Arsenal: Did They Miss a Trick With James Milner?

Last summer, Arsenal turned a cheek and allowed Milner to join Liverpool. Was this the right decision or should Arsenal have pursued the England midfielder?

Many things have been made of Arsenal’s most recent season in the English top flight. Especially with how they could have ended their title wait and how they ultimately missed a huge opportunity to end that Premier League title drought.

I am of the opinion that Arsenal will continue to challenge at the higher threshold of the division but only with the right investment. That leads me to ask would an investment in a certain James Milner last summer have changed anything?

Admittedly, Arsenal lacked many things last season that prevented them from winning the League: fighting spirit, leadership and determination just to name a few. However, I believe signing James Milner would have significantly improved Arsenal’s season. Milner would have provided us with some extra quality, as evidence by his five goals and ten assists last year, as well as some of the aforementioned title-winning ingredients.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

I am not saying that Milner’s inclusion in the squad would have ensured the title but I do believe he would have given Arsenal a better chance.

James Milner is not only a high quality player, he is also extremely versatile. With the ability to play at full back, central midfield and on the wing, he would have been more than useful to any Premier League side. However, as I mentioned earlier, I feel his leadership qualities would have benefited Arsenal substantially last season.

In too many games, Arsenal’s players were dazed, looking around for some inspiration. There was no one to provide any however, and it repeatedly cost the Gunners precious points. Milner is the type of individual that would have been screaming at the defense against Swansea or would have let a few Southampton players know that Arsenal were ready to fight with some crunching challenges. He may not have gotten into the starting eleven every week but he would have been a real asset to Arsenal especially considering our chronic injury problems.

So much has been made of Arsenal’s English core that was meant to lead them into the next golden generation. Yet with Jenkinson’s loan spells, Jack Wilshere’s injury blight and Kieran Gibbs’ new role as the bench warmer, it’s safe to say that such hope hasn’t materialized. Milner would have been a strong English player to add to the ranks who could have helped develop the future England hopefuls such as Chuba Akpom and Calum Chambers, instilling the right mentality into the so-far failed English core.

As it turned out, Milner joined Liverpool for a free transfer. This, again, slightly annoys me because not only was he not worth even a penny, he went to the (with all due respect) lowly Liverpool.

Arsenal have a history of outdoing Liverpool in the transfer market. Be it Granit Xhaka this summer or Alexis two summers before, Arsenal have always held the upper hand and this makes me believe that had Arsenal actually wholeheartedly pursued the Englishman, he would have had a season in our colors under his belt by now.

Next: 5 Best Striking Options For Arsenal

So what do you think Gooners? Would James Milner have been a sound investment or was Le Prof right to let him out of our grasp and into Liverpool’s clutches?

Home/Arsenal News