Vinicius Jr to Arsenal a 'foregone conclusion' - here's why it's still possible

Vinicius Jr to Arsenal a 'foregone conclusion' - here's why it's still possible Make us your Google favourite Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr was one of Arsenal 's primary transfer targets this summer, and his teammates were reportedly convinced that he would move to North London. The Gunners explored the blockbuster signing of the Brazil international in their search for a marquee left-winger, a search that ultimately ended with nobody arriving at the Emirates. That's because the 26-year-old opted to sign a new contract at Real Madrid instead. This was, however, anything but straightforward. For months, the two parties had haggled over the terms of the deal to the point where Los Blancos seriously began thinking about life after Vinicius. With his previous contract due to expire in 2027, Real Madrid would have had to make a major decision had they not managed to reach an agreement. The consensus is that they would have seriously considered offers for him in the final days of the window. It ultimately never came to that, though. Arsenal walked away empty-handed, while Vinicius got his bumper new deal. So far, however, the winger has done little to justify his raise. Vinicius to Arsenal in 2027? The Brazilian is enduring a hugely disappointing season. Just like last term, Vinicius is merely impressing in moments rather than displaying the relentlessness that made him a serious Ballon d'Or contender in 2024. His performances, just like Real Madrid as a whole, have been hugely underwhelming so far this season. posits that this might be because he isn't fully focused on Los Blancos after coming "closer to joining Arsenal than people think." Even though he ultimately turned down a move to North London, it is claimed that their interest turned his head, and that he is still coming to grips with the fact that he didn't complete what would have been one of the biggest transfers in the history of football. "The Gunners' move was strategic," the outlet writes. "It [would have been] a signing with global impact, not only for the London club, but also for the Premier League as a whole. "The English league would promote Vinicius as one of its biggest stars to the entire world, and the rivalry with Erling Haaland would dominate the corporate image of what many consider the best league in the world." In fact, the report claims that Vinicius' teammates fully believed that he was set to join Arsenal. They considered it a "foregone conclusion" that he would jump ship, illustrating that, despite their strong relationship with the Brazilian, there are question marks over his commitment internally. Despite Vinicius' new contract, his long-term future at Real Madrid appears to be anything but secure. "The shadow of the bench looms due to his poor performances on the pitch," the Spanish outlet writes. The 26-year-old is considered one of Jose Mourinho's "untouchables," but the manager can't keep playing him if he doesn't pull his weight. If the situation persists, he may have no choice but to drop Vinicius to the bench. This would, of course, heavily influence his future. A player of Vinicius' stature won't settle for a substitute role, while Real Madrid can't afford to have one of their best-paid players on the bench. Arsenal still need a top-class left-winger. Could they revisit a deal in 2027? It is perhaps not outside the realm of possibility if Vinicius continues to disappoint. The crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu has already turned on him, "punishing every mistake with whistles and criticism." Real Madrid's negotiating position has been massively strengthened due to Vinicius' new contract, but Arsenal were prepared to pay whatever would have been necessary to sign him this summer. That stance is unlikely to change. Admittedly, they are cutting it close with UEFA's spending rules, but a few smart manoeuvres in the market could enable the Gunners to go big for Vinicius next year. He is certainly playing like someone who needs a change of scenery.