Arsenal's pursuit of a marquee attacking reinforcement has hit another snag, leaving Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta scrambling for alternatives as the transfer window edges towards its close.
The north London club had made strengthening their left-sided attack a priority for the summer, convinced that additional quality in the final third was required if they are to mount a serious title challenge. So far, only winger Christos Tzolis has arrived to fill the void left by Leandro Trossard, and the search for a marquee addition has proven far tougher than anticipated.
Several targets have slipped away. Anthony Gordon opted to join Barcelona before Arsenal could act, while Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea after the Gunners baulked at Aston Villa's valuation. Attention then turned to Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr, with Arsenal reportedly prepared to offer a substantial financial package, but the Brazilian ultimately chose to remain in the Spanish capital, a decision that had long been considered the most probable outcome.
Compounding the club's difficulties, two other potential targets have also become unavailable. Yan Diomande has signed for Real Madrid, while Junior Kroupi is now sidelined for several months with a foot injury, further narrowing an already shrinking list of options.
With time running short, Arsenal may need to rethink their approach entirely. One possibility being considered internally is repositioning Eberechi Eze on the left flank, which would free the club to pursue a different type of forward - potentially a striker - rather than a traditional winger. That shift could also be aided by keeping Ethan Nwaneri in the squad as competition for Martin Odegaard. Questions remain over whether Viktor Gyokeres is the ideal fit for Arteta's system, suggesting the striker position could also be an area for improvement.
Julian Alvarez remains the standout dream target for both Berta and Arteta, though insiders concede a deal would be extraordinarily difficult to complete. Atletico Madrid have been firm in their refusal to sell the Argentine to Barcelona, who remain his stated preference, though there is some belief the Spanish club could be more receptive to a move abroad - albeit for a substantial fee.
Nico Williams continues to be mentioned in connection with Arsenal, a link that has persisted for several years without resolution. The Athletic Bilbao winger would bring pace and directness to the attack, but a move remains complicated by his lucrative contract, which runs until 2035, and a release clause reported to be just under £80million after being increased by more than 50 percent last summer.
Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz was also the subject of an enquiry earlier in the window, with Arsenal admiring his versatility and creative qualities. However, Juventus have consistently maintained that the 21-year-old, who signed a new contract until 2030 only six months ago, is not for sale.
PSG's Bradley Barcola has similarly been tracked throughout the summer, but his estimated £145million price tag is considered well beyond what Arsenal are prepared to spend, even with Liverpool also showing interest without meeting PSG's demands.
A more realistic option could be Everton's Iliman Ndiaye, given Arteta's known preference for players with Premier League experience - a pattern reflected in recent signings such as Bruno Guimaraes, Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice. Ndiaye's dribbling output, second only to Manchester City's Jeremy Doku last season, and his defensive work rate, matched only by Bukayo Saka in ball recoveries in the final third this campaign, make him an appealing and comparatively affordable target - though Al-Hilal are also said to be pursuing the 26-year-old.
Based on reporting from standard-football.