The Arsenal transfer window saga has left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads, wondering if the club's decision to not sign a world-class forward was a calculated risk or a missed opportunity. The Gunners, led by the ambitious Mikel Arteta, aimed to build on their remarkable success last season, but the summer window has raised questions about their strategy.
One thing that immediately stands out is the club's pursuit of Vinicius Jr., a move that was shaped by his contract situation at Real Madrid. Arsenal's interest was public, and it seemed like they were going to land one of the best wingers in world football. But ultimately, the Spanish club offered him a bigger package, and the Gunners missed out. This raises a deeper question: why didn't Arsenal go big for their other targets, like Morgan Rogers or Julian Alvarez?
In my opinion, the club's valuation of £80m for Rogers was too low, especially after Chelsea paid £117m for the former Aston Villa forward. This left Alvarez as the only available target in the window, and it's intriguing that he returned to training with Atletico Madrid after Arsenal's best efforts.
What many people don't realize is that the Gunners' success last season was built on a strong squad, with a deep bench of international players. Gabriel Jesus, for example, made 27 appearances and scored six goals, even though he wasn't an integral part of the team due to selection and fitness issues.
The club's decision to let go of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, both of whom played on the left wing, has raised concerns about their forward line. But with Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino back from injury, and Eberechi Eze shining in the left wing position, Arsenal still has options.
However, the lack of a new forward is a concern, especially if goals start to become hard to come by. The club's strength lies in its squad depth, but the absence of a game-changing attacker could be a problem.
In conclusion, Arsenal's transfer window has been a mix of calculated risks and missed opportunities. While the club has strengthened in other areas, the lack of a new forward is a concern. The Gunners will need to act again in January or wait until next summer to bring in a new forward, but the question remains: why didn't they sign one during this window?
