Arteta warns fans: Arsenal’s transfer push stalls after Vinicius miss

In front of a half‑empty Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night, Mikel Arteta watched Arsenal hold Como to a 1‑1 draw in their latest pre‑season friendly, while the manager reiterated that missing out on Vinicius Junior leaves the club still hunting for attacking reinforcements.

Arteta insisted that Arsenal’s desire to strengthen the squad with new signings is ‘unquestionable’, yet he admitted he cannot promise any more signings this summer because only very few players can improve the team.

Squad ambitions and transfer reality

The friendly saw Arsenal draw with Como before beating Cesc Fabregas’ side in a penalty shootout, giving fans a glimpse of the squad’s depth ahead of the new season.

Bruno Guimaraes made his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt after his £75 million move from Newcastle United, while £34 million summer signing Christos Tzolis earned additional minutes on the pitch.

Arsenal remain in the market for defensive cover following William Saliba’s back injury, and the Premier League champions are still looking to bolster attacking options after Vinicius Junior extended his Real Madrid contract earlier this month.

Arsenal chase as Liverpool and Real Madrid target €25m midfielder

Arteta warned that the closing stages of the summer transfer window will be a difficult period to secure further signings, stating, “There is more that we want to do because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth to the squad, we need to do that.”

He added, “But we are actively trying to do so… we cannot promise that we’re going to do it because, again, it doesn’t only depend on us. For the margins to improve there are very few players in the market who are available to do that and bring that to the club.”

Speculation and fan engagement

When asked about Myles Lewis‑Skelly’s potential move, Arteta refused to comment, noting that speculation signals the club’s growing attraction. Lewis‑Skelly scored Arsenal’s goal in the first half against Como and celebrated with a heart‑shaped hand gesture to the crowd.

“I’m not going to talk about any speculation,” Arteta said. “If there is a speculation about our players, that’s a good sign. That means that we attract attention and they’re doing a good job.”

Fans can stay updated by signing the daily football newsletter. Follow the club’s updates for the latest transfer news.