Arsenal’s summer transfer work stretched far beyond the obvious, with BBC Sport reporting that the club tracked 21 players as it looked for ways to strengthen its push to retain the Premier League crown.

The list featured several major names, including Vinícius Júnior, who had long been viewed as a target before agreeing a new contract at the Bernabéu. Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola were also monitored, though both ended up elsewhere. Rogers joined Chelsea, while Barcola signed for Liverpool.

A number of other players on Arsenal’s radar also came and went without a deal materialising. Kenan Yıldız, Nico Paz, Junior Kroupi, Alex Scott, Louis Page, Iván Fresneda and Jacobo Ramón were all among the names considered, while Julián Alvarez turned down the move and Yan Diomande opted for Real Madrid. In other cases, the outcome was decided by contract renewals or other developments, as with João Pedro and Micky van de Ven.

The João Pedro interest stands out in particular. After a strong debut season at Stamford Bridge, in which he finished with 20 goals and nine assists, he had established himself as Chelsea’s undisputed starter. Barcelona were also heavily linked before he signed a new contract, yet Arsenal still appear to have explored whether a move might be possible. Just how far that interest went is not clear.

Arsenal were also willing to look at a pair of defenders from Tottenham Hotspur. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both featured on the club’s list, underlining how wide the search went and how unusual some of the possibilities were.

The picture that emerges is of a club prepared to examine a broad range of options, from elite forwards to defensive targets, in a summer that produced plenty of ambition even if not all of it turned into completed deals.

Mikel Arteta has defended Arsenal’s summer business, insisting the club delivered on every key objective despite criticism that the squad remains light in attack.

Arsenal also raised significant money through sales, moving seven players for about $157 million (£116 million) before add-ons. That total included a new club record sale for Gabriel Martinelli.

Even so, the main talking point from the window was Arsenal’s failure to secure an elite left winger. The club were linked with Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola and Vinícius Júnior, while striker Julián Alavrez made clear that he wanted Barcelona rather than the Gunners.

Speaking in his first press conference after the deadline, Arteta suggested the club had done all it could. “100% ticked … the outcome can be different to what you expect, but the intention is certainly there, which is what I value most.”

He was equally firm when asked about the criticism. “these are just opinions.” Arteta made it clear he was not interested in revisiting a window that is now shut. “The window is closed, and I prefer to look at all the incredible things that we have in this squad and not to spend any more time on the things that are not part of us right now. That’s it, and that’s my main responsibility.”

There is still an obvious question around balance in the forward line. Martinelli has departed for Al Hilal, leaving Tzolis as the only natural left winger after replacing Leandro Trossard. Eberechi Eze can operate there, Noni Madueke can do so in an emergency, and academy-level recruit James Scanlon may now see a clearer route into the picture.

Arteta also pushed back on concerns about overall minutes and injuries from last season. “I understand the point of view as well, but we have to understand as well the amount of minutes that those players played and the ones that were injured last year, especially in the first six months,” he said. “The data shows something completely different.”

Gabriel Martinelli is set to continue his career in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal after a permanent transfer from Arsenal, a deal that becomes the most expensive sale in Gunners history.

The Brazilian had already turned down a move to Galatasaray, but Mikel Arteta made it clear Arsenal no longer had a place for him. Martinelli featured in pre-season as expected after the World Cup, yet he was left out of the squad for the Community Shield and the club’s opening two Premier League fixtures.

Arsenal entered the summer looking to strengthen the side that finished 2025-26 as Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up. Left wing, where Martinelli had already lost his starting role to Leandro Trossard, was viewed as a position requiring attention.

Christos Tzolis arrived after Trossard was sold to Beşiktaş in July. Arsenal then attempted to land a series of high-profile wide players, only to be turned away by Morgan Rogers, Vinícius Júnior and Bradley Barcola. A move for Malick Fofana also appears to have been left unexplored in serious terms.

That left Tzolis, who had plenty to prove after moving up from Belgian club soccer and enduring a difficult earlier spell in England, to shoulder the responsibility. So far, he has started well in the opening weeks of the season.

Even so, Martinelli’s departure without a direct replacement has left Arsenal thinner than they would like, especially with the club expecting to defend their Premier League title and compete strongly in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Tzolis will need help. Eberechi Eze can play from the left, while Manchester United academy player James Scanlon joined over the weekend, with the 19-year-old drawn by the club’s trajectory and the move made easier by Martinelli leaving without being replaced.

Martinelli departs with 278 Arsenal appearances behind him. He is a solid player, even if not a standout one, and forcing him out under these circumstances does little for squad depth, despite the financial return.

For Martinelli, the move is not an obvious footballing upgrade. His salary will be tax-free and significantly increase his earnings, but competition for his preferred position already exists. Crysencio Summerville, who joined Al Hilal from West Ham United in July, has started all four Pro League matches in 2026-27. He scored once and assisted twice in the 5-1 win over Al Khaleej, then added another goal in Tuesday’s 3-0 victory over Al Ahli. He will not be easy to remove from the side.