The January transfer window looked like a significant opportunity for Arsenal to strengthen the options available to Mikel Arteta, who has been enduring something of an injury crisis.
Arteta even admitted himself that Arsenal needed help in forward areas, but not one signing arrived all window, one of the quietest deadline days to date in N5.
Arsenal have taken a risk on Kai Havertz staying fit for the rest of the season, a striker who does have a very promising availability record in the past.
That being said, Havertz looked exhausted recently – it is a gamble by the club’s decision makers.
Of course, if Arsenal weren’t going to execute a short-term deal for a striker this month, many felt as if they would invest into one or two long-term prospects.
Arsenal were confident of signing Sverre Nypan at one point of the window, and they also had interest in Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis who ended up signing for Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta thought it was a bad idea to sign Vitor Reis in January
TBR Football first revealed Arsenal’s interest in Reis back in October, only for the Gunners to ultimately veto a move.
Now, The Athletic have provided more details on that decision, one that was partly fueled by Arteta.
READ MORE: What Arsenal are privately concerned about Gabriel Jesus ahead of the summer transfer window
According to the report, Reis would have cost Arsenal around £30m last month, a figure which concerned Arteta.
Arteta was reluctant to spend such a sum on a player who was ‘unlikely to be a difference-maker’ for the Gunners this season.
Moreover, it was recognised that Arsenal are also well-stocked in defence, meaning the signing wasn’t right for the club this month.
Of course, Reis was on the bench at the Emirates Stadium when Arsenal beat Man City 5-1 last weekend, the kind of fixture the Brazilian will hope to one day star in.
Arsenal fans would have been angered if the club signed a defender
Undoubtedly it is a shame that Arsenal weren’t in the right position to sign Reis, who is considered to have William Saliba type levels of potential.
But at the same time, the club’s and Arteta’s justification seems to make sense.
Had the right striker become available – were RB Leipzig reluctantly willing to let go of Benjamin Sesko early for example, Arsenal would be red faced if they had already spent big on a defender, which would have annoyed fans.
Arsenal want Alexander Isak or Sesko in the summer, a message that has always been clear throughout the January window.
And after staying reserved mid-season, fans in N5 will be expecting a considerable outlay on world-class signings in the summer.
Related Topics