Arsenal's transfer plans analysed: Gunners miss out on Morgan Rogers in summer of evolution not revolution
What's the state of play for Arsenal's transfer window and which players could they turn to next? In a special podcast, Peter Smith is joined by Dharmesh Sheth, Nick Wright and Sam Blitz to discuss a big summer for the Premier League champions
Thursday 23 July 2026 18:21, UK
Mikel Arteta called for Arsenal to be "very ambitious, very fast and very smart" in the transfer market in the wake of their Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain in May.
But two months on, their window is yet to truly catch light.
Arsenal have confirmed the signing for Chistos Tzolis from Club Brugge having already turned Piero Hincapie's loan from Bayer Leverkusen permanent and added back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free, but marquee additions are proving slower to materialise.
So, is Arsenal's start to the summer any cause for concern? Why did they miss out on Morgan Rogers? Are they at risk of a World Cup hangover? And which players could the Premier League champions target next as they aim to go to the next level?
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In a special podcast, Sky Sports senior football journalist Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth, Sky Sports features writer Nick Wright and Sky Sports football journalist Sam Blitz to explore Arsenal's transfer plans.
Will World Cup impact Arsenal?
For many Arsenal players, there was little time to rest between the Champions League final and the start of the World Cup. In total, 13 members of their squad featured at the tournament. Only Manchester City had more among Premier League clubs.
"I think most Arsenal fans would agree it wasn't ideal timing to have a World Cup after that epic, 63-game season," says Wright.
"You probably wanted these players to be getting a rest. Instead, you've got Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka playing 3,000 metres above sea level in Mexico City and in 80 per cent humidity in Miami."
In Saka, Rice, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and William Saliba, Arsenal had eight players in the last four, all of whom are now entitled to the FIFA-mandated three-week break, which has knock-on effects for pre-season.
Both Saka and Rice were impacted by fitness issues during the tournament, while Saliba is facing an extended spell out with a back injury suffered during France's semi-final against Spain.
"It's going to be a staggered approach to pre-season," added Blitz. "A lot of players will be coming in at different points in different weeks but you'd like to think, looking at the timings, that the majority, if not all, will be back by the time they play Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16.
"No disrespect to Coventry at all, but Arsenal are probably boosted by that Friday night game to start the season. It's a nice one to maybe bed in a few newcomers as well. Remember, at the start of last season, they had Manchester United at Old Trafford, which was a tricky game and they nearly dropped points there."
Why Arsenal didn't sign Rogers
While many of Arsenal's rivals have been quick to add major signings this summer, Arsenal have faced frustration in the market, most notably when missing out on their top target Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £116m.
"I think it's a blow because they've missed out on him," says Sheth. "They definitely wanted to sign him. And for the majority of this window, there were talks happening, not necessarily club to club, but via intermediaries, trying to explore how much it would take.
"I think Arsenal might have been in a position where they thought, 'Yep, we can do a deal for Morgan Rogers', because they were of the understanding that it was at a certain price.
"I think the market got distorted quite a lot by what's happened, not necessarily in the same positions.
"You can't compare like-for-like Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes with Rogers. But when you look at the pricing of those three players - £85m for Fernandes, £100m for Tonali, £116m for Anderson - Aston Villa probably looked and said, 'Well, if this is the market value for players like that, then Morgan Rogers is going to be minimum £100m.'"
While Arsenal pondered Aston Villa's increased asking price, Sheth says, Chelsea swooped in and wrapped up the signing quickly.
"My understanding of it, speaking to people who were close to that deal, is that Arsenal were talking about this it for weeks, whereas Chelsea only came in last Thursday.
"They found out what the price was going to be and what Villa were going to accept. On Sunday, I was told it was one bid on the table, agreed, signed, medical. Rogers is a Chelsea player."
Arsenal, meanwhile, were unwilling to match Chelsea's bid.
"Arsenal's approach will always be, 'Right, we want to buy a certain player, but we've got a price that we're going to attach to this player.'
"If there's always going to be that situation where the selling club is going to say, 'Well, actually, it's going to cost you a little bit more', then they have to make a decision. Do they go that little bit more?
"I think there was quite a big gap in the valuation between what Arsenal were prepared to pay and what Rogers eventually went for."
Berta's approach explained
While missing out on Rogers is a frustration for Arsenal, sporting director Andrea Berta's way of working should help when it comes to pivoting to other targets.
"If you look at how Arsenal been doing their business since Berta came in, it isn't: 'We're going to focus on one player and that's it.' It's too risky a strategy," says Sheth.
"So, what they try and do is work on three or four targets in each position that they're looking to recruit in.
