Arsenal ended the summer transfer window without adding attacking reinforcements despite manager Mikel Arteta's calls for greater squad depth, letting Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri leave and with Gabriel Martinelli set to join Al-Hilal, while missing out on targets including Malick Fofana, who signed for Sunderland. The lack of late business has raised questions among supporters about sporting director Andrea Berta's strategy after Arsenal spent much of the summer chasing "dream" signings such as Vinícius Júnior and Julián Alvarez rather than securing reliable alternatives, leaving Bukayo Saka carrying a heavy attacking burden following two injury-hit seasons.

Manchester City signed Enzo Fernández from Chelsea for £125m on deadline day, while Arsenal's net spend is set to fall to around £78m once Martinelli's sale is completed, lower than Brentford's outlay and well below City's £162m. Arsenal did add Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa earlier in the window, and owners Kroenke Sports Entertainment, whose net spend over five years exceeds £680m, also confirmed a reported $4bn purchase of MLB side the Los Angeles Angels on deadline day, prompting some fans to question priorities.