Emmanuel Petit Names Two Midfield Signings Arsenal Should Have Made Alongside Declan Rice

Emmanuel Petit believes Arsenal missed out by not signing Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister before Chelsea and Liverpool swooped in.

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has opened up about the Arsenal midfield signings he wished had happened, revealing that he wanted the club to secure Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister before their big-money moves to Chelsea and Liverpool. The French legend believes both players would have been perfect additions to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal midfield, working seamlessly alongside Declan Rice to create one of the most complete midfields in the Premier League.

Petit, a member of Arsène Wenger’s double-winning side, said he admired Caicedo’s defensive strength and Mac Allister’s technical intelligence — two qualities he feels Arsenal could still use in their midfield setup.

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In the summer of 2023, Arsenal made a major statement by signing Declan Rice for £105 million from West Ham. However, Emmanuel Petit revealed that he wanted Arsenal to add more depth through two additional midfield signings — Caicedo and Mac Allister — who ultimately joined Chelsea and Liverpool instead.

Chelsea splashed £115 million on Moisés Caicedo, while Liverpool secured Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for an initial £35 million, potentially rising to £55 million with add-ons. Petit admitted that watching both players excel for their new clubs confirmed his belief that Arsenal missed a big opportunity.

Why Petit Wanted Caicedo and Mac Allister at Arsenal

Petit speaking to Jeffbet explained that Moisés Caicedo possesses the kind of physicality and ball-winning presence that perfectly fits Arsenal’s midfield profile under Arteta. His relentless work rate, tactical awareness, and defensive balance make him one of the most complete midfielders in the league — exactly the type of player Petit says Arsenal could have benefited from.

When discussing Alexis Mac Allister, Petit praised his composure, vision, and creativity. The Argentine World Cup winner’s technical skill and ability to dictate tempo, Petit said, would have provided the ideal creative spark to complement Rice’s defensive solidity.

Arsenal’s Midfield Evolution Under Arteta

Despite missing out on his dream signings, Petit acknowledged that Arsenal’s midfield recruitment under Mikel Arteta has been impressive. Declan Rice has become a cornerstone of Arsenal’s title push, providing control and leadership in crucial matches.

Petit believes Arsenal’s strategy of targeting specific profiles — rather than simply spending big — has been crucial to their success. Yet he maintains that adding Caicedo or Mac Allister would have given Arteta’s squad extra tactical flexibility and depth to dominate both domestically and in Europe.

For Emmanuel Petit, Arsenal’s current position at the top of the Premier League is proof that Arteta’s approach is working. However, his reflection on these missed midfield signings serves as a reminder of how fine the margins are at the elite level. One or two different transfer outcomes could have shaped an even stronger Arsenal side.

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