Vinícius Júnior is no longer an option for Arsenal — Real Madrid have reached an agreement with him on a new contract, closing off the route Arsenal had been exploring all summer.
It doesn’t mean Arsenal’s search for attacking reinforcement has to end, or that it has to mean chasing another superstar from abroad.
Pedro Neto and Iliman Ndiaye are two Premier League players Arsenal should sign if they decide the smarter move is proven English football experience. Doing so reduces adaptation uncertainty rather than avoiding foreign players on principle.
To be clear about what follows: this isn’t a report on confirmed transfer targets, and Arsenal haven’t been reported as actively pursuing either name below.
It’s an editorial case for two players who fit what Arsenal now need, built against a specific set of criteria rather than picked at random.
A Premier League alternative player worth Arsenal’s attention should meet four tests. They should have proven output in England. They must have the tactical range to play wide or as an inside forward, maintain attacking numbers that hold up under scrutiny, and be open to a deal that’s at least plausible.
Filtered against those four criteria, the list narrows quickly — and two names stand out clearly ahead of the rest: Pedro Neto and Iliman Ndiaye.
Neto’s case starts with proven Premier League output and minimal adaptation risk. In 2025-26 for Chelsea, he posted five goals and six assists in 34 Premier League appearances, starting 30 league games.
Chelsea finished a disappointing 10th and went through three different head coaches during the campaign, the kind of instability that can loosen a good player’s attachment to a club.
What would Neto give Arsenal, tactically?
Neto’s two-footed wing play means he isn’t limited to one side, which matters for squad planning. Neto could provide direct left-wing depth behind Gabriel Martinelli or rotate across from the right, giving Bukayo Saka more opportunities to rest without forcing Arsenal to change their attacking style.
There’s also the sharper football argument, separate from any rivalry angle. In Neto, Arsenal would acquire a player already fully adapted to the league’s physicality and schedule, rather than one who needs a settling-in season.
On feasibility, Neto is genuinely the harder of the two deals. Chelsea are reportedly demanding upwards of £100m for him, with Manchester City and Liverpool both circling but neither yet willing to meet that price.
Chelsea aren’t actively shopping Neto either — the interest from elsewhere is what’s driven the valuation up, not any signal they want to sell.
Realistically, this only happens if Arsenal are willing to pay well above market rate for a proven Premier League winger, similar to what other big six clubs have already been quoted.
Ndiaye’s case is built on durability and versatility rather than standout numbers. The Everton ace made 32 Premier League appearances in 2025-26, starting every single one, and recorded six goals and three assists.
Ndiaye can play off the left, off the right, or centrally in a false-nine role, and his game is built on taking players on in tight spaces rather than needing an obvious final pass to unlock him.
Set against Neto, the comparison is fairly clean. Ndiaye offers more positional flexibility and has shown he can operate through the middle as well as wide, which would give Arteta a genuine option to change shape without a like-for-like substitution.
In terms of feasibility, Ndiaye’s deal looks more realistic than Neto’s, if not straightforward. Everton have set an asking price of around £75m, which gives Arsenal a concrete number to plan around if they wanted to match or beat it.
| Player | Position | PL Matches | PL Goals | PL Assists | Main Strength | Arsenal Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pedro Neto | Winger (both flanks) | 34 | 5 | 6 | Crossing, ball progression, Premier League experience | High |
| Iliman Ndiaye | Forward/winger | 32 | 6 | 3 | Positional versatility, durability, 1v1 ability | High |
Neto’s numbers edge it on end product and he carries virtually no Premier League adaptation risk, but Ndiaye’s tactical range is arguably the better long-term fit.
Regarding football fit, Neto is the stronger pick — he’s already proven exactly the kind of output Arsenal need in the Premier League, and there’s no adjustment period to factor in.
In terms of feasibility, Ndiaye is the more attainable deal. Everton’s £75m valuation is grounded in a real competing offer. Chelsea’s £100m+ demand for Neto, on a contract that runs to 2031, makes that one considerably harder to actually complete.
The best football fit is Pedro Neto. The more attainable transfer is Iliman Ndiaye. Neither is a Vinícius-level statement signing.
As a considered response to the Vinícius chase ending, both Neto and Ndiaye are more realistic and lower-risk than another continental swing on reputation alone.
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