Arsenal enjoyed a solid January transfer window, albeit maybe not the one that Mikel Arteta envisioned at the start of the month.

While Jorginho, Jakub Kiwior and Leandro Trossard all arrived in north London, other targets such as Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk ended up in a different part of the capital, and Arteta will hope that this won't affect his team's Premier League title ambitions ahead of a crucial few months.

Despite the obvious names that they missed out upon in January, the Gunners missed a major trick by failing to sign Brazilian youngster Danilo, who ended up joining Nottingham Forest for £18m, and it might be a decision that Arteta rues.

Arsenal made a bid for the midfielder last summer and journalist Jorge Nicola claimed that they would be ready to submit a second bid for the 21-year-old following the conclusion of the World Cup group stage.

No such move materialised, though, and it could prove to be a big mistake on Arsenal's part, especially since he could’ve been Arteta’s very own Gilberto Silva.

The north Londoners haven’t had a combative Brazilian midfielder since the 2002 World Cup winner came to Highbury in that particular year.

Danilo is almost a carbon copy of his compatriot, with both of them playing just in front of the defensive line, screening the back four and starting attacks from deep. Gilberto went on to make 243 appearances for the Gunners, and with Danilo yet to turn 22, he could have been a mainstay in the Arsenal midfield for many years.

The Forest player certainly embodied Gilberto during his spell at Palmeiras in the 2022 season, making 2.1 tackles and taking 51.3 touches per match. These figures are nearly identical to the former Arsenal midfielder during his final campaign in Brazil ten years ago, with the ex-Gunners ace making two tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game.

Gilberto won a Premier League title and two FA Cups as a player under Arsene Wenger, and the Gunners struggled to replace him after he departed in 2008.

Journalist Zach Lowy stated last summer that Danilo “would be a shrewd pickup” for Arsenal if they managed to secure his signature, and with Forest since benefitting by moving for him, Arteta could get a first-hand glimpse at the mistake that he has made.