Gunners assess options after Amex setback

Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the 2026/27 Premier League campaign came to an abrupt halt on matchday five, with Brighton & Hove Albion running out 3-0 winners at the Amex Stadium. It was a chastening afternoon for Mikel Arteta’s side, though their wider form this term still points to genuine title credentials.

That said, the defeat exposed a familiar problem: a lack of firepower down the left flank, an area crying out for fresh legs following the summer exits of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

According to Football London, Arsenal have identified Brentford’s Kevin Schade as a potential solution when the January window opens. The 24-year-old German has been in fine form this season, netting three Premier League goals from five appearances, and would provide competition for Christos Tzolis on the left side of attack.

Why Schade makes sense for the Gunners

Schade ticks plenty of boxes. He’s among the quickest players in the division, wins a healthy share of aerial duels for a wide forward, and carries real purpose when running at defenders. Add in a powerful strike and a willingness to track back, and it’s easy to see the appeal for Arteta.

Brentford, unbeaten so far this season, will be reluctant sellers, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if their valuation sits well above the £30m Transfermarkt currently puts on him. Given his age, output and upside, that premium seems justified from a Brentford perspective.

For Arsenal, though, a marquee left-wing addition with Premier League pedigree feels less like an indulgence and more a necessity if they’re serious about sustaining a title push. Having missed out on alternative wide targets earlier in the year, January could be the moment they finally get their man.