£30m player may be about to make Arsenal boss Arteta look silly – our view

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Mikel Arteta has transformed his popularity levels among Arsenal fans.

But if the Spanish coach has learned anything, it’s that the line between being loved and hated in football management is wafer thin and a bad result against Brighton tomorrow could see a repeat of the cycle.

Arteta lost his first three games as Arsenal boss this season – including one to newly-promoted Brentford – but three wins on the spin in September has seen him turn things around, culminating in a Premier League Manager of the Month nomination.

For now, the Gunners fans are liking their head coach, but one player could spoil that tomorrow.

Silly

The North Londoners could come up against Yves Bissouma with the Seagulls on Saturday.

This is a player who Arsenal could have signed during the summer, amid reports that the £30 million-rated midfielder wanted a move to the Emirates Stadium.

And he might well prove that Arteta was silly to not sign him.

That’s because the Arsenal boss will be without Granit Xhaka, who is absent for three months due to injury and if Bissouma plays like he did last season against the Gunners, it won’t be a good look for the 39-year-old boss.

Bissouma was exceptional in Albion’s defeat at the Emirates toward the end of last term, prompting a lot of fans to call on his signature.

But Arteta wound up keeping Xhaka and signing Albert Sambi Lokonga – who, in Arteta’s defence, looks a steal at £15 million.

But Arsenal always needed more than just the one midfielder during the summer transfer window and it’ll be such a poor reflection on their head coach if the man they could’ve signed – and should’ve signed – winds up beating them.