hierarchy of his wish to seek a fresh challenge after seven years at San Siro: "I've already spoken with the club."
There are ongoing reports of interest from Türkiye, though Fenerbahçe denied a specific story last week about submitting a lucrative offer.
Leão is a two-way threat capable of both scoring and creating—tallying 64 goals and 50 assists across his 227 Serie A appearances—and he should thrive with higher-quality teammates around him.
Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish clarified that his absence from Manchester City's preseason tour is due to injury, as he follows an individual training schedule, and is not a signal that his future at the club is in doubt. Nevertheless, the reality remains that he departed on loan last summer for a reason, and his chances of reclaiming a regular spot at the Etihad Stadium are no greater now.
At Everton, Grealish showed glimpses of his former brilliance, earning the Premier League's Player of the Month award for the first time in his career during the opening month of his loan spell. A season-ending injury was the sole reason that momentum didn't continue, and with renewed drive, he could rediscover the form that made him a key contributor to City's 2022–23 treble.
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This particular scenario could open the door for Tzolis, with Grealish—who turns 31 in September—potentially reserved for the bigger, more demanding fixtures.
Would Manchester City be willing to do business with Arsenal? Players have moved between the two clubs on multiple occasions in the past, as recently as 2022. It doesn't serve City's interests to retain Grealish if there is a chance to shed his wages—even if that means selling to a direct competitor.