Arsenal make official statement on potential new signings amid Vinicius Junior speculation

Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are back in pre-season training (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have taken the rare step of confirming they expect to make more signings in a statement on the club’s official website.

Supporters had been hopeful that the status of Premier League champions would increase the lure of playing for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Instead, the Gunners have endured a frustrating start to the summer transfer window and have so far only managed to recruit Greece international winger Christos Tzolis, who is effectively a replacement for Leandro Trossard, and back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

Arsenal were gazumped by Chelsea in the race to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and have so far been frustrated in their attempts get a deal for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes over the line.

Julian Alvarez, meanwhile, remains at Atletico Madrid having stated his preference for a move to Barcelona, while Arsenal, privately, concede they only have a limited chance of persuading Vinicius Junior to swap Madrid for north London.

Despite that relative slow progress, Arsenal took the unprecedented step of updating fans on Wednesday evening with the promise of further additions being imminent.

In an article previewing Saturday’s friendly against Girona, an excerpt read: ‘Two new signings have also joined the group this pre-season – goalkeeper Illan Meslier and forward Christos Tzolis – with more expected to sign before the end of the transfer window.’

Christos Tzolis could make his first Arsenal appearance against Girona (Picture: Getty)

‘A lot is happening,’ Arteta added in an interview with Arsenal.com. ‘We all know about the context of this transfer window.

‘From ownership to the board, the sporting director and myself, we know that we want to take this club to a different level.

‘That is going to require a better squad, better individuals. We have identified where we have opportunities to grow and to improve and to evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that.

‘Hopefully very soon we can start to put things in a very concrete way.’

Real Madrid are not planning to sell Vinicius Junior this summer (Getty)

Asked if the current members of the squad were up for and refreshed enough to begin the challenge of attempting to defend their title, he added: ‘One hundred per cent.