Arsenal have been advised to turn their attention to Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma after their pursuit of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior collapsed. Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has urged the Gunners to consider a move for the Japanese international as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his left-wing options before the transfer window closes.
Vinicius Junior signs new Real Madrid deal
The 26-year-old Brazilian had been heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates, with his contract at the Bernabeu set to expire next summer. However, those hopes were dashed last week when Vinicius committed his future to the Spanish giants by signing a new six-year deal, keeping him at the club until 2032.
With that blockbuster transfer now off the table, Arsenal remain in the market for a left-sided attacker. Cascarino believes Mitoma could be the ideal solution, despite concerns over the 29-year-old's age and injury record.
Cascarino backs Mitoma for Arsenal
'If he was a tad younger and hadn't had so many injuries, I'd really look at him,' Cascarino told Talksport. 'I thought Mitoma, when he's been Brighton's best player, he's scarily good.'
'He had a poor season last year, and a number of injuries. I think he scored three goals in the league for Brighton last year. But he's a dangerous winger – he wants to take people on all the time. And Arsenal have got cover there, so, yeah [I'd go for him].'
Since joining Brighton as a relatively unknown entity in 2021, Mitoma has established himself as one of the Premier League's most dangerous wingers. His performances on the south coast have attracted interest from top clubs, including Bayern Munich, who were linked with the Japanese international after his exploits in the 2024/25 season.
Injury-hit campaign for Mitoma
The 29-year-old was unable to sustain that level last season, managing just three league goals before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. Despite this, Cascarino believes Mitoma's natural ability to take on defenders makes him a valuable asset.
Arsenal have already signed one left attacker this window, with Christos Tzolis arriving from Genk last month for around £34m. The Greek international has impressed in pre-season, contributing three goals in as many games, but Arteta may still want additional cover.
Arsenal's transfer plans
The Gunners have been active in the market, with reports suggesting they are also in talks to sell a £50m star following Bruno Guimaraes' transfer. Besiktas have made a move for another Arsenal player after signing Leandro Trossard, while the club has set a price for Chelsea to sign Martin Zubimendi.
With the window entering its final weeks, Arsenal face a crucial decision on whether to pursue Mitoma or focus on other targets. Cascarino's endorsement adds weight to the argument that the Brighton star could provide the attacking threat Arteta desires.
