Arsenal is linked with a move to sign Sampdoria superstar Dennis Praet in the upcoming summer transfer window but former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger stated that he was ‘physically weak’ when he failed to impress at the club as a teenager during trials.
Unai Emery took Arsenal to a fifth-place finish on the Premier League table in his first season as manager of the club. The Spanish boss had the chance to finish inside the top four within their hands but failed to achieve the feat after a late stumble in the Premier League.
The North London side also had the chance to play Champions League football if they won the Europa League but unfortunately, local London rivals Chelsea hammered Emery’s side 4-1 in the final indicating that there was still plenty of work that needs to be done for the future if Arsenal are to compete at a major level once again.
However, Arsenal is not going to be given a big transfer kitty to spend for the summer but Emery has highlighted his options and one player that is on the verge of joining Arsenal this summer if Belgian midfielder Dennis Praet.
The 25-year-old had a trial with the North London club when he was just 16 years old and former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has opened up on why he did not make Praet a permanent signing at the time.
Wenger was quoted saying that Praet was ‘physically weak’ when he first came to the Emirates at a tender age as the 69 year old French manager recalled,
“When he was 15 or 16 years old, he came with Kyle Ebecilio who, in between, went back to Holland, At the time, he was judged – I didn’t know he was here, I didn’t know him at the time – a bit weak physically. Since then he has developed well. I was honestly impressed by his performance when we played in the first game [which Arsenal won 2-1 in Anderlecht].”
