Arsenal have been told to prioritise a left-wing move for Bradley Barcola over pushing harder for Bruno Guimaraes.
talkSPORT reports that Darren Bent believes Mikel Arteta’s side should look first at the Paris Saint-Germain forward rather than making central midfield the immediate headline act of their summer.
The former Arsenal striker’s argument is blunt: Guimaraes is an elite Premier League midfielder, but the Gunners already have a title-winning core in that area.
On the left, the picture feels less secure, particularly while Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard continue to attract exit noise.
Arteta Given Clear Barcola Transfer Message
Barcola has become a live name because his club and international form keeps dragging the discussion forward.
The 23-year-old scored from the bench for France against Senegal at the 2026 World Cup, while talkSPORT also notes he played heavily in the weather-affected win over Iraq.
The wider Guimaraes context remains relevant, with Arsenal still linked to the Newcastle United captain as Arteta looks to protect the squad’s midfield depth.
But Bent’s point is not that Arsenal should ignore midfield cover. It is that the bigger marginal gain may come from giving Arteta a more explosive left-sided attacker.
That is why this debate matters.
Arsenal have already confirmed pre-season markers, including the Emirates Cup meeting with Borussia Dortmund, and Arteta will want recruitment clarity before the serious tactical work begins.
Read Arsenal has already examined why Barcola’s profile raises Arsenal’s left-wing ceiling. Bent’s verdict only sharpens that call.
