Nigel Winterburn believes Arsenal deserve some slack for failing to land a big-money attacker in the summer, insisting that top players choosing to stay where they are is simply “a fact of life”.
The Gunners legend was speaking exclusively to Sports Mole after Tuesday night’s embarrassing EFL Cup exit, when League Two Fleetwood Town knocked Arsenal out on penalties and laid bare the lack of world-class attacking talent at Mikel Arteta‘s disposal.
It got worse, too. Max Dowman’s red card for violent conduct carries a three-game ban, which Arsenal are appealing, and the 16-year-old would join the injured Bukayo Saka (quad) and Christos Tzolis (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Why Nigel Winterburn thinks Arsenal’s transfer failings are forgivable
The summer window is now being picked apart in N5. Arsenal relentlessly chased Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez but were snubbed by the Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid stars, while links with Bradley Barcola went nowhere as the Frenchman joined Liverpool in a nine-figure deal.
Winterburn, though, thinks those misses need some context. Speaking to Sports Mole, he said: “I think they tried. If the reports are true, the players they wanted included Vinicius Junior and Barcola. Vinicius stayed, and Barcola chose Liverpool for a huge fee.”
He added: “You have to ask why those players would leave. Sometimes we say, ‘Why don’t we go and get him?’ But they may be happy where they are. They’re at big clubs and don’t want to join yours. That’s hard to accept, but it’s a fact of life.”
Do Arsenal need a left-sided attacker?
The former left-back did not dodge the obvious question. “Do they need a left-sided player? I’d say yes, but don’t ask me who, because the players I’d want are already at huge clubs,” Winterburn said.
The squad is thin out wide right now. With Saka and Tzolis injured and Dowman facing a ban, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are Arteta’s only wide options for Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster at Anfield, unless Tzolis recovers in time to make the trip.
Vinicius stayed, Alvarez still wants Barcelona
Vinicius was reportedly genuinely tempted by Arsenal’s astronomical offer, but the Brazil international signed a new deal with Los Blancos, which had been the expected outcome throughout the summer saga.
Alvarez only had eyes for Barcelona, a move Atletico publicly refused to sanction. There is still some hope for Arsenal in that pursuit, though, after the Argentine apologised to Atletico supporters.
Which attackers could Arsenal sign in 2027?
With the Vinicius chase dead and Alvarez showing no desire to return to England, Arsenal have been linked with a string of other attackers, though none who could fairly be called a world-beater.
The one possible exception is Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue, but Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of the Frenchman, who is progressing in talks over a new deal in Paris.
Alternatives include Alvarez’s Atletico teammate Alex Baena, whom Arsenal are reportedly considering for January, and Mexican wonderkid Gilberto Mora, who Liverpool are also tracking. Eintracht Frankfurt starlet Can Uzun and Monza forward Gustavo Varela have also been mooted as 2027 targets.
Winterburn is right, but Arsenal still need a winger
Winterburn has a point. You can’t force a player to want your club, and Vinicius and Alvarez were always long shots once their clubs dug in.
But the concern hasn’t gone away. Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz have just four goals between them this season, and Fleetwood exposed how thin the front line really is. If the elite names won’t come, Arsenal have to find the next tier quickly, because a title defence won’t wait for the perfect signing.
