Mikel Arteta blasted by Ian Wright for missing out on Arsenal ‘gamble’ in 2022 transfer error

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Ian Wright sent Mikel Arteta and Arsenal a strong message regarding one of the club’s biggest transfer errors.

The season looks to be going down the path of ‘what if’ once again, as Arsenal have almost no chance of winning the Premier League. 

After missing out on the title for two consecutive seasons, Arteta is set to be crowned the unwanted runner-up prize, with the campaign one of severe self-destruction at the Emirates. 

All of the warning signs were there for Arsenal to tend to in the summer transfer window but, no work was done, with the same narrative unfolding in January. 

• READ MORE: Alan Shearer has made a bold Arsenal transfer claim about Alexander Isak amid striker issues

Ian Wright blasts Arsenal decision to reject Alexander Isak in 2022

In a season that should’ve seen Arteta deliver Arsenal the Premier League title, the campaign will instead be remembered by what the club failed to do. 

Arteta has been let down by the Kroenkes, who haven’t sufficiently backed the manager but, in some areas, the boss must take some blame. 

For example, for all of the control that Arteta has on the transfer front at Arsenal, it’s remarkable that the priority has not been recruiting a top striker. 

Matters aren’t made any easier as in 2022, Arsenal turned down the chance to sign Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad, refusing the forward’s services due to his £63m release clause.

In light of Arsenal falling out of the Premier League title race, Ian Wright backtracked to the 2022 transfer decision, blasting Arteta and the board for being too afraid to take a ‘gamble’.

“That’s when [back at Real Sociedad] I looked back and said wow for £63million, you’d have to say in the current climate even, before we saw what Isak was about, you’d be thinking woah for 63, ok let’s see what he’s about,” Wright said on the Wrighty’s House podcast. 

“What I was going to say on him is, if you’re going to take a chance on a striker, like I saw him a couple times I thought pace, you know he’s not bad in the air and got good skills, why don’t you take a chance?

“What are you waiting for? In fact, the point I’m trying to make is what are Arsenal waiting for…? It’s a gamble, it’s a gamble and then you put the players around them and then you see what happens because you can’t buy Isak for 120 now.”

Wright asked the questions that all Arsenal fans have been, relating to not taking a gamble when there is such a clear matter of urgency regarding the lack of goalscoring presence in the squad. 

Newcastle saw what Isak could offer them and lo and behold, the player’s transfer value has now at least doubled, being one of the Premier League’s top-performing goalscorers.

How many Premier League goals Isak has scored since Arsenal snub

Wright is concerned that Arsenal are waiting for the perfect profile to arrive on their doorstep for a reasonable price but, such does not happen.

Taking gambles on players with potential is a must but, it’s something we don’t see in Arteta’s side, with ready-made talent being trusted instead.

Arteta wants Arsenal to sign Isak now that his suitability to the Premier League has been proven but, why not get ahead of the curve?

Since Isak’s move to Newcastle, Arsenal have instead spent millions on Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, two Premier League forwards who were not known for their clinical nature prior to their transfers.

No one knows what goes on behind the scenes but what is being seen from the Gunners is incredibly tedious, with the 2024/25 campaign surely needing to be the wake-up call that changes Arsenal’s transfer stance.