Mikel Arteta turned down Emerson before signing Takehiro Tomiyasu

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reportedly snubbed the opportunity to sign Emerson Royal before he made the move to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners were linked with Emerson during the summer transfer window, and there were suggestions that he could be swapped with Hector Bellerin.

However, he ended up joining arch-rivals Tottenham while the Gunners signed Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna to bolster the right-back spot.

According to The Athletic, Gunners technical director Edu Gaspar was pushing to sign Emerson, but Arteta pulled the plug on the proposed deal.

On deadline day, he was insistent on the club wrapping up an agreement for Tomiyasu. The Gunners eventually signed him for €18 million.

Tomiyasu made his full debut for the Gunners against Norwich City last weekend, and he put in an assured defensive display in a 1-0 win.

He won 100 percent of his aerial duels, and also impressed with his forward runs and ability to pass to his teammates with either foot.

Emerson, meanwhile, struggled on his Spurs debut as he was run ragged by Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha. He was dribbled past on three occasions.