Arsenal: Thomas Lemar now on the dark side of the summer

Arsenal’s summer started so positively, but it’s been a tough act to follow up, and Thomas Lemar is proving that more than anyone.

Arsenal’s summer began quite wonderfully with the free signing of Sead Kolasinac and that was just the first positive step forward. Two other followed in quick succession. Although no one else was signed, the Gunners went all in on Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe and now, they are looking pretty serious in their pursuit of Thomas Lemar.

It looked good for awhile, Lemar was putting off his contract talks, supposedly to wait out a move to the Gunners while snubbing Tottenham. Couldn’t get much better than that. And then it was reported that a £31m was submitted to Monaco.

Everything pointed to a deal getting completed as soon as possible. Everything.

Until recently. In the span of a couple days, the reports have gone from incredibly positive to disturbingly negative. Like if Luke Skywalker had turned to the dark side.

First, the £31m bid was rejected and, according to The Guardian, Monaco have gone so far as to say that the French winger is not for sale. Then, as if the reports couldn’t get any worse, the Metro went for the kill with their claim that Chelsea are now hoping to pip Lemar away from the Gunners.

Just when it felt so close. And so believable.

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Now, granted, we don’t know for a fact that Chelsea are making a nuisance of themselves and trying to sneak in and steal away Lemar. It’s probably just another fun attempt to break the hearts of Gooners. But naturally, this rumor has now taken on an Alexandre Lacazette aura, where every day the deal doesn’t get done is bad news.

Thomas Lemar looked to be a sure bet. Everything pointed to the deal being a simple matter of sending in a bid. But apparently, it just might work out that Monaco’s early sale of Bernardo Silva could get in the way. Meaning that, while Chelsea probably aren’t the villains, Manchester City are.

The transfer window opens in two short days, not that that really means anything. It would be a rather large disappointment if all three French targets cannot be completed this summer. Especially with so few needs clearly there for the Gunners. Two of these three main targets completes the window.

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It feels like we will be starting from scratch, with two long months to struggle to find some sort of acceptable replacement for Lemar, Lacazette and Mbappe.

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