Rodrygo bid, Eze dilemma, Sesko U-turn - Alternative Arsenal transfer window

The runway to Arsenal's summer transfer window was longer than usual. Due to the second half of the 2024/25 season Premier League struggle, the focus turned to new signings sooner than in the previous two years.

Although Mikel Arteta kept supporters dreaming until May with a run to the Champions League semi-finals, the plans were being put in place for what promised to be a busy and decisive few months in the market. It has turned out to be exactly that.

As soon as Arsenal, under the interim sporting directorship of Jason Ayto, did not make any additions in January, there was going to be increased pressure to get the summer right. Edu Gaspar's exit complicated matters and it was under this backdrop that Andrea Berta picked up the pieces.

In a sense, with the title out of the equation and only European games to compete for, Arsenal's summer started in late March, when it became clear that Berta had gained the trust of Arteta and the hierarchy. This is partially why the early weeks of the window actually opening in June were so full of frustration.

Arsenal had not been able to complete transfers up to this point but did not look to have taken advantage of the extra attention they could place on the summer. As Berta came to speed with things, the takeover had to be smooth.

In the end, he has addressed all of the key points. A back-up goalkeeper is in, there is reinforcement in defence, Martin Zubimendi joined, Viktor Gyokeres is the new striker, and Noni Madueke is a two-way winger. Eberechi Eze is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle with a month left to go.

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But it did not always have to go like this. Arsenal have spent much of the past 18 months looking at Joan Garcia as competition for David Raya, they have put serious stock in pursuing Rodrygo from Real Madrid, and Benjamin Sesko was a genuine option up front.

Gyokeres fits exactly what is needed at Arsenal, namely, he is a proven and experienced striker. He is readymade to come straight into the team with physical excellence and a defined playing style. The price is also less than RB Leipzig were demanding for Sesko.

Yet, as Arsenal weighed up their shortlist heading into the window, it was not just Gyokeres or bust. There was a lot of contrasting reports coming out of Germany and Portugal as Arsenal debated which way to go.

They could have gone to Ollie Watkins again but saw him as being too expensive for a near-30-year-old. It is not too much of a leap to imagine Arsenal ending up with Sesko or Watkins instead of Gyokeres, though.

Neither does it take too much to see them landing Garcia and not Kepa Arrizabalaga. It is impossible to know what the better outcome is, and hindsight will surely dictate how the window is viewed.

There was not as much of a conversation in midfield. From the end of the January window it became clear that Zubimendi was their primary target and Berta managed to hold off interest from Real Madrid to get a deal over the line.

Despite losing two players in the pivot from last season, Arsenal got in ahead of Tottenham for Christian Norgaard and landed Zubimendi. Myles Lewis-Skelly can play there as well, and the hope will be for Mikel Merino not to have to play as a makeshift forward, therefore allowing him more minutes in his natural position. Kai Havertz was initially signed with the intention of playing as a No.8 as well.

On the wing there has been less consensus. Madueke emerged as an option but was not a fan favourite. As a right-side dominant player, there is still a hankering for someone on the left. That is Eze, but the conversation has been full of other names.

Morgan Rogers, Rodrygo, Bradley Barcola, and Rafael Leao have all been mooted as targets. Eze, who has never gone away, is the player they have settled on.

It is not a massive stretch to think that Arsenal might have made a real play to bring in Rodrygo in a summer of flux at Madrid, or Rodgers, who matches the in-betweener profile of Eze. As it happens, Arsenal have identified a set of core players that will improve both the starting XI and wider squad. Had they gone for alternative players then the same would also have been true, but Arteta is sure to be happy with those who are on board.