Arsenal interest confirmed but Bayern midfielder resists switch | OneFootball

Arsenal Miss Out as Palhinha’s Premier League Return Stalls

Midfield pursuit highlights Arsenal’s growing ambition

According to BILD, Arsenal came close to securing the signing of João Palhinha before the Club World Cup, with conversations progressing to the point where “concrete numbers were already being discussed”. It would have been a move of purpose and pedigree, aligning with Mikel Arteta’s vision of marrying technical quality with Premier League-tested steel.

Photo IMAGO

Palhinha, now 30, was firmly on Arsenal’s radar despite the club already acquiring Martin Zubimendi for €70 million from Real Sociedad. The former Fulham midfielder, noted for his physicality and tactical discipline, was identified as an ideal option for the Premier League. “With his robust and uncompromising style of play, he fits perfectly in England,” BILD noted, underlining Arsenal’s determination to find midfielders capable of dictating the rhythm of elite matches.

Photo: IMAGO

Why Palhinha made sense for Arteta

Palhinha impressed in his spell at Fulham and had already shown he could influence Premier League games with his combative presence and smart positional play. In North London, he would have offered Arsenal valuable depth and rotation alongside Declan Rice, particularly for a campaign involving Champions League, domestic cups and league commitments.

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The deal, however, never materialised. Bayern’s midfield congestion, featuring Leon Goretzka, Aleks Pavlovic, Tom Bischof and Konrad Laimer, has left Palhinha with limited starts. He made just 25 appearances last season, starting only 10 times. Yet his “big dream is still to make it at Bayern”, BILD reports. Only an “absolute top offer” might change that. Arsenal may have been exactly that, but the timing and financial structure appear to have scuppered the move.

Interest builds across Europe

Palhinha’s situation has not gone unnoticed. Inter Milan are said to be monitoring developments, alongside multiple clubs from England, Spain, Italy, Turkey and Portugal. Bayern’s willingness to listen to offers could spark a second wave of interest this summer.

For Arsenal, missing out on Palhinha may prompt a reassessment of midfield priorities, especially if Arteta wishes to add experience alongside youth in his evolving squad.

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It is fair to question why they even bothered to pursue Palhinha if they had no intention of closing the deal. It is not like the price would have been astronomical for a club of Arsenal’s means. If Bayern were willing to listen, and Palhinha was open to leaving, then this was a missed opportunity.

Yes, Zubimendi has come in, and that is an exciting move. But imagine a midfield with both Rice and Palhinha available. That’s the kind of depth that wins titles, not just challenges for them. You need more than eleven top players in this game now, especially when the expectation is to compete on all fronts.

Injuries happen, dips in form occur, and yet once again it feels like Arsenal tried to play it clever rather than decisive. Arsenal are not far off, but sometimes the final push comes from these kinds of seasoned signings.