As revealed by Alan Nixon on Patreon, Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Sam Tickle rejected an approach for Arsenal on the final day of the summer transfer window.
The Gunners had a decent transfer window, but they won’t be satisfied by their options in front of the nets.
They were linked with a host of names like Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow, Espanyol’s Juan Garcia, Wolves’ Dan Bentley, and Juventus star Wojciech Szczęsny.
However, they couldn’t land any of their top targets. David Raya’s signing was just a top-up; Bournemouth star Neto came as a second-choice keeper as they couldn’t land neither Garcia nor Bentley. Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard were important additions to the academy.
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But Mikel Arteta’s side wasn’t able to fulfill their desire of getting a homegrown quota player or a third backup option.
Wigan Athletic star Sam Tickle favoured regular game-time amid Arsenal interest
It is said that they were keen on signing Wigan’s Tickle, but the player preferred to stay in League One to enjoy more game time.
It is an understandable decision since it is much better than taking up a non-playing role. This will help him develop even further and wait for more opportunities in the future.
The 22-year-old has made 59 appearances for his parent club, and his contract will run until 2028. We don’t expect Arsenal to return for the player until next summer.
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They have some limitations to deal with when it comes to their new signing, Neto. The shotstopper can’t feature against his own club, Bournemouth, and he is cup-tied as well.
That makes it a tricky situation for Arteta since he must carefully plan the playing cycle for the loan player. The 35-year-old’s immense experience playing for top clubs will help the Gooners in the long run.
But we still believe that they need to do better in the goalkeeping department. They might explore another player in January or wait until summer to buy a third backup.
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Let’s see how the club manages to use their other keeper options in the non-league games.
