Arsenal had a rather strange transfer window.
The Gunners had brought in both Gabriel and Runar Alex Runarsson ahead of the transfer deadline but a late flurry of activity saw them bring in Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.
He comes in as their biggest arrival of the summer, costing £45m, after Mikel Arteta’s men triggered his release clause.
And yet it still remains a story of what might have been.
Arsenal spent the majority of the summer chasing a deal to sign Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.
France Football have previously reported that a bid was tabled worth a total of €37m (£33.4m) but they could not find an agreement with the French club to get the move over the line.
And now it appears they are running the risk of falling behind in the race to sign the 22-year-old.
Sport Witness carries a report from Calciomercato, claiming that Juventus are taking steps to bring Aouar to Italy.
The Serie A winners were also interested in signing him in the summer but they could not make a deal happen.
Nevertheless, the club’s chief football officer is reported to have spoken to Aouar personally to gauge his interest in joining Arsenal, while he also wanted to know the fee Lyon were demanding to sell him.
Now, though, Juventus have overtaken the Gunners in the race to sign him, while they are also likely to be in a better financial position to table a formal bid in the summer.
GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…
Oh dear.
Arsenal did end up splashing the cash to sign Partey and one has to think they probably should have done the same with Aouar.
He is a gifted midfielder, an excellent player capable of splitting defences apart.
Last season, he scored seven goals and registered eight assists in Ligue 1, while he already has one goal to his name this term too.
Now, though, it seems the Gunners could end up in a straight fight with Juventus to secure his signature.
A lot of Arsenal fans will likely know how this story ends…