What Do England's Big Clubs Need to Stop Arsenal's Flying Start?
The race to strengthen the squad intensifies in the final hours before the summer transfer window slams shut
By: Dr. Talal Othman, General Manager — GCC Sport
The summer transfer window closes on Tuesday evening, and the Premier League's biggest clubs still have plenty to settle in these final hours to strengthen their squads and close the gap on the reigning champions. While everyone else counts down the clock, Arsenal alone appear to have entered this last stretch at ease, having chosen to act decisively while their rivals are still searching for answers.
Arteta's side moves with the confidence of leaders
Under Spanish manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal enter the second half of the summer more assured than ever. The club has strengthened its ranks with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães, Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, while also converting Piero Hincapié's loan from Bayer Leverkusen into a permanent deal. Should the north London club complete a move for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez before the window shuts, they will have ended the summer with one of the strongest squads in their modern history.
The question preoccupying Arsenal's title rivals is no longer "can they be matched?" but "what will it actually take to stop them?" Here is a look at the five biggest challengers still in the hunt for the title, and what each is missing as the window edges towards closing.
Manchester City: an unfinished rebuild and no reliable deputy for Haaland
Despite spending more than £280m on new signings, Manchester City have not actually stretched their budget much, having recouped £235m through the sales of James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González, Savinho and Rodri, plus Omar Marmoush's loan departure, on top of John Stones and Bernardo Silva leaving on expired contracts.
Elliot Anderson and promising Moroccan international Ayyoub Bouaddi have arrived at the Etihad as part of a plan to rebuild midfield, and City are still chasing Chelsea's Enzo Fernández. But the bigger challenge isn't midfield — it's attack. With Marmoush now out on loan at Tottenham after less than two years at the club, Enzo Maresca no longer has a trusted alternative if Erling Haaland is unavailable. The numbers make the case starkly: Haaland and Antoine Semenyo, signed from Bournemouth in January, were the only City players to reach double figures in league goals last season, while Phil Foden was next-best on just seven. As long as Haaland is fit and available, there is no visible problem — but the fallback plan, should he be missing, is desperately thin, leaving Semenyo as the only alternative to the Norwegian frontman.
Chelsea: a delicate financial balance and a defining call on Enzo Fernández
Chelsea addressed one of their most glaring gaps by signing veteran Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez from Aston Villa for £7.5m — a deal that had collapsed repeatedly in recent years, with both Manchester United and Juventus previously walking away over the wages demanded by the 33-year-old.
But having spent roughly £350m this summer against sales of around £150m, Chelsea need to restore financial balance quickly, and the easiest route to doing so would be letting Enzo Fernández leave for Manchester City in a deal that could reach £120m. If Chelsea do let Fernández go, however, manager Xabi Alonso will be working against a tight deadline to find a replacement. The decision on Fernández, if left too late, could cost Chelsea a genuine shot at the title.
Manchester United: a rebuilt midfield and an old hole still unfilled
United have returned to the Champions League after a two-year absence, and their spending this summer £150m has gone almost entirely on midfield reinforcements in Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, with strong signals that a left winger is now the priority.
Yet the long-running left-back problem remains unsolved. Luke Shaw stays the only recognised option there despite a fragile long-term physical record he was at fault for one of the goals United conceded in their season-opener against newly promoted Hull City. United's interest in Barcelona's Alejandro Balde has yet to develop into a formal offer for the 22-year-old. Marcus Rashford's unexpected return after a full season on loan at Barcelona appears to have taken the urgency out of signing a left-back, freeing up funds for further business before the deadline, with reports linking the club to Newcastle's Lewis Hall a move United are still believed to be pursuing despite manager Matthias Jaissle's wish to keep him. Old Trafford is also said to believe Arsenal could part with Myles Lewis-Skelly to help balance the books at the Emirates, though Arteta has ruled out letting him go. Whoever the name ends up being, if Shaw remains the only option at left-back when the window closes, it will be a clear miss for United's recruitment team.
Liverpool: Barcola arrives, and Wirtz becomes the puzzle
After a long summer search for a world-class winger and having missed out on RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, who chose Real Madrid Liverpool appear to have found their man in PSG winger Bradley Barcola, in a deal reportedly worth around £123m. Barcola should give new manager Andoni Iraola the pace and attacking threat he wants on the left, but his arrival may deepen another problem: the future of Florian Wirtz.
The Germany international, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen last summer for £116m, sits at the heart of the bigger issue Iraola must resolve. Liverpool badly need a genuine holding midfielder to shield the back four a need they still haven't met. As a result, Iraola has been fielding both Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai together, but Wirtz occupying the No.10 role denies Szoboszlai the box-to-box attacking role he thrives in, forcing the Hungary international into a position that doesn't suit his more limited defensive discipline.
Were Iraola to shift Szoboszlai into the No.10 role, he could add a genuine defensive midfielder alongside Ryan Gravenberch though Alexis Mac Allister remains the only option currently available, and his underwhelming form last season raises doubts about his readiness for that role. But in that scenario, Wirtz would be left without a natural place in the side, and Liverpool may be forced to move on from a player who cost them dearly and has not yet delivered what was expected. The decision on his future alongside Cody Gakpo's expected departure to Manchester City will shape the look of Liverpool's attack this season.
Tottenham: heavy spending, no real goalscorer
Tottenham have moved aggressively in the market, spending more than £300m on major signings including Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Savio, as well as loaning Manchester City's Omar Marmoush with a mandatory £60m purchase obligation to follow.
But none of that spending has solved Tottenham's deeper problem: the absence of a genuine out-and-out striker since Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich in 2023. Savio scored just seven league goals in two seasons at Manchester City, while Marmoush managed 16 at the Etihad. Even Dominic Solanke, with 23 goals since joining in 2024, and Richarlison, with 33 in four seasons, haven't offered the answer. Finding a striker capable of deciding matches before the window shuts remains the biggest question Roberto De Zerbi still needs to answer.
The bottom line
With Arsenal's planning and execution clearly ahead of the pack this summer, their rivals' real opportunity is confined to these final hours before the window closes. Manchester City need a deputy for Haaland, Chelsea face a defining call on Enzo Fernández, United are still hunting for their left-back, Liverpool must resolve the Wirtz dilemma, and Tottenham lack a genuine finisher. Whoever settles their business first may be the closest to giving Arteta and his players a real title fight whoever is left dragging their feet may find themselves out of the race before it has truly begun.
