Mikel Arteta's own words explain the obvious problem Arsenal face with Ezri Konsa transfer

Arsenal have found themselves frustrated in their efforts to bring in top-quality signings in the summer transfer window, with negotiations for Ezri Konsa showing their predicament

It may seem a silly thing to say about a team who announced a £75million signing six days ago, but Arsenal are frustrated.

Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis have arrived in the summer transfer window for a combined outlay of £109million. But a world-class forward and a centre-back are still outstanding on sporting director Andrea Berta's to-do list.

Berta is working hard to address Arsenal's needs, having held discussions with Galatasaray over a possible swap deal involving Victor Osimhen, Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri.

Yet time is running out. Arsenal begin their campaign against Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday before kicking off their Premier League defence against Coventry next Friday. There are 18 days until the transfer window closes on September 1.

It is likely that the Gunners will end August with both a new centre-back and a new forward. But, as ever, the head coach is desperate to get them quickly.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

"We are really active, trying to improve and evolve the team. That's clear," Arteta said in a post-match press conference after facing Girona at the start of August.

"We expect to have movements in the next few weeks, obviously, because we want to get better like anybody else. And you can just see it. The transfer market and our opponents, what we are doing, we won't sit still. And we are very ambitious in what we want to do."

That ambition is not in doubt. Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez show that. But it is that ambition, following their long-awaited Premier League title win, which is partly behind their sluggish recruitment drive.

Arsenal broke a Premier League record by bringing in £770m across the 2025/26 campaign, moving them into the upper echelons of world football. Their commercial revenue alone has more than doubled in the past four years. That brings with it exciting possibilities, ambition, but also problems.

Their financial position is no secret and Arteta's eagerness to get players through the door as soon as possible weakens their negotiating position. The situation around Ezri Konsa is a case in point. Aston Villa value the 28-year-old defender at £60million after his prominent role for England at the World Cup. As Mirror Football reported on Thursday, Arsenal are £20m off that asking price as they search for a player to cover for the injured William Saliba.

The wider conundrum is something that Arteta hinted at when speaking after the 1-1 draw against Como on Wednesday.

“There is more that we want to do, because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth, we need to do that,” he said. “We’re actively trying to do so – the thing is, in the market, it doesn’t just depend on you, and we’re very clear on that. The will and the desire of the club is unquestionable, but we cannot promise that we’re going to do it because it doesn’t only depend on us.”

He added: “For the margins to improve, there are very few players in the market that are available to do that and bring more quality to the club. But again, we’re actively looking to improve that and we’re going to try.”

Arsenal are trying and their financial might is such that they can - and likely will - deliver on Arteta's requests. For now, though, they will have to endure the 'tax' that comes with their position.

Click here to read article