Arsenal have been advised to consider Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma as they continue searching for a left-sided attacker after Vinicius Junior committed his future to Real Madrid.
Former Republic of Ireland international Tony Cascarino, speaking as a talkSPORT pundit, identified Mitoma as a potential alternative for the London club. Arsenal had previously considered the possibility of signing Vinicius Junior, but the Brazil forward agreed a new six-year contract with Real Madrid on Thursday.
That agreement appears to have removed one of Arsenal’s possible targets from the market, leaving the Premier League club to assess other options for their left flank. Cascarino believes Mitoma could be a suitable candidate as Arsenal continue to look at ways of strengthening their squad.
Mitoma has been a Brighton player since 2021. The Japan international scored 10 goals in the Premier League during the 2024-25 season, but managed only three in the most recent campaign referenced in the discussion.
His availability has also been affected by injury. Mitoma suffered a hamstring problem in May and was consequently left out of Japan’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The winger’s progress at Brighton has made him a name of interest in the conversation around Arsenal’s attacking options. However, no transfer has been reported as agreed, and Cascarino’s comments relate to a possible alternative rather than a confirmed move.
Marcus Rashford was another player discussed during the talkSPORT programme. The Manchester United forward’s potential move to Arsenal was considered, but Cascarino questioned whether it would be the right decision for the club.
His doubts centred on Rashford’s lack of consistency. While the England forward was mentioned as another possible option, Cascarino did not appear convinced that Arsenal should pursue the transfer because of the fluctuations in his performances.
The immediate change in Arsenal’s situation came with Vinicius Junior’s new contract at Real Madrid. The Brazilian had been viewed as a player the club might try to acquire, but his six-year extension means Arsenal must now continue their search elsewhere.
Mitoma has therefore emerged as one name being put forward as the London club evaluates alternatives for the left wing. His record since joining Brighton in 2021, including 10 Premier League goals in 2024-25, was part of the wider discussion, although his more recent return was considerably lower.
The injury that prevented him from joining Japan for the 2026 World Cup is another factor surrounding the winger. For now, the talkSPORT discussion has placed Mitoma among the possible options for Arsenal, while also highlighting concerns about Rashford’s consistency and confirming that Vinicius Junior is no longer an available target after renewing his Real Madrid contract.