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The Gunners had the chance to sign superstar, Khvicha Kvaratskheli, but passed up on the opportunity to sign a player who has now made only one Premier League appearance for Arsenal
Arsenal fans might want to look away. The club once passed on signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, now one of Europe’s top wingers and the man who helped knock them out of the Champions League.
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Instead, they opted for Brazilian youngster Marquinhos, a player who is now struggling for minutes on loan at Cruzeiro.
Arsenal scout reveals why Gunners rejected Kvaratskhelia
It all dates back to 2022, when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was still finding his feet in Russia with Rubin Kazan. Former Arsenal scout Tomasz Pasieczny tracked the Georgian winger closely, even watching him live in a youth tournament and later while he played in the Russian Premier League.
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There was no denying Kvaratskhelia’s raw talent and Pasieczny admitted that “everyone knew he would be mega good,” but doubts lingered about his temperament under pressure.
A particularly poor showing against Dynamo Moscow, where Khvicha’s confidence crumbled in front of a hostile crowd, tipped the scales against him and Pasieczny’s report reflected concern over the winger’s mentality, leading Arsenal to drop their interest.
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Fast forward to today, and those concerns seem distant. Kvaratskhelia went on to sign for Dinamo Batumi, then joined Napoli for a bargain £11 million, and now stars for Paris Saint-Germain after a £70 million move.
He has already notched four goals and six assists for PSG, helping eliminate Arsenal from the Champions League in the process. The player once deemed too fragile has become a force on the biggest stage.
Arsenal’s Alternative Marquinhos flops
Instead of gambling on Kvaratskhelia, Arsenal opted for Marquinhos from São Paulo. The decision has aged poorly.
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While Kvaratskhelia thrives in Paris, Marquinhos has struggled to find footing in North London. He has made just six senior appearances for Arsenal and has been shipped out on loan to Norwich, Nantes, Fluminense, and now Cruzeiro.
Still only 21, the Brazilian has time on his side, but his current stint in Brazil is far from the top-tier European success Arsenal could have had.
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While hindsight is always 20/20, the contrast is glaring. One player is chasing a treble with PSG; the other is fighting for minutes in Brazil, and Arsenal’s decision to overlook Khvicha Kvaratskhelia now looks like one of their biggest recent transfer blunders.
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