Arsenal’s ambitious attempt to sign Vinícius Júnior proved fruitless, so we’ve found some alternative left-wing targets for the Premier League champions.
It was probably the best example this summer of ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t get’. Arsenal asked, they ultimately didn’t get, but what an exciting few days it was.
Nico Williams.
He has yet to be convinced to leave his childhood team, Athletic Club, with whom he’s remarkably contracted until June 2035. But Arsenal were able to land Martín Zubimendi last summer despite his previous reluctance to leave the Basque Country.
Williams managed six goals and three assists in 25 La Liga games in 2025-26, though it was a campaign disrupted by injury for the 24-year-old.
He missed the start of the World Cup as a result but came back to make an impact off the bench as Spain eventually won the tournament in North America. Williams even claimed the assist for the goal that won the World Cup, with his neat header finding Ferran Torres to score the only goal of the final against Argentina.
He averaged 8.2 dribbles per 90 last season in La Liga; only Lamine Yamal, Kevin, and Jérémy Doku averaged more in Europe’s top five leagues (min. 1,000 minutes). And he averaged 7.7 touches in the opposition’s penalty box per 90; only 12 wingers averaged more in Europe’s top five leagues.
His reported €90 million release clause is hardly enticing, but it also isn’t so high that it’ll put off potential suitors who think he’s the one to take them to the next level.
Abde Ezzalzouli
Saïd El Mala is being strongly linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund, but again, you never know in this window.
The 19-year-old scored an impressive 13 goals in 34 Bundesliga games last season for a struggling FC Köln side.
El Mala was linked with Liverpool earlier in the summer before they reportedly turned their attention to Barcola. Given he’s still a teenager and was putting up such impressive numbers in a team who finished 14th in the Bundesliga, it’s easy to see where the hype has come from.
Only Bayern Munich pair Michael Olise (47) and Luis Díaz (41) recorded more shot-ending carries in the Bundesliga last season than El Mala (37), while only Olise (8) managed more goal-ending carries than him (6).
Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Another player who might suit if Arsenal are willing to bet on potential rather than the finished article, Marcus Rashford had a relatively good loan spell at Barcelona last season, but the Spanish champions ultimately opted to sign his England teammate Anthony Gordon instead.
As a result, the 28-year-old has returned to Manchester United, but it still seems unclear how happy the player and the club are about that.
He managed 14 goals and 11 assists in 49 games in all competitions for the Blaugrana, but it was another stat that stood out for us in terms of how Arsenal could find him useful.
In the league, Rashford took 94 corners for Barcelona last season, only one fewer than Declan Rice in the Premier League (95), and his 23 successful corners into the box (a teammate making first contact) was two more than Rice (21).
Who knows who Arsenal will target next, but in the spirit of their Vinícius pursuit, never say never.
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Yildiz, Williams, Ndiaye, and Six Other Vinícius Júnior Alternatives for Arsenal Opta Analyst.
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