Despite claiming Premier League glory for the first time in over two decades last campaign, the demand for success within the Arsenal fanbase will be higher than ever.
Such an achievement has no doubt whetted the appetite of the supporters, who will be hoping that Mikel Arteta and his players can emulate such success in the months ahead.
The recent news of Manchester City’s breaches of Premier League rules will only increase the expectations in North London, with the Citizens’ potential points deduction.
However, the Gunners will have to achieve any future success without one player who was hugely linked with a move to the Emirates during the summer window.
Why missing out on Vinicius Junior was a blessing for Arsenal
In a late effort to bolster the club’s attacking department for the 2026/27 campaign, Arsenal made an effort to prise winger Vinícius Júnior away from Real Madrid.
The Brazilian, who is seen as one of Europe’s elite at present, only had a year left on his deal and Arteta’s side saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
However, the winger decided to remain in Spain and pen a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, subsequently putting an abrupt end to their hopes of landing the 26-year-old.
At the time it was seen as a bitter blow, but a couple of months on, his decision to reject the Gunners now appears to be a blessing, as the attacker has struggled to produce his best displays in 2026/27.
Vinicius has only managed to score once in his eight appearances across all competitions this campaign, a tally which even Max Dowman has managed to beat in just one outing.
|
Real Madrid top scorers (2026/27) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Player |
Goals |
|
1 |
Kylian Mbappé |
7 |
|
2 |
Jude Bellingham |
3 |
|
3 |
Carlos Espí |
2 |
|
4= |
Antonio Rüdiger |
1 |
|
4= |
Vinícius Júnior |
1 |
|
4= |
Álvaro Carreras |
1 |
|
4= |
Arda Güler |
1 |
|
4= |
Sergio Martínez |
1 |
He’s also only managed to complete 5% of the crosses he’s attempted this campaign, which has placed him in the bottom 9% of attackers in Europe’s top-five leagues.
There’s no denying he’s still a quality player, but he’s faced his struggles this season which have prevented him from being talked about in the same vein as he was last season.
How Arsenal can land their very own Vinicius Junior
Despite the summer window slamming shut, the Arsenal hierarchy have already started lining up possible transfer targets for the upcoming January market.
The need for an elite-level attacker in the near future is still evident, but the Gunners need to ensure they land the right player to take the club forward.
A couple of options have emerged in recent months, with Real Madrid star Endrick the latest player to be touted with a possible switch to the Premier League this winter.
It’s been reported by TEAMtalk that Arteta’s men are now monitoring a possible £60m move for the 20-year-old ahead of the winter transfer window.
Their report claims the Spanish outfit could be willing to allow the Brazilian to depart this winter after failing to start a single game during the opening stages of 2026/27.
Roma are another side who are said to be keen on landing the youngster, but it remains to be seen where his preference is ahead of the upcoming window.
It’s unclear whether the Gunners will act upon their interest, but such a move will hand Arteta the Vinicius Junior style forward he’s been hunting for in recent times.
Endrick, who’s also a Brazilian wonderkid, has the ability to become a regular starter upon any move to the Emirates and hand the senior side a top-level talent needed to transform the attack.
His stats from last season showcase his quality within attacking areas and highlight that he can emulate his compatriot in setting Europe alight during his professional career.
Whilst he only featured 16 times on loan at Lyon last term, the Brazilian managed to register 12 combined goals and assists – backing up Palmeiras director Joao Paolo Sampaio’s claim that he is a “superstar.”
Such a record saw him register a better goals-per-game record than his fellow Real Madrid star, subsequently showcasing his remarkable efforts within attacking areas.
Endrick also managed to complete an average of 2.7 successful dribbles per 90, which demonstrates his ability to glide past the opposition – a tally Vinicius was unable to match.
He often added the end product to his mazy runs – as seen with his goal contributions – which saw him register 2.2 chances created per 90 and rank him above 97% of attackers in Europe.
Whether the deal for the youngster would be a loan or a permanent one this winter, it’s clear that he would add serious quality to Arteta’s attack in their attempts to defend their title.
Missing out on Vinicius may be seen as a somewhat bitter blow for the Gunners, but it could prove to be a blessing if they can secure Endrick’s signature in the near future.