Denis Suarez's tenure at Arsenal may not have ignited immediate enthusiasm among the fanbase, yet the 30-year-old midfielder has undeniably left a lasting impression. Arriving on loan from Barcelona in January 2019, Suarez reunited with Unai Emery, his former manager at Sevilla, at a time when the Gunners were eager to enhance their midfield options.
Initially, Arsenal had set their sights on Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, who was then plying his trade at Paris Saint-Germain. Emery, familiar with Nkunku from their time together in Paris, had hoped to secure his services. However, as negotiations faltered towards the end of the transfer window, Arsenal shifted their focus to Suarez. The manager remained optimistic that their successful history in the Europa League could be replicated at the Emirates Stadium.
Suarez was keen to make an impact, having previously been part of Manchester City's academy before being released in 2013 after just two first-team appearances. Upon joining Arsenal, he expressed his admiration for the club, citing legends like Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp as his idols. Unfortunately, his time at Arsenal was marred by injuries. Throughout his loan spell, Suarez failed to start a single match, accumulating only 95 minutes across six substitute appearances without registering a goal or assist. In four Premier League outings, he did not create any chances and failed to manage a shot on target.
With a reported weekly wage of £60,000, Suarez effectively earned £27,000 for each minute he spent on the pitch, leading to Arsenal's decision not to activate the £18 million buy clause in his contract. Reflecting on his experience, Suarez described his time at Arsenal as "a year to forget," revealing that he was "not even 50 per cent fit" due to a persistent groin injury that severely hampered his performance.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, Suarez expressed regret over the criticism directed at Emery regarding his signing, emphasising that the manager had chosen him over other options. He remarked, "It was such a shame, honestly. I arrived at Arsenal and had physical problems. I wasn't able to reach my normal level, no matter how much I tried. It would have been different if I had been fit and able to compete, but it just didn't work out." He further added, "I thought the club was fantastic. It's a privilege to be able to say that I played for Arsenal, one of the greatest clubs in the world. It was disappointing for me, but also for Unai. I know he was criticised for signing me because he requested me and rejected other options because he knew me."
Five and a half years after Suarez's departure, Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, has transformed into a formidable title contender. Nonetheless, Suarez believes that Emery was treated unfairly by the club's management following his early dismissal. He stated, "Unai is a top coach and I think he was treated very unfairly at Arsenal. He took over from Wenger, who had been there for so many years. People were not as patient with him as they had been with Wenger in certain moments. When you change a coach that has been there for so long, you look for a new identity. I think Unai was creating one at the club. It was a period of transition, both in the playing squad and the infrastructure. The process takes time. Unai took them to a Europa League final and finished in the top five, but they didn't let him finish the job. It's true that Arsenal are doing very well under Arteta, but it could have been the same with Unai."
Since leaving Arsenal, Suarez has continued his career in Spain, first joining Celta Vigo permanently, then moving on loan to Espanyol, and later signing with Villarreal. Meanwhile, Nkunku has emerged as Chelsea's top scorer this season, netting 12 goals, leaving Arsenal supporters to ponder how different the last two years could have been had he joined the club instead.