Arsenal sent several players out on loan in the summer transfer window, but they may regret one of these decisions.
Some loanees have struggled, with Albert Sambi Lokonga continuing to suffer from injury frustration at Sevilla, but others have thrived, with goalkeeper Karl Hein recently impressing at Real Valladolid.
The most surprising development has been that of Nuno Tavares, who joined Lazio on loan after a failed spell at Nottingham Forest last season.
Tavares had been written off after an unimpressive campaign when he first joined Arsenal, but he is now tearing Serie A apart.
Lazio President praises Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares
Tavares is thriving on loan at Lazio, having joined in the summer with an obligation to buy for around £7m. Lazio President Claudio Lotito has now claimed that Tavares is worth a lot more.
“I won’t sell Tavares, not even for €70 million (£58m). We have beaten off strong competition from the big clubs to sign the left-back in the summer,” he told Il Messaggero, via The Laziali.
The defender now leads Serie A with seven assists, and his value has shot up. However, Arsenal’s decision in the summer has now backfired.
Arsenal obligation to buy in Nuno Tavares loan was a mistake
It is easy to say with hindsight, but inserting an obligation to buy in Tavares’ loan to Lazio has backfired for Mikel Arteta.
Nottingham Forest refused to activate the option in his loan deal last season, and this was seen as a way of guaranteeing his exit.
However, it now appears that Arsenal fumbled a player worth even more than £58m in the eyes of the Lazio President.
Had Tavares joined on a straight loan, Arsenal could have demanded a much bigger fee, which Lazio would seemingly have been willing to pay given his outstanding performances, and Arteta may rue this mistake.
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