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Arsenal urged to sign Nico Williams instead of Vinicius Jr

By on August 4, 2026

Nico-Williams-Spain

Former midfielder turned pundit Kevin Nolan has urged Arsenal to sign Athletic Club forward Nico Williams instead of Vinicius Junior.

The Gunners have prioritised revamping the left flank this summer and have already purchased Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge after letting Leandro Trossard join Besiktas.

Currently, Mikel Arteta has Gabriel Martinelli alongside Tzolis as options to deploy on the left side of the attack. However, the Brazilian has displayed inconsistent performances in recent seasons and has entered the final 12 months of his current contract.

Therefore, Arsenal want a new left-winger and have reportedly identified Real Madrid ace Vinicius Junior as a priority target.

However, on talkSPORT, Nolan raises the question of whether the Brazilian possesses the correct personality and attitude to be an Arsenal player.

Instead, the North London club would be better off signing Williams, as he is the Arsenal-type forward. They could even do with signing Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola, who has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

Nolan said:

“He’s[Vinicius Jr] obviously a complex character. His off-the-field stuff probably doesn’t suit what Arteta looks at. And I think they do go into all that great detail as well. What’s the character of the person? What’s his attitude like? What’s his personality like?

“I think someone like a Nico Williams would be perfect for Arsenal. In that left-hand side role, or Barcola, if you like. They’re the ones who I thought would suit more of an Arsenal-type player than Vinicius Jr.”

Williams to Arsenal

Having recently tied Williams down to a fresh term until 2035, Athletic Club aren’t in any rush to sell him, and he has a £77m release clause in his current contract.

Williams has shown glimpses of his qualities for club and country in recent years, helping Spain win the European Championship and World Cup. Moreover, he has established himself as a talismanic figure for Athletic Club.

He is a right-footed left-winger by trait. He is quick, technically sound, can dribble past opposition defenders in tight areas, and is efficient in creating opportunities for fellow attackers.

The 24-year-old is a top-class player and hasn’t reached his prime yet. Therefore, he would be a shrewd acquisition for Arsenal should they purchase him.

However, it is going to be interesting to see whether the North London club eventually heed Nolan’s advice and make a move for Williams over the coming weeks.