Arsenal will have no complaints about how their work in the summer transfer window has played out, but hindsight suggests that one clear error was made.
Andrea Berta knew he had to make a statement in his first transfer window at Arsenal, and the sporting director delivered just that.
The eight new signings in the summer have made Arsenal considerably better; however, if there’s one questionable area, it’s the centre-forward.
Viktor Gyokeres is in impressive form at long last, though the verdict is still out on the Swedish striker, who was Berta’s first, but not only, choice in the summer.
Change our mind: Viktor Gyokeres is currently UNDROPPABLE for Arsenal… 👀
Arsenal missed out on signing a superstar in Hugo Ekitike
Berta had a B option, which was Benjamin Sesko, and a C option, which is where the error emerges.
Julian Alvarez and Hugo Ekitike were on Arsenal’s C list, and while the Gunners are still interested in Alvarez, the Ekitike ship has regrettably sailed.
Arsenal held talks to sign Ekitike, but decisions led to the Frenchman signing for Liverpool.
The £79m Liverpool paid for Ekitike has looked like a bargain ever since the 23-year-old set foot in England, even more so on matchday 24, when the striker transformed the game against Newcastle United.
The Liverpool star scored twice to trigger the Reds’ comeback against the Magpies, netting two sublime goals.
In reaction to the game, Kylian Mbappe commented ‘superstar’ on Ekitike’s Instagram post, making it clear what he thinks of the forward’s form in the Premier League.
It’s 12 goal contributions in the English top flight now for Ekitike, who was a perfect fit for the league, to Arsenal’s dismay.
Ekitike could have been Arsenal’s true Thierry Henry heir
Arsenal have experienced their fair share of transfer misses over the years, take when Arsene Wenger spoke to Mbappe himself as an example.
The Ekitike miss could go down as a sore one, particularly as the Gunners are seeing how well-suited the France international is to the English game.
From what you’ve seen, do you think Ekitike could’ve been Arsenal’s next Henry?
An additional thought is how Ekitike has been compared to Thierry Henry, with Owen Hargreaves mentioning the likeness between the two on TNT Sports in August.
“I think because Thierry started on the left and then graduated to be a centre forward, those comparisons are quite relevant,” Hargreaves said.
“When you watch them side by side, obviously there’s a lot to live up to with Thierry, but he’s got something, that’s for sure.”
Ekitike is Liverpool’s man, and Arsenal have to make peace with that, which right now is proving to be difficult.
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