Diego Simeone just hinted at what everyone is thinking about Arsenal after difficult Mikel Arteta decision

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The Club World Cup is underway and Arsenal will be watching what the European teams produce from afar.

Arsenal didn’t qualify for the Club World Cup, with only Chelsea and Manchester City representing the Premier League at the tournament. 

The Gunners will be monitoring the competition ahead of the 2025/26 season, as an array of possible Champions League opponents are on show.

Paris Saint-Germain knocked Arsenal out of the tournament in the semi-final, winning 3-1 on aggregate and ever since, Luis Enrique’s side have made it clear that they’re the team to beat.  

• READ MORE: Every former Arsenal player set to play at the Club World Cup and how to watch them

Diego Simeone discusses Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s transfer to PSG

Arsenal were warned about PSG before facing the Parisians, and for good reason, as the Ligue 1 champions dismantled Mikel Arteta’s squad throughout the tie. 

PSG, of course, went on to win the Champions League and are gunning for more silverware after their Club World Cup campaign kicked off.

In their first fixture of the tournament, PSG beat Atletico Madrid 4-0, and after the game, Atleti manager Diego Simeone had some choice words in reaction to his side’s heavy defeat. 

“PSG are a good team of young players. When Luis Enrique needed a left-winger, they pulled out €70m to sign [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia in January.”

Simeone credited PSG’s success to their ability to spend big mid-way through the season, as Enrique welcomed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to his squad in January.

What Simeone said only reinforces what many were thinking about Arsenal at the time of the Georgian’s transfer, as the Gunners were in the market for a winger. 

Stan Kroenke was either unable, or unwilling, to financially back Arteta in the winter market and the impact of such was catastrophic, as seen through PSG’s success. 

Simeone acknowledged that the French side’s ability to bring in world-class signings made the difference, highlighting the gap between delivering success and longing for it.

Stan Kroenke must learn from Arsenal’s 2024/25 mistakes

Arsenal had the chance to sign Kvaratskhelia in January, but PSG acted and won the race. 

The Parisians saw the talent the winger could offer, signed him, and lo and behold, Enrique’s squad’s form improved tremendously, guiding them to Champions League glory. 

At the Emirates, no player arrived and Arsenal’s hopes of winning silverware receded, prompting many to scold the Kroenkes for not backing Arteta at a time of dire need. 

Going forward, Arsenal’s owners must be proactive having seen what PSG were able to pull off by making one top-quality tweak mid-way through the season. 

Such factors define seasons and success and while the Parisians go from strength to strength, Arsenal are longing for a rebuild this summer.

Simeone raised what happens when a club is sufficiently backed and can act proactively, echoing what Arsenal fans have complained about when reviewing last season.