Arsenal needed to bring in a striker in the January transfer window, but they also needed to bring in the right striker.
Yes, they’re lacking depth up front, but at this point of the Gunners’ transition period, they need to get the right players in rather than just a body through the door.
There was reason to be sceptical about Arsenal’s decision to turn down a move for Mauro Icardi last month. The Argentine has previously been labelled as ‘world class’, and having played for Inter Milan and PSG, it’s clear that he’s a very talented footballer.
However, there’s reason to believe that Icardi joining Arsenal would have been a sure-fire disaster.
Mikel Arteta clearly wants good footballers at the club, but he also wants a harmonious squad – hence why he let Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leave after a so-called disciplinary issue, and Icardi’s track record suggests that he wouldn’t have been a good fit behind the scenes.
Icardi has had numerous behind the scenes issues at both club and international level in the past. From interfering in his teammate’s marriage to having it out with travelling ultras, Icardi is no stranger to controversy, and that’s the last thing Arsenal want right now.
There’s a reason a striker as talented as Icardi only has eight international caps, and it’s because he can’t always gel well with new teammates. In fact, there were even suggestions that Lionel Messi specifically asked for him not to be picked at one point.
Arteta certainly wouldn’t want a player with that reputation at Arsenal, especially after getting rid of a club legend in Aubameyang for reported disciplinary issues in the same month.
Icardi joining Arsenal would have almost certainly ended in disaster.
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