Arsenal assistant Miguel Molina confirms Vinicius Junior transfer pursuit

Emirates Stadium

The secrecy surrounding Arsenal’s summer transfer business has finally been breached by one of Mikel Arteta’s closest allies.

For months, rumours swirled that the Gunners were attempting to pull off a sensational deal for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior. Now, Arsenal assistant coach Miguel Molina has publicly confessed that the Brazilian forward was indeed a genuine target for the north London club.

Molina breaks the silence

Arteta spent the summer refusing to be drawn on speculation regarding the Madrid talisman. However, speaking to Spanish outlet Radio Marca’s La Tribu, Molina lifted the lid on the ambitious pursuit.

When asked if the club had actively tried to recruit the winger, Molina did not hide from the reality of their summer plans.

Speaking to Radio Marca’s La Tribu, Molina said:

“Yes, of course. Obviously, I can’t stray from the facts, but he was a name that was on the table, yes.”

The admission confirms that Arsenal were operating at the very highest level of the market, even if the deal ultimately collapsed.

A complicated summer saga

The pursuit of the 26-year-old winger was a saga that fluctuated wildly behind the scenes. While Arsenal worked across all levels of the club to secure a deal, Vinicius eventually chose to commit his future to the Spanish giants by signing a new contract.

According to reports from Cadena Ser, the potential transfer had progressed so far that some of the forward’s teammates in Spain were genuinely surprised when he decided to stay with Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu.

For Arsenal fans, the revelation brings mixed emotions. Vinicius represents the exact profile of explosive pace and elite skill that Arteta’s frontline currently lacks, but his slow start to the current campaign might suggest the Gunners avoided a costly mistake.

A frustrating spell in the market

A significant amount of time and energy was poured into chasing the Brazilian superstar. Some critics might argue that this focus distracted the club from securing more realistic targets during a highly challenging transfer window.

Indeed, Vinicius was not the only high-profile target to slip through Arsenal’s fingers, with other ambitious targets also escaping their grasp.

The final days of the window saw significant upheaval in Arteta’s squad, with several senior forwards allowed to depart on transfer deadline day.

In terms of incoming forwards, the club only secured a single replacement, forcing them to deploy other squad players out of position to cover the gaps on the left wing.

Midfield versatility and injury worries

Beyond the pursuit of Vinicius, Molina also discussed other key squad members, including Martin Zubimendi. The midfielder has attracted interest from Real Madrid and Chelsea, as his first-team opportunities have been limited due to other midfield options.

Molina was quick to praise Zubimendi’s tactical flexibility, noting that his greatest strength is his adaptability across the pitch. The assistant coach was equally complimentary of summer signing Mikel Merino, highlighting his tactical intelligence.

Speaking to Radio Marca’s La Tribu, Molina said:

“For me, he is like a coach on the field. He can play as a number 9, a number 8, a number 10, even a number 6 if necessary.”

Merino’s versatility could be tested immediately. Arsenal are currently sweating on the fitness of Kai Havertz, who picked up a muscle injury whilst playing for Germany, leaving Arteta with a potential selection headache ahead of the Premier League’s return.