Arsenal transfer window: Are the Gunners taking a risk in not signing a world class forward?
Arsenal is facing scrutiny over their transfer strategy after failing to sign a world-class forward during the summer window. Despite recent domestic success, the club's leadership acknowledges the difficulty of acquiring top-tier talent in a competitive market.
Why it matters
Highlights the high-stakes financial and strategic pressures faced by elite European football clubs in the modern transfer market.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Andrea Berta (centre) replaced Edu as Arsenal's sporting director in 2025
Arsenal reporter Published 2 September 2026, 08:25 BST "Very ambitious, very fast, and very smart."
That was manager Mikel Arteta's aim for Arsenal 's transfer dealings following their defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League final in May.
The Gunners won their first title in 22 years last season by seven points and did not lose a game in the Champions League during normal time, with their only loss in the competition coming to Luis Enrique's side on penalties.
But it was clear coming into the summer transfer window that the club were looking for a game-changing attacker to lift their forward line.
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