As Arsenal’s struggles to create chances continue, Jack Grealish’s comments to Sky Sports last night, during their live Nation’s League coverage, may just have left them questioning what might have been.
Grealish shone in an England shirt yesterday, as the Aston Villa playmaker put in a man of the match performance, despite the Three Lions’ defeat to Belgium.
Grealish’s recent performances have drawn huge praise from Arsenal fans (HITC) and from Gilberto Silva, when speaking on the The Invisible Wall podcast.
The Brazilian suggested that the Gunners should be making Grealish their very top target.
But they actually came extremely close to signing a player who Grealish idolises.
Fabrizio Romano told the Liverpool Echo that Arsenal came ‘really close’ to landing Philippe Coutinho, who is on a £240,000-a-week contract (The Sun), in the summer.
And it was Coutinho who Grealish was watching before he stepped in the field for England last night.
“I watched loads of clips, clips of De Bruyne and Coutinho, just those who are in my position really,” he said.
“That’s what I’ve done since I was a little kid, and I still do it to this day, I have no shame in saying that. That’s what gets me going for football matches.”
Grealish’s comments show that he still looks up to Coutinho, and highlight what a brilliant signing the Brazilian could have been for Arsenal.
For the Gunners to come so close to landing him only to miss out following Ronald Koeman’s arrival as Barcelona manager must now be a huge disappointment.
Arsenal have lacked a playmaker in their side, with Mesut Ozil having no part to play, and Coutinho’s arrival would surely have solved many of the problems they are currently facing.
As it stands though, signing either Grealish or Coutinho would surely be hugely difficult for Arsenal now, and Arteta may have to look at other potential options in January, as he looks to add more creative talent to his squad.
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