Ian Wright Disappointed as Arsenal’s Missed Target Joins La Liga Giant

Arsenal’s missed target, Dean Huijsen, joins Real Madrid for £50m, leaving Ian Wright frustrated.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has expressed his disappointment over Arsenal’s missed target of promising young defender Dean Huijsen this summer. The 20-year-old centre-back, who impressed during his debut season with Bournemouth, was on Arsenal’s radar alongside Manchester United and Chelsea. However, Real Madrid acted swiftly, triggering Huijsen’s £50 million release clause and securing his services until 2030.

Wright, speaking on the Seaman Says podcast, admitted that he would have loved to see Huijsen at the Emirates, believing the Spaniard would have been an excellent addition to Arsenal’s defensive lineup. Despite boasting one of the strongest centre-back partnerships in the league with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, Wright emphasized the need for a reliable backup defender.

Beyond defensive reinforcements, Wright also stressed the importance of strengthening Arsenal’s attack. He believes the club needs a main striker and another forward to compete at the highest level and start winning trophies again. Names such as Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, and Benjamin Šeško have been linked with the club, but Wright remains hopeful that Arsenal will make the right moves in the transfer market.

While Arsenal finished second in the league, Wright sees this as part of the journey, urging fans to remain patient and optimistic. He remains confident that with the right additions, Arsenal can finally overcome their near misses and secure silverware in the coming seasons.

All links on ArsenalTalks Shop are affiliate links. We may earn commissions that support our content—at no extra cost to you. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure for more information.