Arteta was absolutely right not to replace Martinelli with Nico Williams in the summer

All summer, Arsenal was linked with a move for a dynamic winger who could compete with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Yes, Arsenal eventually signed Raheem Sterling, but before him, Spanish winger Nico Williams was one player they were keen on.

Williams shined in 2023-24, single-handedly steering Athletic Bilbao to one of its finest league runs with his 8 goals and 19 assists in 37 games. He capped his excellent performances with Bilbao with outstanding performances at the Euros, stepping up and giving Spain a European triumph, not only with his two goals but also with his dribbling, trickery, and ability to take on defenders, laying the groundwork for Spain’s dominance over opponents.

Williams’ performances this season haven’t exactly made headlines, so there’s really no need to be disappointed she didn’t sign. This season, he has only one goal and no assists in eight games across all competitions. If he were Gabriel Martinelli, some would consider him finished. Despite facing criticism all summer, the Brazilian winger now boasts a goal and two assists, which is promising.

The plan may have been for Williams to replace Martinelli, but clearly that would not be an upgrade. We often overlook what we have when we’re surrounded by shiny new toys, yet almost every footballer experiences a period of poor performance. Williams did not join Arsenal, and there is absolutely no need to regret that decision.