Arsenal's engine room rebuild has hit a speed bump before it even got going. Word from GoalZaza is that the Gunners made an initial enquiry for Bourne...
Arsenal's engine room rebuild has hit a speed bump before it even got going. Word from GoalZaza is that the Gunners made an initial enquiry for Bournemouth's Alex Scott, only to be met with a firm 'no thanks' from the south coast club. For a side that needs to add some steel and guile in the middle of the park, this rejection stings a little more than your standard January knock back.Scott, still only 22, has shown enough at both Bristol City and now Bournemouth to suggest he could be the kind of player who unlocks a low block or keeps the ball moving in tight spaces. He's tidy, he's brave, and he's got that bit of mischief that the Emirates faithful would take to quickly. But Bournemouth, having just shelled out a decent fee for him last summer, aren't exactly in the business of loaning out their promising assets to a direct rival for European places. Why would theyAnd here's the kicker. The same player has also been linked with Manchester United, a club that remains in a perpetual state of transfer window chaos. Arsenal might have moved early, but that doesn't guarantee they'll move fast enough. If the Scott chase becomes a bidding war, Mikel Arteta will have to decide whether this is a hill worth dying on or a distraction from other targets. The midfield is crying out for a profile like his, but football's market doesn't reward sentiment.For now, Arsenal's recruitment team go back to the drawing board. Maybe they pivot to a more experienced option, maybe they wait until summer. But one thing is certain: if you want to challenge at the sharp end of the table, you cannot afford to let a talented lad like Scott slip through your fingers because you hesitated. Squeaky bum time in the transfer room, lads.
