Mikel Arteta's own words have laid bare the problem Arsenal face in their pursuit of Ezri Konsa, as the club's financial strength and ambition have become a double-edged sword in negotiations.
The Gunners, who announced a £75million signing six days ago, are frustrated despite their spending power. Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis have arrived for a combined £109million, but a world-class forward and a centre-back are still on sporting director Andrea Berta's to-do list.
Arteta's transfer admission
Arteta has been vocal about the club's needs, saying after a post-match press conference at the start of August: "We are really active, trying to improve and evolve the team. That's clear. 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, but it is partly behind their sluggish recruitment drive. Arsenal broke a Premier League record by bringing in £770m across the 2025/26 campaign, and their commercial revenue has more than doubled in the past four years.
The Konsa conundrum
The situation around 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. Arsenal are £20m off that asking price as they search for a player to cover for the injured William Saliba.
Arteta hinted at the wider conundrum 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. 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."
Time 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 Arteta is desperate to get them quickly. 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.
