Emmanuel Petit has questioned whether Vinicius Jr would have suited Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal after the club missed out on the Real Madrid forward. According to Petit, the Brazilian’s ability was never the concern, but his mentality could have created problems.
Petit told BoyleSports that Arsenal have several humble players in the squad. “I consider Vinicius Jr to be an incredibly gifted player. However, regarding his mentality, I am uncertain if he aligns well with the team. That is merely my perspective,” he said.
He then linked the issue to Arteta’s approach. “I watch numerous humble players at Arsenal. Therefore, introducing someone who is entirely different could pose a problem, particularly given Arteta’s management style,” Petit said.
Petit also cited Vinicius’ exchange with José Mourinho during Real Madrid’s meeting with Real Betis. He compared that incident with the forward’s previous disagreement with Xabi Alonso.
The former France international said Vinicius already faces criticism from supporters, the media and social media users. “Vinicius Jr faces considerable criticism from fans, the media, and social platforms, yet during those instances, he showed an inappropriate message,” Petit said.
Petit then said Arsenal may have avoided a difficult situation by missing out on the forward. “I believe he represents a fortunate escape for Arsenal, considering that moment,” he said.
Arsenal’s interest ended after Vinicius signed a new contract with Real Madrid. The Spanish club announced the agreement in August, keeping the Brazilian at the Santiago Bernabéu until June 2032.
Real Madrid said Vinicius had scored 128 goals in 375 appearances and won 14 trophies for the club when it announced the contract. His honours include two Champions League titles.
Despite his concerns, Petit acknowledged the quality Arsenal would have added by signing the Brazil international. He said, “I would have loved to see a player of Vinicius Jr.’s calibre at Arsenal.”
Petit then returned to the issue of fitting into Arteta’s squad. “His mentality and ego would likely have created a challenging environment to manage,” he said.
