Not Every Gooner Is Sold on Vinicius Jr – Opinion

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·03 de agosto de 2026

Not Every Gooner Is Sold on Vinicius Jr – Opinion

At least within the Just Arsenal family, not all Gooners are excited by the idea of Vinicius Jr. possibly becoming a Gunner.

It is odd, as many readers felt Arsenal were not exciting to watch at times last season.

Vídeos OneFootball

The hope was that once our manager ended our title drought, he would start addressing our attack.

So it seems a slight contradiction that a portion of the same fanbase would now be critical of the champions being linked with one of the best left wingers in the world.

Now, I have my own theories on why this could be, but it’s only fair that I accurately reflect the mood of some of my peers.

Are concerns over Vinicius Jr justified?

The main reservation about Vinicius Jr. moving to the Emirates is that his ego could disrupt the dressing room.

Many highlight that, over the last 12 months, the Brazilian has been the least popular he has ever been at the Bernabeu. There are accusations that he made Xabi Alonso’s job very difficult in the Spanish capital, while some believe his relationship with Kylian Mbappe contributed to the club ending the campaign without silverware.

That seems unfair when you consider the attacker contributed 22 goals and 11 assists last season.

In fact, if you look at his statistics since moving to Europe, he has been directly involved in 30 goals or more in each of the last five seasons.

It’s only fair that his entire body of work is analysed rather than judging him on one season.

Since the age of 19, his CV includes 14 trophies, including two Champions League titles, and he scored in both finals.

So, if he has alienated himself from teammates, it has never been toxic enough to stop the teams he has played for from being successful.

(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s dressing room should embrace elite competition

Mikel Arteta has built a squad that has long followed non-negotiable principles, working for a manager who won’t tolerate anyone failing to meet his standards. Do you risk destroying that by bringing in a superstar?

I actually think that suggestion is disrespectful to a group of professional athletes.

These are young men who grew up dreaming of getting paid to play the sport they love. Not only have they surpassed that ambition, they now compete for the biggest trophies in football.

Naturally, shouldn’t they want to give themselves the best possible chance of success?

Surely the more world-class teammates you have, the greater your chances of winning?

I’d be amazed if Declan Rice wouldn’t want to train alongside one of the very best.

I would be shocked if Bukayo Saka wouldn’t be excited by one of the world’s finest players helping the club he has supported since childhood.

The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Roy Keane have explained they didn’t socialise with many teammates outside of work.

They were respectful professionals, but they didn’t necessarily see their colleagues as friends.

Of course, you’d rather a team got along, but ultimately a squad isn’t built on a popularity contest.

No one wears that red and white shirt purely out of love. It’s their job, and they are paid handsomely to do it.

Part of that job is training and playing alongside whoever your manager tells you to.

If you’re bothered by someone else’s salary (the likes of Kai Havertz would have some nerve to) or their commercial deals, then work harder.

If a dressing room feels threatened by competition, then drive them to the nearest airport.

Dan Smith

What do you think, Gooners? Would Vinicius Jr. elevate Arsenal to another level, or do you share the concerns about how he might affect the dressing room? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ADMIN COMMENT

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