Balague claims Arsenal almost convinced Monchi to reunite with Emery before emotional snub

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Arsenal missed out on Spaniard Monchi to Sevilla this

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has revealed on his official YouTube channel that Arsenal thought they had convinced Monchi to join the club.

The Gunners have been in a transition season this term, attempting to find their feet and their new identity following Arsene Wenger’s exit last summer.

Now under Unai Emery, Arsenal sit fourth in the Premier League table and have progressed into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, with a strong end to the season needed.

One fascinating aspect has been the departure of Sven Mislintat, with the 46-year-old departing last month to leave Arsenal needing a new technical director.

Ex-Arsenal hero Marc Overmars had been suggested, but has now committed his future to Ajax, but the main name linked with Spaniard Monchi.

Monchi worked with Emery at Sevilla with great success, and having left Roma earlier this month, he was touted as Mislintat’s replacement at the Emirates Stadium.

However, Monchi has instead decided to return to Sevilla, with Balague admitting that Arsenal have been left annoyed having thought they had convinced Monchi to make the move to North London.

Balague noted that the emotional pull of ‘going home’ to Sevilla swayed the decision, meaning Arsenal must now go back to the drawing board ahead of the summer transfer window.

“Monchi, basically, when he got the call from Sevilla – and it was a desperate call – thought ‘alright, it’s time to go home’. It’s a key moment for the history of Sevilla the club is about to be sold to an American consortium – that’s stopped now while Monchi settles,” said Balague.

“Sometimes it’s time to go home and that’s what Monchi felt. What was annoying from Arsenal’s point of view was that they thought they had convinced him. Things were very advanced and it’s the man they had identified. Now they’re going to have to find somebody else because decisions have to be made now about the squad, who can come in, what players are available,” he added.