Arsenal's hopes of signing Vinicius Junior have been extinguished after the Brazilian winger committed to a new contract at Real Madrid, leaving sporting director Andrea Berta to reassess the club's attacking transfer strategy ahead of the new season.

The blow arrives hot on the heels of another setback. Morgan Rogers, who had been Arsenal's number one attacking target this summer, joined Chelsea in a £117 million deal — a fee the Gunners chose not to match despite their interest in the former Aston Villa midfielder.

The left-wing search goes on

Arsenal have made little secret of their desire to strengthen on the left flank. Neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli fully commanded that position in recent seasons, and Trossard's sale to Besiktas early in this window underlined the club's thinking about the 31-year-old.

New signing Christos Tzolis, acquired from Club Brugge, provides an option — but Arsenal are understood to want a higher-calibre addition. Arteta himself described Tzolis in encouraging terms after the winger scored on debut against Girona: