Arsenal’s Surprise Interest in Roberto Firmino Faces Major Setback as Al Ahli Refuse to Let Him Leave
Arsenal’s pursuit of attacking reinforcements has taken an unexpected turn, with Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino emerging as a surprise target.
Currently playing for Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia, Firmino has been linked with a return to the Premier League after being left out of his club’s Saudi Pro League squad.
However, a key update from renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano may have dashed Arsenal’s hopes of securing the former Liverpool star’s signature—at least for now.
Firmino’s time in Saudi Arabia has been anything but smooth.
After departing Liverpool in 2023 following a hugely successful career filled with trophies, the forward signed a three-year contract with Al Ahli.
Yet, only months into his stint, the Saudi club made the surprising decision to exclude him from their domestic league squad to make room for their new signing, Galeno.
Interestingly, though, Firmino remains eligible to play in the AFC Champions League, creating a peculiar and uncertain situation for the player.
With Arsenal currently facing a significant injury crisis in attack, Firmino’s name naturally surfaced as a potential solution.
Mikel Arteta’s attacking options have been heavily impacted, with Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka all struggling with injuries.
This forced the Arsenal manager to get creative with his lineups, even fielding midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker in their most recent match—a gamble that paid off as the Spaniard scored twice.
However, relying on such improvisation is far from ideal for a team with ambitions of competing for silverware on multiple fronts.
Reports suggested that Arsenal might make a move for Firmino, particularly if the forward could negotiate an early exit from his contract with Al Ahli.
The theory was that, should Firmino become a free agent, the Gunners could sign him outside the constraints of the transfer window, providing a much-needed boost to their depleted attack.
However, Fabrizio Romano’s latest update paints a less optimistic picture.
In his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, Romano confirmed that Firmino is not set to leave Al Ahli in the immediate future. He wrote:
“He’s still not leaving Al Ahli now, as the Saudi club insists on keeping him until the summer since they can use him in the Asian Champions League.
Let’s see what happens if they change their stance.”
This revelation makes it clear that Arsenal’s hopes of landing Firmino in this window are slim, as Al Ahli are determined to retain him for their continental campaign.
While Arsenal’s inability to sign players permanently outside the transfer window already complicated matters, the idea of Firmino negotiating a contract termination seemed like a glimmer of hope.
But with Al Ahli standing firm, that possibility seems increasingly unlikely.
For Mikel Arteta, this development is undoubtedly frustrating.
With his squad stretched thin and key players sidelined, Firmino would have been a valuable addition, offering experience, creativity, and a proven goal-scoring touch.
Instead, Arsenal may now need to quickly shift their focus to alternative attacking options if they are to maintain their competitive edge heading into the critical months of the season.
Unless Al Ahli unexpectedly changes its position, Firmino’s potential return to the Premier League will have to wait.
As for Arsenal, the clock is ticking, and finding another solution to their attacking woes will be crucial if they hope to stay in the hunt for trophies on multiple fronts.
