Lee Dixon Sees Arsenal Missing Out on Vinicius Junior as a Strategic Victory

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon believes that Vinicius Junior cleverly used interest from the Gunners to secure a fresh deal at Real Madrid. Though the Brazilian forward stayed put, Dixon argues missing out on him doesn’t harm Arsenal. In fact, he suggests it sends a strong message across the Premier League.

Vinicius Commits to Real Madrid

Recently, Arsenal was linked with a bold move for the Real Madrid star. Yet, Vinicius Junior chose to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu, signing a lucrative new contract. Dixon suspects this whole saga was a calculated play by Vinicius and his camp.

Player’s Representatives Playing Their Cards

Speaking to BestBettingSites, Dixon shared doubts about the transfer ever truly being on the table. He thinks Vinicius’ team used Arsenal’s genuine interest to negotiate better terms in Spain.

"Funny that, isn’t it? Yeah, I think Vinicius’ team were playing the game. I don’t think Arsenal not getting him hurts us, and I actually think it did the club a lot of good to throw their hat in the ring because it shows real intent," Dixon said.

Dixon added that whether or not the pursuit was fully serious, it was complicated to pull off. The interest alone sent a message to rivals like Manchester City and Manchester United that Arsenal is willing to compete at a higher level.

"It gives other teams a bit of a wow moment – they’re thinking big, so we’ve got to step up too. So as a fan or player, missing out on him hasn’t hurt us at all."

On Arsenal's Left-Wing Options

Dixon also weighed in on Arsenal’s left-wing choices, highlighting new signing Christos Tzolis as a promising addition who could sharpen the attack.

"I’ve always said about that left-wing position – even before they won the league. I said (maybe harshly) I don’t think you win the Premier League with Leandro Trossard as your starting left winger. Last season, though, he stepped up in key games and scored crucial goals," Dixon noted.

He mentioned how Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have rotated well, but singled out Tzolis as a standout player.

"The player who stands out for me is Tzolis. I really like this kid. I think he’s the next level up from Trossard. Martinelli is a bit unpredictable, so we should give Tzolis some freedom to see how he does in the first six or seven games. And hey, maybe bring back Ryan Giggs – he wasn’t bad! (laughs)"

Upcoming Fixtures for Arsenal and Real Madrid

Arsenal now shifts focus to their pre-season schedule. They face Italian side Como on 12 August, followed by the Community Shield clash against Manchester City on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior will prepare for the new campaign under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. The team has friendlies lined up against Deportivo La Coruna and Schalke before opening their La Liga season versus Espanyol on 22 August.

• Club: Arsenal vs Como
• Date: 12 August 2026
• Time: 20:30

• Club: Real Madrid vs Deportivo de A Coruna
• Date: 12 August 2026
• Time: 21:00