Arsenal Transfer Rumors: Missing Kylian Mbappe So Arsene Wenger
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal has been tied to Monaco wonderkid Kylian Mbappe for quite sometime and the praise is massive. So it would be so Wenger-like to miss out.
Arsene Wenger has had his say on Kylian Mbappe and made it clear that Arsenal would benefit. He has compared him to Thierry Henry and spoken highly of how massive his talent is. The teenager is already showing up at Monaco and proving that he is quite the talent indeed.
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So much so, that it’s getting to the point where it would be so Arsene Wenger to miss out on the young man. Wenger will not drop the same money that his rivals will, particularly on young starlets like Mbappe
If it was 2002, Arsene Wenger would have signed Anthony Martial. He was keyed into the international market when not many others were. But in the modern day, he has only opted for bargains like Jeff Reine-Adelaide, rather than dropping millions on unproven youngsters like Martial.
To a certain extent, I get that. It’s a crapshoot with some of these young players.
But when you come out and say that Mbappe is similar to Thierry Henry, you are setting yourself up to be lambasted if you don’t reel him in. Especially given the context of where the Gunners currently sit – unable to land a major trophy and seemingly in constant need of a consistent striker.
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Wenger admitted that he tried to sign Mbappe last summer but he opted to stay in Monaco, where first team opportunities were guaranteed. That is promising. Wenger is on the trail and if you can tell a kid “look, you can be the next Henry. I would know, because I’m Arsene Wenger,” then you have a leg up on the other bidders in the room.
But the pressure has to stay on. I think of Julian Draxler, who admitted that he had had a lot of contact with Arsenal two or three years ago, but at the time he actually moved, Wenger was nowhere to be found.
If he really thinks this kid can be the next Henry, there is no excuse not to land him when he inevitably moves. And he will move. You don’t just invoke the name of the King, for the hell of it.
It’s time to give the ever-loyal Gooners a gift and prove that you still have that ability to shape a superstar, because given recent proceedings, there is a good helping of doubt.
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Of course, that’s all assuming Wenger stays. It’s hard to imagine him leaving, though.