"They will try and get their ducks in a row with all four players, get as far down the line with deals with all four players.
"And then they take a step back and say: 'What is the best value on the pitch, off the pitch?'
"Then they will have a further discussion with Mikel Arteta, with everyone who's involved in the recruitment, and decide which player to go for.
"Rogers was the number one target and they've missed out on him. Yes, it's a bit of a blow. But they clearly weren't prepared to go in with £117m for him. It doesn't mean the window is a write-off.
"They will have got other deals in the background that they are looking at. That is what they will revert to."
Who else could level up Arsenal's left side?
One of the other players on Arsenal's shortlist for the left wing role is Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola. "Arsenal are definitely interested and they have retained an interest in him," says Sheth.
The 23-year-old France international, scorer of 43 goals in 113 appearances across the last two seasons with PSG, fits the bill as a player who could elevate Arsenal's threat on the left flank following Leandro Trossard's sale to Besiktas this summer.
"I think they need something a bit different in that position," says Wright. "They need someone explosive, someone who can dominate one-vs-ones, someone who can break games open in the way that Morgan Rogers showed he can for Aston Villa.
"It's clear that's why Arsenal were interested and I think that's why Arsenal are interested in Bradley Barcola as well, another player who excels in those one-vs-one situations.
"Arsenal ranked ninth in the Premier League last season for attempted dribbles. I think that tells you quite a lot about the lack of spontaneity on the ball.
"Arsenal have some fantastic strengths as a side. Defensively, they're brilliant. We know how good they are on set-pieces. But if there is room for improvement, I think it's in open play.
"I think that is a key area for them when they look at how to evolve this team and diversify their attacking threat a little bit."
Is Tzolis the Trossard replacement?
Arsenal are still working on the left-sided addition to take them to the next level but Trossard's place in the squad may already have been filled by the £34m Tzolis from Club Brugge, according to Blitz.
"If you look at the profiles of Tzolis and Trossard, they're very, very similar. Tzolis is a player who can play out wide, but can also play as a number 10, which is very similar to Trossard.
"They're also very similar style-wise. They've got very similar injury histories. And so you can see that that one making sense.
"The problem is that Arsenal need someone top-drawer in that position. Neither Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli really nailed down that left-hand side last season.
"There wasn't quite the output that people were expecting. They were certainly not matching the output from the other side of the pitch in terms of what Saka brings to the team."
Defenders targeted and Bruno bid expected
Arsenal are intensifying their efforts to bring in a centre-back following news of Saliba's injury, with free agent John Stones and Ezri Konsa among their targets.
The club are also targeting a central midfielder, with Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes and Bournemouth's Alex Scott among the players on their shortlist. Sheth expects the club to formalise their interest in Bruno, who has told Newcastle he wants to leave.
"I would expect Arsenal to make some sort of formal move sooner rather than later on this, because it has gone so far down the line behind the scenes for it not to go anywhere.
"It's clear the player wants to go, and that Arsenal want him. On the positive side for Newcastle, he's under contract. They're under no pressure to do any business.
"But also, it's about the will of the player. If he really wants to go, then Newcastle are going to have a decision to make."
Evolution over revolution?
Arsenal's rivals have been quicker to add high-profile signings so far this summer but while those sides are trying to close the gap, the champions are operating from a position of strength.
"There's probably a lot of growth to come in this Arsenal squad from the players who are there," says Blitz. "There's no real need to panic yet but the ceiling does need to be raised. Last summer Arsenal raised the floor of the squad, now they need to raise the ceiling."
Wright adds: "I think there's something to be said for continuity, chemistry and cohesion. They aren't very sexy words in a transfer window but look at Liverpool last summer.
"They spent an enormous amount of money trying to retain the title, there was so much excitement going into the season, and it backfired on them.
"Liverpool's last two title wins, the one under Arne Slot and the one under Jurgen Klopp, have both come after summers in which they basically didn't sign anyone, except for Federico Chiesa and Adrian.
"I'm not saying Arsenal don't need to sign anyone, but there is also a lot to be said for keeping things together. They are building from a position of strength here. Signings don't always equal success."
Sheth says: "I think it's a story of progression. Arsenal were a figure of fun. Second, second and second again. But then champions. Arteta got that progression in the Champions League as well.
"And when you list all of the other managers coming in at the big clubs, it looks like everyone else is in transition, whereas Arsenal are there. They've got the body of their squad.
"Now it's a case of evolution rather than revolution. It's one, two or three positions. Let's increase the quality in the first-team."
Listen to the podcast in full for much more discussion and analysis on Arsenal's summer transfer window
