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Topics: Arsenal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Transfer News, Football, Premier League, Champions League, Fan Reactions
Chris Byfield
Topics: Arsenal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Transfer News, Football, Premier League, Champions League, Fan Reactions
Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing after discovering who they signed ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The Gunners are licking their wounds upon losing 3-1 on aggregate to PSG in the Champions League semi-final.
The north Londoners struggled to contain the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi and Joao Neves across the two legs, while PSG’s January addition Kvaratskhelia was another who made a major impact.
Indeed, according to the Sun, Arsenal were first made aware of Kvaratskhelia in 2021 while he was playing for the Georgian youth team.
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According to scout Tomasz Pasieczny the Gunners went on to watch him with some intent whilst the forward was at Rubin Kazan, but ultimately opted against his signature. Some months later they Gunners signed Brazilian winger Marquinhos from Sao Paulo.
"I was at the old stadium in Kazan for a match with Dynamo Moscow,” Pasieczny said. “Khvicha came off the bench, made two completely unsuccessful dribbles and the fans reacted very negatively.
“At that stage he couldn't cope with it. Every next move was bad, from start to finish. He got lost, the ball bounced off him, you could see that he had lost his confidence.
"Everyone knew he would be mega good, but they wondered how good. Whether he would be the absolute top or a bit lower.
“Few had any doubts that he wouldn't be anything at all. However, at that stage I had to write how it is, draw conclusions, write where the problems are."
Marquinhos is still contracted at Arsenal, with his deal not expiring until 2027, but has made a mere six appearances for the club’s first team.
Arsenal fans on social media were furious about the decision to sign Marquinhos over the Georgian.
One labelled the call as a "sackable offence," while another said: "The person who did this should be jailed for treason."
A third added, throwing shade at former director Edu Gaspar, saying: "Edu is a fool.”