Was it arrogance, charity, or something else entirely? Did Manchester City simply not see Arsenal as a threat to their Premier League throne?
Did Pep Guardiola not think for a second that Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus could enjoy a new lease of life in a new London home; their elite-level talent and title-winning experience helping transform The Gunners from perennial also-rans into almost-runaway leaders.
And that is without mentioning the fact that Mikel Arteta – the student to Guardiola’s mentor – is the man pulling the strings from the Emirates touchline these days. Jesus contributed 10 goals and assists in just 14 starts before succumbing to injury. Zinchenko, meanwhile, was arguably the best player on the pitch during Wednesday’s 4-0 thrashing of Everton; Arsenal extending their lead at the top to five points.
Former Man City stars firing Arsenal to Premier League title
“When they want to leave, they cannot stay,” Guardiola explained in January. “I wish the best for Gabriel and Oleks. They are fantastic people, and they helped us a lot.”
That is all well and good. Man City’s long-standing policy dictates that, when a player has his heart set on leaving, no one stands in their way. But still, letting two highly-talented footballers join a direct league rival in the very same summer? It is hard to imagine Arsenal, say, selling Eddie Nketiah and Emil Smith-Rowe to Manchester United. The money may be right but the risk surely offsets the rewards.
Reports from the Daily Mail suggesting that Romeo Lavia is the latest former Man City talent who could end up at Arsenal, meanwhile, threatens to raise yet more questions about the strategy at the Etihad when it comes to departures.
Lavia had only made two first-team appearances for City before joining Southampton in a £14 million deal last summer. Ask many of a Sky Blue persuasion, however, and they may have some rather probing questions about the logic of signing the injury-prone Kalvin Phillips for £42 million when they had a similar, locally-grown talent almost a decade his junior waiting in the wings.
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Despite Southampton’s struggles, there is no doubting which of the two – Lavia and Phillips – has enjoyed the better season, from an individual perspective.
Romeo Lavia ‘will be a top player’
“He’s very good,” Kevin de Bruyne told the MIDMID podcast shortly before Lavia’s departure. “He’s been training with us (the first-team)
“If he continues his development, I think he’ll be a top player.”
“I already knew that Romeo had enormous footballing qualities. I didn’t know that he could also do that at Premier League level,” adds Belgium youth coach Wesley Sonck.
“He has a very interesting profile for the position as a defensive midfielder. Romeo is a very calm boy. Apparently, he decided for himself – and probably with his entourage – that it would be better for him to leave City.”
Manchester City, per The Mail, have a £40 million buy-back clause in Lavia’s Southampton contract. But that can only be triggered in 2024. By the time that rolls around, Lavia may already have a season in the heart of Arteta’s Arsenal midfield under his belt.
In other news, Report: Arsenal left absolutely baffled by £10.5m striker’s Chelsea move being allowed
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