Arsenal may have got away with one in not signing Justin Kluivert this summer

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It seems a long time ago now, the summer transfer window, but Arsenal were one of the clubs linked with a host of names in a busy period for the Premier League.

Now, as we all know, the summer window proved pretty fruitful for Mikel Arteta. In came big-name signings like Gabriel Magalhaes and Thomas Partey, while he also added experience to the Arsenal ranks in landing Willian from Chelsea.

Those signings, coupled with keeping hold of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hector Bellerin, mean it was a successful few months for the Gunners and Arteta.

Looking back at the players they were linked with, one of the names who kept cropping up was Justin Kluivert. The Dutchman was linked in July with a move to Arsenal (Goal), while he was also mentioned as part of a potential swap deal in June with then Gunner, Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Kluivert, who is the son of Holland legend, Patrick Kluivert, eventually moved to RB Leipzig from Roma.

However, looking at the stats and impact he’s had thus far, it seems the Gunners might well have got away with one.

Inconsistent

This was the word which seemed to crop up all summer when you did any sort of basic research on Kluivert Jr. A lack of consistency in terms of goals and assists, plus been in and out starting XI’s, probably set some alarm bells ringing.

And that’s proven to be the case so far in Leipzig. The young forward has started just one game from six, being withdrawn just after and hour and is yet to register a goal or assist.

Of course, it is early days for Kluivert. But Arsenal were, at one point, going to pay over £20m for this player, if reports were to be believed.

And for someone who claims to be inspired by and model his game on Cristian Ronaldo, a return of zero in six games is not a lot to shout home about.

Arsenal, it seems, did the better business in landing Willian on a free in the end.