Arsenal Rejected Kvaratskhelia 2022 Signing Over Mentality Concerns

Arsenal had the opportunity to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in 2022 but opted not to pursue the transfer due to concerns about his ability to handle pressure and hostile crowds, as revealed by former Arsenal scout Tomasz Pasieczny. Kvaratskhelia struggled during a match for Rubin Kazan, displaying a loss of confidence when faced with negative fan reactions, which influenced Arsenal's decision. Despite this, Kvaratskhelia overcame these challenges and went on to excel at Napoli, playing a key role in their Serie A title win and earning individual accolades. In January 2024, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a substantial fee and has continued to impress, including a strong showing against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals. Meanwhile, Arsenal signed Marquinhos as an alternative for a fraction of the cost, but he has failed to make an impact with only six appearances. The scout highlighted that while there was recognition of Kvaratskhelia's talent early on, doubts about his mental resilience ultimately led Arsenal to pass on him.