Arteta personally vetoed Edu’s move to sign £25.8m ace, Tottenham signed him instead

Follow us on Google Discover

Mikel Arteta personally vetoed Arsenal’s move to sign defender Emerson Royal, who ended up joining Tottenham Hotspur instead.

Back in September, it was claimed by The Athletic that Arsenal held talks over bringing Emerson to the Emirates Stadium.

Whilst it was stated that recruitment staff were dazzled by Emerson’s athletic profile, coaching staff weren’t convinced.

More claims are now emerging on that subject, with The Guardian claiming it was Arteta who personally snubbed the deal.

Edu allegedly established a relationship with Emerson as he attempted to bring another Brazilian to Arsenal.

Arsenal’s analytics department liked Emerson, but Arteta just wasn’t having it and didn’t want Arsenal to go through with the deal.

For that reason, Arsenal ditched their move for Emerson and instead signed Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Emerson did still make the move to North London, but joined Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham instead.

Tottenham paid £25.8million for Emerson, a fee Barcelona allegedly can’t believe they managed to to receive.

The easy analysis from some is to say that Emerson has been a flop and that Arsenal got it completely right – but it isn’t quite that easy.

Emerson hasn’t been amazing for Tottenham so far – he would probably admit that himself.

Tottenham likely knew they weren’t getting the finished product. Royal isn’t a kid at 23, but he had fewer than 50 first-team appearances in Brazil before coming to Europe.

Thrust into a starting role at Real Betis, Emerson has been fast-tracked but needs some coaching up.

Arsenal and Tottenham both correctly saw his athletic traits, but understood that there would be some coaching up required.

You also have to factor in the roles at the two clubs. Takehiro Tomiyasu has been outstanding for Arsenal in a supporting full back role rather than marauding forward and overlapping on every attack.

Tomiyasu’s defensive ability lends itself well to that specific role in Mikel Arteta’s system, which wouldn’t have suited Emerson.

Similarly, Emerson was an attacking full back now played at wing back under Antonio Conte – a role that wouldn’t have suited Tomiyasu.

Tomiyasu has far outperformed Emerson this season, but there is still hope for Tottenham’s Brazilian and it isn’t as easy as simply saying he is a ‘flop’.