Former Arsenal star, Emmanuel Petit, has revealed two midfielders he wished the Gunners had signed before they eventually joined Chelsea and Liverpool.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, have developed a formidable squad, topping the Premier League and remaining strong title contenders.
In 2023, the north London club secured Declan Rice from West Ham for £105m. However, Petit admits there were other players he had his eye on.
That same year, Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo from Brighton, while Alexis Mac Allister moved to Liverpool.
Chelsea reportedly spent £115m to acquire Caicedo, whereas Liverpool’s deal for Mac Allister was an initial £35m, potentially rising to £55m with add-ons.
Since joining Anfield, Mac Allister has claimed both the Premier League and Carabao Cup, appearing in 111 games for the Reds so far.
Reflecting on his wishes for Arsenal, Petit said, “When Caicedo was at Brighton, I wanted Arsenal to sign him and Mac Allister together. Mac Allister has gone on to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and won the trophy last year, Caicedo is now one of the best, too.”
Petit also highlighted Caicedo’s potential at Chelsea, comparing him to club legends.
“Caicedo came with a massive expectation to perform because of his price tag, but he’s meeting those expectations now,” Petit added. “He’s amongst the best midfielders in the Premier League, to become a legend, he has to win the Premier League title and perform in the Champions League.”
