Inside Arsenal's 'missed opportunity' transfer window: How Gunners lost out on Morgan Rogers, Julian Alvarez and Vinicius Junior, late move for blockbuster target revealed - and the market wins that soften the blow

Arsenal end the summer transfer window with three fewer attackers than they started it with. That is certainly not a state of affairs many would have predicted, particularly as they are reigning Premier League champions, yet here we are.

The need to evolve in the face of their Big Six rivals strengthening was an area co-chair Josh Kroenke had claimed was a key target. After sealing the title in May, he said: ‘Right now there are other teams that are already trying to strengthen to come at us for next season. So we need to be aware of that.

‘We’ve already had a few conversations about different areas that we think we can improve – both on and off the pitch. We are looking forward to getting that going this summer.’

A decent-ish window with solid additions has followed, you could argue, but far from a dominant one. A squad sturdy enough to retain the title, yes, but a chance to create an impregnable line-up capable of leaving their rivals in the dust was squandered.

It was almost a throwback summer for a club which seems to have an allergic reaction to strikers.

Last year, the signing of Viktor Gyokeres had quelled the years-long cries from supporters to invest in a top-quality centre forward. This summer, however, was a return to the days of 2023 and 2024, where the club’s inability to land a striker (Kai Havertz was signed initially as a midfielder) caused bewilderment and frustration in equal measure.