Arsenal didn’t perform as expected in the recent January transfer window as they failed in their pursuit of landing a new striker.
Apart from Jorginho’s agreement with Flamengo, there weren’t any incomings walking through the door of the Emirates Stadium. It is surprising to see that a club that was linked with several talented attackers returned empty-handed in the end.
One such player was Bayern Munich ace Mathys Tel, who was attracting interest from the PL giants. In fact, there were conversations about the player within Arsenal’s camp, but they weren’t convinced with his style of play.
Tel’s entourage convinced Arsenal to go after the French footballer as per TBR Football. However, their decision to ignore this deal helped Tottenh*m Hotsp*r to swoop in.
🗣 David Ornstein on Arsenal not going for Mathys Tel:
“Mikel Arteta didn’t just want to bring in a body” ❌ pic.twitter.com/yL5B18oNoa
— DailyAFC (@DailyAFC) February 3, 2025
They signed the 19-year-old on loan from Bayern just days after the player rejected a move to Spurs. Similarly, the Gooners decided against opting for a move for Ollie Watkins as Aston Villa held on to their original price tag.
WHY DID ARSENAL SNUBBED BAYERN PRODIGY MATHYS TEL ?
Charles Watts has now lifted the lid on Arsenal’s insecurities with Tel and why they opted against signing the young forward.
He also revealed that the club was never close to bringing in a new number nine even if there were several rumours moving around. While writing for Caught Offside, the journalist said:
“From my understanding, they were never really that close to signing an attacker in January. There was genuine interest in Watkins late on in the window, but never really at the price that Aston Villa would have been looking for.”
“There was lots of chatter about Mathys Tel, but I was told that one never really got off the ground.”
“There were some conversations given his obvious availability, but Arsenal were focused more on exploring moves for an out-and-out striker rather than a forward who can play centrally but prefers to play off the left, as they already believed they were well stocked in that area.”
It is surprising to see Arsenal opting against signing a versatile player, as they have always prioritised those who can contribute in various positions on the field.
Mikel Arteta has made it clear that the club is looking for specific players only. That means they wanted an out-and-out striker rather than someone who prefers to play as a left winger.
🚨🎙️ @Carra23 on Mathys Tel’s move to Spurs:
“It doesn’t look like Tel had too many options. To be fair to the lad, if Arsenal and Manchester United were there you would probably pick those clubs ahead of Tottenham. I could understand that.”
⚠️ Reminder: Mathys Tel was in talks… pic.twitter.com/u3uUQ18UgW
— HotspurReports. (@hotspurreports) February 3, 2025
They are well stocked upfront at this moment, and that might have inspired them to believe in their current options. However, Tel is a player that they should keep an eye on.
Football Talent Scout has deemed him a “world-class” talent in 2021 and even compared him to the legendary Thierry Henry. Kulig praised him as a “complete forward who can flourish in various attacking roles.”
Even transfer expert Fabrizio Romano admitted that Henry is one of Tel’s idols. That gives Arsenal enough reasons to give the Bayern star an opportunity to showcase his talent at the N5.
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Who knows? He might possess qualities similar to the legendary French winger and contribute something to the club. Tottenh*m haven’t signed the youngster permanently, nor is there any obligation to buy, giving the Gooners a chance to execute a surprise summer move.
