Arsenal did indeed weigh up a move for Vinicius Junior last summer. The London club's interest was confirmed by Mikel Arteta's assistant Miguel Molina.
At that time, the Brazilian had a year remaining on his contract with Real Madrid, and talks over an extension were fraught with disagreements. Arsenal had been tracking the situation, but on August 6, Vinicius signed a new deal with the Madrid club that will keep him there until 2032.
When asked directly about Arsenal's interest in the forward, Molina replied:
Yes, of course. Obviously, I can’t go beyond the facts, but Vinicius was indeed one of the names we discussed.
Molina also shared insights on Arsenal's head coach:
He is the first to arrive and the last to leave. He is very intense and incredibly demanding.
His main quality is the ability to bring out the best in those around him, whether players or staff. Ultimately, he sets the benchmark for work ethic and quality.
Discussing the atmosphere within the squad, Molina highlighted:
This team understands very well what it means to be united. What camaraderie is, what it means to be a family, and that the collective always comes before anything else.
Molina also commented on Martin Subimendi:
The key quality of Subimendi is his adaptability. This allows him to operate effectively in various positions on the pitch.
He extended his praise to Mikel Merino's versatility:
For me, he’s like a manager on the pitch. He can play as a nine, eight, ten, or even six if needed.
