Arsenal: Signing Arda Turan An Unnecessary Admission Of Failure

There was a time when Arda Turan alluded to Arsenal as nothing more than a ‘Plan B’ so what would it say if the club signed him now?

Arsenal are a proud club that has considered itself among the best in the world for over the past two decades. Arsene Wenger really solidified them in that status, given his continued stay in the Champions League, but you can’t mention the best clubs in the world without at least having a conversation about the Gunners.

Arda Turan didn’t think so. The Turk was braggadocios over his move to Barcelona, stating that there was nowhere else he would rather be.

Then, speaking about his other options, Turan admitted that the Premier League (Arsenal were heavily linked and likely bid on the guy) was only a ‘Plan B.’

In all likelihood, Turan didn’t mean much by this. He spoke plainly about how his style was perfectly suited for Barcelona and it may have been nothing more than that. But Arsenal should not be anyone’s Plan B. They have been plenty of people’s first choice and it has worked out well enough.

So much so that going after guys who clearly don’t value what the North Londoners offer isn’t something that should be on the docket.

Maybe I’m being a bit prissy here, but I feel the same way about Karim Benzema. If you think the pinnacle of football is somewhere else, then don’t bother coming to the Gunners.

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Take Alexis Sanchez, for instance. He made a move that would be very similar to Turan if the Turk makes it. The difference is that Alexis came to North London to step up his game and be even bigger than he already was.

He saw the Gunners as the next step in his career.

That is the kind of player you want. Or someone like Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, both of whom admitted to needing to leave their current club in order to reach the next level of their development.

Mesut Ozil did the same. Real Madrid wasn’t enough for Ozil.

Guys like Turan and Benzema have never been to England because they have found life in Spain too pleasant. That’s fine. Good for them. They can stay there among their pleasantries and roses. The Premier League doesn’t need players who don’t see it as it truly is – the pinnacle footballing competition.

Next: Arsenal's Potential Starting XI Under Thomas Tuchel

Call me a prude or whatever, I don’t care. You don’t sign a guy who just a couple years ago brushed you off like petty side show.

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