Before Arsenal signed Takehiro Tomiyasu on summer transfer deadline day, the Gunners were linked with other right-backs, including Emerson Royal and Max Aarons.
The Athletic reported this week that it was Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta who pulled the plug on a potential deal for Brazil international right-back Emerson, who moved to bitter North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur from Barcelona on the final day of the summer transfer window.
The Athletic also reported on September 1 that Arsenal looked at signing Norwich City right-back Aarons or Tariq Lamptey of Brighton and Hove Albion.
However, according to the report, there were ‘concerns over their height and ability in the air’.
Aarons is 5ft 10in.
Tomiyasu, who can play as a right-back or as a central defender, stands at 6ft 2in.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is a big fan of Norwich right-back Aarons and has raved about him on his Youtube channel.
Ferdinand said about Aarons on his YouTube channel: “He has got huge potential. He has got big, big potential.
“I think for Norwich he has played 150 odd games as a young 20, 21-year-old. Lot of games, lot of experience for someone so young, and he is just going to keep on improving.”
Aarons may be 21, but the England Under-21 international has played over 100 league games for Norwich.
The youngster has played in the Championship and in the Premier League with Norwich.
Yes, Aarons is not very tall, but that has not stopped him from doing well for Norwich.
Perhaps in the coming years Aarons will prove Arsenal wrong and will make them regret their decision not to sign him.
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