Paul Merson questioned why the likes of Juventus, Inter and AC Milan didn’t buy Arsenal’s summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu, as he told Sky Sports.
The 22-year-old was a deadline-day capture for Arsenal and he arrived from Italian outfit, Bologna.
Tomiyasu can play at the heart of defence or at right-back, as there were suggestions that he was also on Tottenham’s radar.
But instead, they pushed for the signature of Barcelona right-back, Emerson Royal, who was snapped up on the same day.
In his own typical way, ex-Arsenal man Merson was pretty blunt when discussing Edu’s deadline day capture of Tomiyasu, as he seemingly questioned his qualities because the big boys from Italy weren’t in for him.
“My only problem with Arsenal is that they buy players, but they never beat anybody to a player,” said Merson. “No-one else is after that player, are they?
“The lad from Bologna. The first thing that comes into my head is that he is a right-back, 23 million Euros from Bologna. Why aren’t Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, Lazio or Roma buying him?
“I don’t get that. I don’t get it. It’s bad business.”
The Gunners have gone down a road where they have signed younger players and individuals that weren’t hot property in the market.
The fact that Arsenal aren’t in Europe doesn’t help their cause and questions have also been asked about Edu in the boardroom.
Either way, given how Mikel Arteta has started the season, will he even be able to see or help these young players progress?
At this moment in time, it’s a big no and he is heading in a direction where he will probably be gone by the time the Christmas lights are up.
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