Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal transfer talk from Mikel Arteta delivers 10-year Bayern Munich promise

Mikel Arteta surprised me, and perhaps he shouldn’t have, when he spoke of the scope Arsenal had in regard to signing Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman has looked something of a footballing unicorn, and the experience of following and supporting the Gunners has almost hammered home the point that some players and fees are just not feasible.

For the record, even after Arteta's admission, I cannot find myself foreseeing a future where Arsenal do land the PSG talisman. Studying what Arteta said some more, however, and it becomes much clearer what perhaps the Spaniard meant.

«When there is a player of that calibre we always have to be in the conversation,» he said. «But, as you say, it looks in a different way.»

The second part of the reply stems from the reporter alluding to the «inevitability» of Real Madrid being the destination for Mbappe. Although it quite nicely covered what Arteta did first, which breaks away from the usual discussion surrounding players from other clubs.

We are all well-versed in the behaviour of Arteta when it comes to being questioned on transfers. The templated reply that he does not discuss players that are not Arsenal's as both a show of respect but more so to keep the workings of the club's recruitment team a secret.

This was therefore quite the moment, and perhaps more than just the words the break away from the typical response has gone under the radar. Again, I believe this to be more than just about Mbappe.

Mikel Arteta makes Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal transfer admission as decision made

Kylian Mbappe to Arsenal transfer plan crumbles amid FFP and squad reality

Fans often bring up the famous quote by Ivan Gazidis from 2013 when he spoke of how the club's deal with Fly Emirates and move to the namesake