Arsenal plans late swoop for Ligue 1 attacker

In partnership with

Just Arsenal News

·24 August 2026

Arsenal plans late swoop for Ligue 1 attacker

Since the end of last season, one of the attackers linked with a move to the Premier League has been Matias Fernandez-Pardo of Lille, and he is now closing in on a move to RB Leipzig.

However, Arsenal have entered the race for his signature, with SportWitness claiming that the Gunners are considering a late move for the attacker before the transfer window closes. The report suggests Arsenal have been monitoring Pardo and could now make their interest more concrete.

OneFootball Videos

The Gunners could offload Gabriel Martinelli in the coming days, while they also failed to sign Vinicius Junior. As a result, they need another winger, and the report says Pardo is the player they want to bring in to strengthen that position.

Like most top teams in England, Arsenal have scouted Pardo over the last few months. He has been on their radar for much of the summer, although they focused on signing other targets before deciding whether to make a move for the Belgian.

Arsenal Consider Late Move

With Al Hilal pushing to sign Martinelli in the coming days, Arsenal are reportedly keen to secure Pardo’s signature. The 21-year-old would arrive with plenty of room for improvement, despite already producing fine numbers in France.

His age and potential could make him an appealing addition for Arsenal, particularly if Martinelli leaves the club. The Gunners would be adding a player who has already demonstrated his ability while still having significant scope to develop further.

Arsenal want to have a strong squad in place when the transfer window closes, and Pardo could provide another attacking option. His arrival would give the team additional depth while allowing the club to prepare for the possibility of Martinelli departing.

(Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Pardo Could Provide Attacking Depth

Pardo would represent a good backup to the in-form Christos Tzolis, who has been impressive for the team since arriving just a few weeks ago. Arsenal could therefore see the Belgian as an option who can contribute while also developing over time.

The Gunners’ interest appears to have arrived at a crucial point in the window, with RB Leipzig also closing in on the player. Arsenal may need to move quickly if they want to prevent Pardo from completing his expected transfer.

With Martinelli’s future still uncertain and Vinicius Junior no longer an option, Pardo has emerged as a potential solution. Arsenal now have an opportunity to make their long-standing interest count before the window closes.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…