Arsenal's decision to stay clear from Anthony Martial in January already looks like a smart bit of business.
It was no secret that the Frenchman was looking for a new club in the winter window after his public fallout with Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Martial, who cost United £54million back in 2015, joined Sevilla on loan until the end of the season, but there were plenty of other teams interested in the 26-year-old.
One of those was reportedly Arsenal who were on the lookout for a new striker.
The Gunners' number one target was Dusan Valhovic who they courted for the majority of the window, before he snubbed them in favour of a move to Juventus.
Should Arsenal have made a move for Anthony Martial in January or were they right to stay clear? Comment below
Mikel Arteta was simultaneously looking at alternatives as talks stalled with the 21-year-old including the likes of Luka Jovic, Alvaro Morata, Alexander Isak and Martial.
Arsenal opted not to make an official approach for the United forward, however, as he moved to Seville instead on a short-term deal instead.
With Vlahovic and every other target slipping out of Arteta's grasp, as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit to Barcelona, it might have seemed like a missed opportunity to pass up on Martial.
But it's more likely they have dodged a bullet as it seems his struggles at Old Trafford are continuing with his new employers.
Martial endured a nightmare debut for the six-time Europa League champions on Saturday night against Osasuna as he was subbed off in the 0-0 stalemate.
And Sevilla boss Julien Lopetegui singled out Martial for his poor performance.
"Anthony has to give us much more," Lopetegui told reporters after the match.
"It was his first game and adaptation is not easy, he has played little this year and he has to get into dynamics and gain minutes and confidence."
Martial has previously admitted Thierry Henry was one of his heroes growing up.
“I always followed English football. Manchester United because Patrice Evra was there and he comes from the same town as me," he told United's official website in 2018.
"I followed Arsenal as Thierry Henry was there, also from Les Ulis. For my French heroes, I had Thierry Henry, of course, and then Zinedine Zidane, Zizou. They were the best. I admired strikers, No.10s.
“Another player who I really liked was Nicolas Anelka. He was a really great player, quick with loads of skill.”
Martial's old comments on the Gunners suggested that he wouldn't have turned down a move to Arsenal if they had come calling so it might be a lucky escape for Arteta that they didn't.
