Dusan Vlahovic has rubbed salt in the wounds at Arsenal after admitting that a move to Juventus instead was an “easy choice”.
The Serbia international was the top target at the Emirates as Mikel Arteta made signing a striker a priority across the winter window.
After scoring 17 times in 21 Serie A appearances for Fiorentina, it sparked a wild chase with the likes of Tottenham, Manchester City and Newcastle have also been linked.
But despite Arsenal registering an interest, Vlahovic turned his nose up at the Gunners and moved to Juventus instead in a deal reportedly worth £63m.
And the 22-year-old made sure that Arteta knew it after insisting that moving to Turin was an “easy choice”.
He said: “I am very excited and proud to be at Juventus. Juve is a glorious club and I'm ready to give my all for the team. I thank the President of Juve and all the people who worked to bring me here.
"Choosing Juve was easy. In Juve's DNA there is the desire to win, to never give up and fight until the end, even when there is suffering. This is also my mentality and therefore the choice was easy.
"My goal is to settle into the coach's plans as soon as possible, then get to know and create a friendship, I would say a familiar relationship, with all my teammates and all the people who work for Juve. I think this is a key aspect.
"Juventus is the biggest club in Italy, I am very happy to be here. We want to improve and aim for the highest goals possible.
"In today's football, every detail makes the difference and that's why I'm trying to improve from all points of view, both on and off the pitch. I want to do everything that can help me become a better player.
"I am at Juve, so there are no more excuses. Juve does not wait for anyone, I will have to be ready right away.
"I will try to fit into the patterns and the group as soon as possible, as I said. Here it is only about winning."
Vlahovic has yet to make his debut for Juventus while Arsenal have missed out on a striker entirely despite links to the likes of Alexander Isak, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Raul de Tomas.
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Despite not landing a forward, Arteta allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to leave on a free transfer to Barcelona.
The Gunners made it clear to the Gabon international that he was not wanted at the Emirates but it has left the club extremely light up front.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are the only forwards left but both are likely to leave in the summer when their contracts expire.
