Arsenal’s scouts wanted Dominik Szoboszlai — but an overhaul led to the Willian signing instead.
In the summer of 2020, Arsenal stood at a crossroads. A shift in recruitment policy was on the horizon — one that would shape the club’s future, and the careers of two players moving in very different directions.
The club’s scouting team had its eyes on a 19-year-old midfielder from Red Bull Salzburg: Dominik Szoboszlai.
But the decision-makers chose a different route — one that would come to symbolise a wider change in how the club operated.
Arsenal scouts pushed for Dominik Szoboszlai but were overruled before being replaced
Szoboszlai had been on Arsenal’s radar for years. The recruitment team saw him as one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders — a player they believed could eventually replace Aaron Ramsey.
According to CBS Sports, internal reports praised not just his technical ability, but also his mentality and versatility.
But those recommendations came just as Arsenal’s structure was changing. Edu had recently arrived as technical director, and he soon overhauled the club’s scouting department.
Many of the staff who had pushed for Szoboszlai were let go, and the club moved towards a more data-driven, centralised approach.
As a result, Szoboszlai dropped off the shortlist — and Arsenal turned instead to a more experienced option: Willian, who was leaving Chelsea at the end of his contract.
Willian’s brief spell at Arsenal contrasted with Dominik Szoboszlai’s steady rise
Willian arrived with plenty of Premier League experience and a reputation as a leader. Edu defended the signing, saying it would add “immediate quality” to a young squad.
But at 32, the Brazilian was already past his peak — and his time at the club was short-lived. He made 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring once, before leaving by mutual consent after just one season.
Szoboszlai, meanwhile, continued on the path Arsenal’s scouts had predicted. He moved from Salzburg to RB Leipzig later in 2020, then joined Liverpool three years later — quickly establishing himself as a key player in the Premier League.
For Arsenal fans, watching Szoboszlai shine elsewhere has been a reminder of what might have been — and a clear example of how internal changes can shape the direction of a club, for better or worse.
Read More: Liverpool face growing competition for £88m target and another ‘quality’ prospect
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