Despite their considered transfer plan throughout the summer, Arsenal were still very busy in the approach to deadline day.
Edu Gaspar sanctioned deals for both Neto and Raheem Sterling to join Arsenal on loan, arriving from Bournemouth and Chelsea respectively.
Both signings were atypical to Arsenal’s approach in recent years, they were last-minute decisions, ones that weren’t planned earlier in the summer.
Fortunately, both Neto and Sterling offer Arteta experienced squad depth, players who wouldn’t be a concern were they required to start regularly.
But particularly in the case of Neto, Edu played a key role in the signing, stepping in to end the club’s drawn out efforts to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol instead.
Arsenal need to revive their interest in Joan Garcia as soon as possible
Garcia was Inaki Cana’s first choice – Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach wanted the club to recruit the young Spaniard to act as David Raya’s back up and competition.
However, when Arsenal were struggling to sign Garcia and Aaron Ramsdale’s move to Southampton was in jeopardy as a result, Edu ‘put his foot down’ and decided on Neto.
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Cana had already rejected several different goalkeepers in favour of Garcia, but still didn’t get his man.
That being said, Garcia had a £21m release clause this summer according to reports, a figure the club may look to increase after the goalkeepers exploits in La Liga this season.
Espanyol have returned to the top flight and Garcia has been the highest rated goalkeeper in the league via Sofascore.
In nine games, Garcia has made 43 saves and 27 of those have come from inside the box.
This has resulted in a 7.50 average rating for the 23-year-old, who will be on the radar of many top clubs across Europe.
Interestingly, Karl Hein, who is on loan at Real Valladolid from Arsenal this season, is also doing well with an average rating of 7.10.
Joan Garcia might think twice about becoming David Raya’s back up
Of course, in terms of Arsenal signing Garcia, it also has to be considered that the goalkeeper’s interest in a move might have changed.
Before he became a regular in La Liga, moving to north London to work with Cana and Raya appeared as an excellent idea for the young goalkeeper.
However, it might now be seen as a backward step for a player who is regularly facing the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Perhaps Edu has missed his opportunity to sign Garcia, a moment that Cana might not look back on too fondly.
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