Former Arsenal favourite Emmanuel Petit has made a stunning admission, revealing the two Premier League stars he desperately wanted his old club to sign before they joined their major rivals.
Midfield Masterclass Missed
The ex-Gunners star has confessed he urged Arsenal to pursue Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister while they were still playing together at Brighton. This was in the same year that Mikel Arteta's side secured the £105 million signature of Declan Rice from West Ham.
Ultimately, the north London club focused their efforts on Rice, while Chelsea shattered their transfer record with a £115 million deal for Caicedo. Liverpool, in a shrewd piece of business, secured Mac Allister from Brighton for an initial £35 million, a fee that could potentially rise to £55 million with add-ons.
Thriving After the Seagulls
Since their moves, both players have flourished and collected significant silverware, justifying Petit's high regard for their talents.
Moises Caicedo has become a pivotal figure at Stamford Bridge. His influential performances were instrumental in Chelsea's 2025 triumphs, where the club secured both the Club World Cup and the Conference League.
Across at Anfield, Alexis Mac Allister has been a revelation. The Argentine midfielder has already made 111 appearances for Liverpool and has a Premier League winner's medal and a Carabao Cup to his name, cementing his status as one of the division's elite.
Petit's Verdict on Chelsea's New Star
In an interview with JeffBet, Petit did not hold back in his praise, particularly for Caicedo, drawing comparisons to some of Chelsea's all-time greats.
"When Caicedo was at Brighton, I wanted Arsenal to sign him and Mac Allister together," Petit stated. "Mac Allister has gone on to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and won the trophy last year. Caicedo is now one of the best, too."
He believes the Ecuadorian has the potential to reach the legendary status of former Chelsea destroyers N'Golo Kante and Claude Makelele. "Caicedo came with a massive expectation to perform because of his price tag, but he's meeting those expectations now," Petit added.
"He's amongst the best midfielders in the Premier League. To become a legend, he has to win the Premier League title and perform in the Champions League."
Petit did note, however, that for Caicedo to truly etch his name into Chelsea folklore, the team must conquer England and Europe's biggest stages, suggesting their recent European honours are "a level below the trophies they need to win."
This revelation from Petit adds a fascinating 'what if' to the ongoing debate about the Premier League's best midfielder, a conversation that frequently pits Rice against Caicedo, though some pundits like Jody Morris argue both are still trailing Manchester City's Rodri.
