Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to six Premier League victories in their first seven matches, with the side currently topping the table with 18 points.
The Spaniard had an excellent summer transfer window, adding in genuine Premier League quality with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko while Fabio Vieira and Matt Turner are solid investments.
It is, however, the addition of Brazilian right winger Marquinhos, who has the potential to be one of the finest in the league over the next few years, and proves that Arteta was right not to sign Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arsenal were looking to bring Neto to London, but with the Portuguese winger having a mighty price tag of in excess of £50m, the club were right to back away from any potential deal, especially when they have someone as highly regarded as Marquinhos.
The 19-year-old has pace to burn and is left-footed, just like Neto, but he brings his own version of Brazilian trickery which could give him another string to his bow.
The youngster shone at the highest stage in South America, scoring once in two matches in the Copa Libertadores at the tender age of just 18 and although he averaged just 33 minutes for Sao Paulo in 21 league matches last season, his maturity is growing and the move to Arsenal can see him further his fledgling development.
Before he made his first team debut, the right winger had been – in the words of Planet Football – “tearing it up” in Premier League 2, scoring three times and registering one assist, and this was enough to convince Arteta that he deserved a chance.
He wasn’t to be disappointed, with Marquinhos exploding onto the scene against FC Zurich, scoring and assisting in Arsenal’s 2-1 victory, achieving a match-high SofaScore rating of 8.9.
In six fewer matches than Neto this season, the Brazilian has already scored and assisted more than the Wolves winger, who has zero goal contributions in eight matches, and it’s only a matter of time before Arteta gives him an extended run in the team.
It looks like the 40-year-old’s decision to not sign Neto has been vindicated, and it looks like he has saved the club £50m in the proce
