After winning the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years, this summer marked a pivotal one for Arsenal in their quest to build a dynasty.

Yet, despite their rip-roaring start to the new campaign, they have not had things all their own way this summer. No, this has been a tricky transfer window for Andrea Berta and Co to navigate.

Vinicius Junior said no to Arsenal. Morgan Rogers joined his mate Cole Palmer at Chelsea instead and Bradley Barcola looks as though he's heading to Liverpool instead.

All three would have been game-changers for the Gunners but it's not as though they've sat idly by and watched on. They have made a transformative addition, just in midfield. He goes by the name of Bruno Guimaraes.

What the season has in store for Bruno Guimaraes at Arsenal

It is typical isn't it? Guimaraes has played 45 minutes of competitive football for Arsenal and he's already injured.

The Brazilian missed their 3-0 win over Coventry City last Friday with a right thigh injury but Mikel Arteta has insisted it is not a long-term worry. "We expect that not to be weeks at all," the boss said. "Let's see how he evolves this week. He didn't even want to stop. He wanted to carry on."

So, while supporters may well have to wait a little bit longer to see Bruno get a run of games for the Gunners, this is set to be a big season for the £75m addition.

On the face of it, this is a remarkably good capture. Elliot Anderson moved to Manchester City for £116m, Sandro Tonali headed to Spurs for £100m and Mateus Fernandes followed him to the same destination to the tune of £85m.

Thus, to sign the Newcastle skipper for a fraction of the price has to be applauded. This is a player who will hit the ground running immediately and we saw that first hand in the Community Shield a week and a half ago.

The 28-year-old may have only played the first half but he was exceptional, winning 100% of his duels and linking up with Martin Odegaard nicely on the right-hand side.

Coming into this summer, signing a midfielder was a necessity. Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi played more minutes than any other outfield player at Arsenal last summer. They were a fine pairing but Guimaraes is set to split that up.

He could well even be the man to give Rice some respite. Either way, he's set to be one of the first names on the teamsheet once up to speed. This is not someone who has signed to sit on the bench, he's arrived to play a crucial part in any success Arteta's men have this season.

How Arsenal can trump their Bruno Guimaraes move

While landing a new midfielder was imperative during the off-season, improving their forward line was also absolutely vital.

To their credit, despite missing out on Vini and Co, they have done that with the arrival of Christos Tzolis, someone who looks like the real deal judging by his first few appearances in Arsenal red.

But, between now and the closure of the transfer window next Tuesday, Berta and Arteta must find a way not only to trump that Tzolis move but also trump their Guimaraes deal.

They have tried and so far failed to do just that, with Julian Alvarez the latest in a long line of elite attacking players linked with a move.

We all know the saga by now. Alvarez wants Barca. Atletico Madrid are not willing to sell him to another Spanish club. They may not even be too willing to sell abroad.

Yet, that has not stopped the Gunners from trying to do a deal. Journalist Gaston Edul has reported this week that Arsenal have made a "serious offer" that meets Atleti's price tag. Sadly for those in London, Alvarez is still meeting their proposal with resistance.

If the Argentine does not want to join Arsenal that is fine, but if they can find a way to close out a move it would certainly trump any other business they have done recently. It wouldn't just trump this summer's business, but it could well be their best signing in years.

Celebrated as "one of the best players in the world" by international colleague Franco Mastantuono, Alvarez is a player who has the ability to totally transform Arteta's frontline.

For years now, the feeling from those at the Emirates Stadium has been that they need an elite striker. They picked up Viktor Gyokeres last year but he's not ever truly settled in the English capital despite a 21-goal season en-route to winning the Premier League.

Alvarez, on the other hand, would surely guarantee success. Compared to Gyokeres, his technique is on a different level. He's not just a goalscorer, netting 29 and 20 times in his two campaigns with Atletico, but he's also a creator, a player capable of linking the play and stretching the defence.

Ever since Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng left the Gunners behind, they have lacked a genuine world-class striker. Robin van Persie aside, Auba is the best striker of the Emirates era, bagging as many as 92 goals in 163 outings. Since then, they have not found a single player capable of hitting a 25-goal plus season.

Well, Alvarez could be the man to finally end that hoodoo. He's an elite striker, he's in the prime of his career and he's proven in the Premier League already.

While he played second fiddle to the generational Erling Haaland when he was at Manchester City, the 2022 World Cup winner still found a way to shine.

In 2023/24, the South American scored 19 times and also supplied 13 assists. He's got so many weapons and would undoubtedly be the missing piece of the puzzle in Arsenal's quest to win more major silverware.

From midfield, Guimaraes will help their cause significantly but in Alvarez, they would find a player so clear of Kai Havertz and Gyokeres that he could totally change the game for the Gunners.