Why Arsenal Should not sign Mbappe

I don’t tend to write editors view very often, but there are the odd occasions when some stories in the sports press would come up that prompt me, push me, force me to write. One has come up in this transfer window.

Every football fan is aware of the circus that followed Kylian Mbappe’s first attempt to force his way out of PSG to Real Madrid. Eventually he agreed a humungous deal to stay at PSG. At the time there were also suggestions that he was dictating to the PSG hierarchy who to keep and who to get rid of. I always find these comments a little odd, particularly as those that manage the club have not got to where they are by listening to spoiled, entitled players.

The Kylian Mbappe circus is now doing the rounds again, with the player informing PSG that he doesn’t intend to sign a new contract and will leave at the end of next season on a free. That will be a minimum of £150m going free. The news that hasn’t gone down well with the PSG hierarchy. The club is now trying to convince him to sign a new contract or they will have to sell him. I wish the PSG management the best of luck, selling a player when he doesn’t want to go. Many clubs have tried and failed.

The player is said to prefer a move to Arsenal if he decides to come to the Premier League. Goal, quoting ‘The Independent’ that the player prefers a move to Arsenal over Liverpool, because he likes the evolution of Mikel Arteta’s team and would enjoy the prospect of delivering the club’s first Premier League title since 2004, but admin that he will be out of Arsenal’s price range.

The Express is more optimistic, believing Arsenal can pull off a deal to sign Mbappe. The article proposes that Arsenal offer players plus cash for the player. Gabriel Martinelli is the first name mentioned, that he could used in a part exchange because Arsenal has Emile Smith-Rowe is a ready replacement for him. The Express also had a bit of a joke by suggesting Arsenal offer them Nicholas Pepe. A player that has failed to prove himself after four years with Arsenal. I am not sure a team with aspirations to contest for the Champions League would consider him as a serious swap option. Thomas Partey and Folarin Balogun were also mentioned as options.

There were a few other articles along the same lines. What each one of them failed to mention is Arteta’s management strategy and style. Arteta likes a team that is united and work together as a group, supporting each other. It is this reason that caused him to get rid of the likes of Mesut Ozil and Shkodran Mustafi. It was also the reason for getting rid of former captain and striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Kylian Mbappe has proved that he is not a team player, particularly with the comments he is reported to have made about his team mates, comments that have caused six team mates to complain to the club about him.

Having Mpabbe at Arsenal, while it may be good for the Premier League. Some Arsenal fans may also welcome it. For the progress of the team and the wonderful work that Arteta has done to date, this will be a very bad decision for the club. The Mbappe circus will simply move from Paris to the Emirates. His attitude and insistence that everything should be about him will completely destroy what Arteta has created at the club. Arsenal may win a few trophies, but the destruction his circus will cause will take many years to resolve. I suspect Arteta would leave if those above him at the club ever consider such a move.

I can’t help but feel sorry for PSG for this situation, but it can be argued that they brought it n themselves. When they had an opportunity to get rid of him to Real Madrid, they didn’t take it. Now they are paying the price.

Fortunately for Arsenal, Arteta and the rest of the key decision makers at the club have know this and they are unlikely to give Mbappe the opportunity to bring his circus to the Emirates.

I also can’t see Klopp agreeing to bring the player to Liverpool. I don’t believe any other team will consider him, apart from Chelsea. Todd Boely is “brave” enough to believe it will work.