Arsenal ended the Premier League summer transfer window as the second highest spenders.
Mikel Arteta spent £267m as part of a major squad revamp with only defending champions Liverpool paying out more ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze all landed at the Emirates Stadium but a lack of sales is a concern for club owner Stan Kroenke.
Despite bringing in just £10m - leaving Arsenal as the highest net spenders on £257m - Arteta could be handed more funds to spend in January if he can sell key stars at the start of 2026.
Alongside the stellar names brought in, Arteta was also linked with a blockbuster offer for Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes, amid uncertainty over his role under Xabi Alonso.
The new Los Blancos boss confirmed his intention to keep Rodrygo at least until January but their rumoured asking price of £70m will be unchanged.
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However, despite the focus on Rodrygo, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims it was a different Real Madrid player on Arteta's agenda.
"Arsenal considered the possibility of Arda Guler in October and November before Andrea Berta was appointed as the new director. Arsenal last year considered the possibility to go for Guler, in case Ancelotti stayed at Real Madrid, and they viewed his situation as similar to that of Martin Odegaard," as per CaughtOffside.
"Arsenal planned to attack before Xabi Alonso arrived and closed every single door to Guler leaving. Alonso's arrival meant a new life for him at Real Madrid in starting more games, so there was no chance."
Guler's move from a rotating substitute option under Ancelotti to a regular starter has been a key change made by Alonso and his form has blossomed.
The Turkey international has now moved ahead of Rodrygo in Alonso's plans, and Arsenal reviving their interest in January will need a major change triggered by a revival from Rodrygo, but that appears unlikely at this stage.
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