Adams says Arsenal’s Arteta has made a mistake that Wenger would never have done

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal legend Tony Adams spoke to Stadium Astro about one of Mikel Arteta’s ‘really poor’ summer transfer decisions.

The Gunners succumbed to yet another defeat in the Premier League on Saturday. Two mistakes handed Everton two goals, and our goal scoring woes from open play continued.

The defeat means we are still in 15th in the league table having picked up 14 points from 14 games. That’s our worst start in over 45 years, and Arteta’s two trophies as Arsenal boss is no longer a fresh memory.

The Gunners boss has come under a lot of criticism for a few of his decisions. Mesut Ozil’s omission is proving to be the wrong call while some of his substitutions in games have also been questioned.

However, if there’s one criticism that almost every Arsenal fan will levy on Arteta, it’s his decision to bring Willian in. The Brazilian has arguably been the worst signing of the summer in the Premier League, but he is still one of the Gunners boss’ first names on the team sheet.

Arsenal fans are left confused by this. Willian has shown nothing so far to push himself ahead of our other attackers. His signing continues to baffle people, and Tony Adams is one of them.

The former Arsenal skipper has slammed Arteta and Edu for bringing him in. He also claimed that a player of that age would never have been an option under ex-boss Arsene Wenger.

Wenger wouldn’t even have looked at Willian

He said: “That’s lazy recruitment for me. You’ve got to really question the recruitment process at Arsenal at the moment. We’ve had some wonderful players and wonderful principles under Arsene Wenger. He went for a young player, you wouldn’t have even considered Willian if Arsene was still in control at the club.”

“For him a forward over the age of 30, physiologically he doesn’t think he can get that player to consistently to perform to the levels that Arsene would want him to get, it wouldn’t even have been on the agenda.”

“This is a straightforward agent recommendation, he’s got the same agent as the sports director [Edu] so it’s an easy option for him, three-year contract, there we go. I think it’s really poor recruitment.”

Adams is right, Wenger wouldn’t even have looked at Willian. There was a reason Chelsea refused to give him a three-year deal after everything he did for them. Arsenal however, didn’t bat an eye, and that really is baffling.

Arsenal host Manchester City in the quarter-final of the League Cup tomorrow. A win against a big team like City could change the mood around the club, but Arteta simply cannot start Willian again.