While there was a bumpy start to life as Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has got very little wrong in the transfer market over the last few years.
The Gunners seemed a mess when Arteta was appointed. And while the turnaround was not immediate, Arsenal are now back amongst the heavyweights in the Premier League.
One of the key reasons for that is how many inspired signings Mikel Arteta has welcomed. In fact, it does feel as though you could probably count the number of transfer mistakes he has made on one hand.
And one of those perhaps involves Dominik Szoboszlai.
Arsenal may be ruing not signing Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai has proved to have been an unbelievable signing for Liverpool. The 23-year-old has taken absolutely no time at all to establish himself as a key man for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Some may feel that Szoboszlai has actually been the best player in the Premier League so far this season. Meanwhile, speaking to ESPN, Steve Nicol suggested that Szoboszlai’s quality is scary after he provided two assists in the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
At £60 million, he is looking like an absolute steal for the Reds.
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The problem for Arsenal is that they were monitoring Szoboszlai when he was available for a fraction over £20 million.
A massive missed opportunity
90min reported back in 2020 that the Gunners were trying to get a deal done in that summer window. And he had a release clause which meant that he was available for the bargain amount.
Of course, history would have been different one way or another had Szoboszlai moved to Arsenal in 2020. That was another tough campaign for the club, as they finished eighth in the league.
Meanwhile, the midfielder clearly benefitted from joining RB Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg.
Arsenal are now title contenders. So it is hard to be too critical of any particular area within their squad. And they have now one of the best midfielders in the league in Declan Rice.
However, Thomas Partey is now, once again, sidelined with injury. And Rice is someone who can play in a couple of roles in the middle of the park.
So the idea of Rice, Szoboszlai – on current form – and Martin Odegaard playing in a midfield three is mouthwatering.
Arsenal may still have enough to get themselves across the line this season. But surely, some at the Emirates will be kicking themselves that they did not land Szoboszlai when they had the chance.