In a surprising turn of events, Arsenal’s pursuit of Wolves forward Pedro Neto came to an abrupt halt, allowing London rivals Chelsea to swoop in and secure the talented Portuguese winger.
The 24-year-old completed a £54 million move to Stamford Bridge last week, signing a seven-year contract and being unveiled to fans during a pre-season friendly against Inter Milan.
Neto had been on Arsenal’s radar for several years, with the club’s hierarchy viewing him as a prime target to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad.
However, despite the Gunners’ owners being keen to add firepower to their team ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, Arteta reportedly decided to withdraw from the race for Neto’s signature.
The decision, according to ESPN, was driven by Arteta’s concerns over Neto’s injury history.
While the winger has shown flashes of brilliance during his five seasons at Wolves, he has also struggled with significant injury issues that have hampered his development.
This ultimately led to doubts within the Arsenal camp about his ability to consistently perform at the highest level.
With Arsenal poised to challenge for the Premier League title, Arteta is believed to have prioritized the reliability and fitness of potential signings.
Arsenal’s decision to step back from pursuing Neto reflects a broader strategy of building a squad capable of sustaining a title challenge without the risk of recurring injuries to key players.
Chelsea, on the other hand, saw an opportunity and moved swiftly to complete the deal.
The Blues’ aggressive approach in the transfer market has been well-documented, and their acquisition of Neto adds to their growing list of high-profile signings as they look to reclaim their status among England’s elite.
For Arsenal, the focus now shifts to other targets as they continue to refine their squad ahead of the new season.
As for Neto, the pressure will be on to prove that Chelsea’s investment was justified and that he can overcome the injury concerns that dissuaded Arsenal from pursuing his signature.