Arsenal have been a much more attractive club for star players than Manchester United in recent seasons.
The Gunners are among the best teams in the world right now, and in Mikel Arteta, they have an elite manager with a proven record of improving players.
That makes Emirates Stadium a fantastic place for new players, and Gary Neville feels one of Manchester United’s key stars would’ve been brilliant had he joined Arsenal instead – Bryan Mbeumo.
If you could go back in time and sign Bryan Mbeumo instead of Noni Madueke for Arsenal, would you do it?
Gary Neville says Bryan Mbeumo would’ve been a ‘sensation’ at Arsenal
Manchester United signed Mbeumo from Brentford in an eye-watering £71 million deal, including add-ons. (BBC)
The Cameroon international was the Bees’ best player last season, and he was linked with a move to multiple top clubs in the Premier League.
United paid the big bucks for him in the end, and Mbeumo has been a fantastic player for them. He has scored 10 goals in 22 games and even found the net against Arsenal recently.
Neville has been impressed by the attacker, but he feels Mbeumo would’ve been an even better player had he played for Arsenal instead of Manchester United.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the United legend said: “If you think about it with Mbeumo, to be fair, probably for Chelsea, probably for Arsenal, he’d have been better for those clubs than the one he’s ended up with.
“I think Mbeumo for Arsenal would have been a sensation!”
Ian Wright replied: “When you see how he plays, absolutely!”
How many goals do you think Bryan Mbeumo would’ve scored in this Arsenal side?
Bryan Mbeumo is brilliant but he wouldn’t have played much at Arsenal
Mbeumo has played a lot as a striker for Manchester United, but that wouldn’t have happened at Arsenal.
Viktor Gyokeres was brought in to do that job, while Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are also at the club and have played there.
That would’ve left the right wing position for Mbeumo, but there’s no way he would’ve displaced Bukayo Saka to be Arsenal’s first choice in that role.
Besides, we don’t think Mbeumo would’ve accepted a backup role at the Emirates either at this stage of his career.
The Cameroonian was right to join Manchester United, and he is doing a good job there.
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