Mikel Arteta had reportedly been interested in signing Mason Mount during the summer transfer window, but the England international ultimately decided to join Manchester United instead of Arsenal.
Video Unavailable
Ex-Man City striker backs Arsenal to topple Pep’s men
Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has been asked about Mason Mount ahead of their match against Manchester United in New York on Saturday.
Mason Mount joined Manchester United earlier in the summer from his previous club, Chelsea, for a transfer fee of £55 million. The amount that United paid for the England international sparked mixed opinions, with some considering it a bargain and others questioning the high cost given Mount’s previous struggles.
However, Arsenal and Liverpool, managed by Jurgen Klopp, were also interested in signing Mount from Chelsea, making it a multi-club race for his signature.
As a result, Arteta was asked to comment on missing out on signing Mount and the upcoming match against United.
“We are extremely pleased with the players we have signed and those who are already part of our squad,” Arteta responded, keeping his thoughts on the matter private and not revealing whether he had any regrets.
While United managed to secure the signing of Mount, Arsenal also acquired another former Chelsea player, Kai Havertz. Arsenal paid £65 million to bring the German international to the Emirates Stadium, intending to play him in a slightly different position compared to his role at Chelsea.
At Arsenal, Havertz is expected to play as an attacking midfielder rather than as a forward. He recently scored his first goal for Arsenal during their 5-0 victory over the MLS All-Stars in Washington earlier this week.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
Mirror Football is now on Threads! You can follow us here.
In addition to Havertz, Arsenal has also made other signings, most notably breaking the British transfer record by acquiring Declan Rice for a staggering £105 million. They have also spent £38 million on Jurrien Timber, a former target of Manchester United who previously played for Ajax and had an impressive debut for Arsenal.
Surprisingly, even after spending over £200 million, Arsenal might not be done with their summer signings. When asked about potential future transfers, Arteta acknowledged the possibility of more signings.
“I don’t know. There may still be some movement. There may be players coming in and going out,” explained the Arsenal manager.
“It is still early in the transfer market, and it has been relatively quiet in the past week or so. If there is an opportunity to improve the team, we will explore it, but we also need to be cautious and not weaken the squad.”
