Despite winning Premier League glory for the first time in more than two decades, the demand for success among Arsenal fans will be higher than ever.
Such an achievement has certainly whetted the appetite of supporters who hope Mikel Arteta and his players can emulate such success in the coming months.
The latest news of Manchester City breaking Premier League rules will raise expectations in North London as the Citizens’ potential points loom.
However, the Gunners will have to find future success without a player heavily linked with a move to the Emirates in the summer.
Why losing Vinicius Junior was a boon for Arsenal
In a late effort to strengthen the club’s attacking department for the 2026/27 season, Arsenal have attempted to lure winger Vinícius Junior away from Real Madrid.
Currently seen as one of Europe’s elite, the Brazilian has just one year left on his contract and Arteta’s side saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.
However, the winger decided to stay in Spain and sign a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, subsequently ending hopes of signing the 26-year-old.
It was seen as a bitter blow at the time, but a few months later his decision to spurn the Gunners appears to have been a blessing in disguise as the striker struggled to produce his best displays in 2026/27.
Vinicius managed to score just once in eight matches in all competitions this campaign, with even Max Dowman managing just one.
Real Madrid top scorer (2026/27) | ||
|---|---|---|
Rank | Player | Objectives |
1 | Kylian Mbappe | 7 |
2 | Jude Bellingham | 3 |
3 | Carlos Espy | 2 |
4= | Antonio Rudiger | 1 |
4= | Vinicius Junior | 1 |
4= | Alvaro Carreras | 1 |
4= | Arda Guler | 1 |
4= | Sergio Martinez | 1 |
He has also only managed to complete 5% of his attempted crosses this campaign, which puts him in the bottom 9% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues.
There’s no denying he’s still a quality player, but he’s had his struggles this season, which has kept him from being talked about as much as last season.
How Arsenal can land their own Vinicius Junior
Despite the closure of the summer window, the Arsenal hierarchy have already started to rank possible transfer targets for the upcoming January market.
The need for an elite striker in the near future is still evident, but the Gunners need to find the right player to take the club forward.
Several options have emerged in recent months, with Real Madrid star Endrick the latest player to be linked with a possible move to the Premier League this winter.
Arteta’s men are now eyeing a possible £60million move for the 20-year-old ahead of the winter transfer window, according to TEAMtalk.
Their report claims the Spanish outfit could be willing to let the Brazilian leave this winter, having failed to start a game in the opening stages of the 2026/27 campaign.
Roma are another side said to be interested in signing the youngster, but it remains to be seen where his options lie ahead of the upcoming window.
It is unclear whether the move would be in the Gunners’ best interest, but such a move would push Arteta into the Vinicius Junior style he has been looking for of late.
A Brazilian prodigy, Endrick has the ability to be a regular starter in any move to the Emirates and give the senior team the top-class talent needed to transform the attack.
His stats from last season demonstrate his quality in attacking areas and highlight that he can emulate his compatriot in lighting up Europe during his professional career.
Despite making just 16 loan appearances for Lyon last term, the Brazilian has managed 12 goals and an assist – backing Palmeiras director Joao Paolo Sampaio’s claim that he is a “superstar”.
Such a record marked his goals-per-game record better than his fellow Real Madrid star, and later showcased his remarkable efforts in attacking areas.
Endrik also managed to average 2.7 successful dribbles per 90, which shows his ability to get past the opposition – something Vinicius failed to achieve.
He often added the end product to his blistering runs – as evidenced by his goal contributions – which saw him record 2.2 chances per 90, ranking him above 97% of strikers in Europe.
Whether a deal for the youngster is on loan or permanent this winter, it is clear that he will add serious quality to Arteta’s attack in their bid to defend their titles.
Missing out on Vinicius may seem like a bit of a blow for the Gunners, but it could be a blessing in disguise if they can secure Endrik’s signature in the near future.