Chelsea's biggest transfer regret revealed with £40m decision as Arsenal reap £52m rewards

Chelsea celebrate against Benfica (Image: Mike Hewitt)

Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes his old club will live to regret their decision to sell Noni Madueke to Arsenal and then proceed to buy Alejandro Garnacho in the same transfer window.

The Gunners agreed a £52million deal with the Blues back in July for Madueke to move to the Emirates Stadium. Chelsea were not actively looking to sell the 23-year-old winger before the summer transfer window opened, but saw the offer from Arsenal as too good to turn down, and with Madueke wanting the exit, the money became even more attractive to the Blues.

Estevao Willian was arriving from Palmeiras and would provide Enzo Maresca with another option on the right wing, while the club were looking at adding another two wingers - which turned out to be Garnacho and Jamie Gittens . Chelsea agreed a £40million deal with Manchester United for Garnacho and that is seen as amazing value from a Blues perspective, but the Argentine winger still has plenty to prove in the Premier League.

It has been a mixed start for Garnacho, but in the last two matches against Benfica and Liverpool, there have been glimpses of his quality. Nevin believes Chelsea will live to regret selling Madueke to their London rivals Arsenal and the ex-Blues man is also yet to be convinced by Garnacho.

Speaking to Escapist Magazine , Nevin said: "It's a good question [whether Chelsea will regret selling Madueke] because usually I would say no because Chelsea sell so many players that you forget after where they've gone. But this time, maybe.

"I have to say my eyebrows were raised when they let him go. And to bring Garnacho in... I'm not sure yet. I'm really not sure.

"Between Garnacho, Gittens and Madueke, to choose one of those three to play each week at the moment, I would be choosing Madueke. I wouldn't really be hesitating over that for a second.

"Chelsea are thinking of the value, the trading costs and all that sort of stuff. And I get that, because it's kind of partially worked for them in some ways. And not worked in other ways, particularly if your name is Raheem Sterling or Axel Disasi.

"I think a lot of people at the end of the season will look at how Madueke has done and look at how Garnacho has done and compare them. I think there might be a wee bit of regret there."

Maresca, though, is very optimistic when it comes to his new left wingers. Speaking at the end of last month, the Chelsea head coach predicted both Garnacho and Gittens to keep on improving with the more game time they get this season.

"Tonight [in the 1-0 win versus Benfica] we start with Garna, that probably was the first [Champions League or Premier League] game that he started. Ty [George] was the No.9, and we know that he's not a No.9. Facu [Buonanotte] played an important role tonight.

"That's why for me tonight it's a nice feeling that it was important to win for different reasons. Injuries and the players that are new with us. Garna was very good. I think Gittens also, he tried in the last 20 minutes when he was on. Both are going to be better and better game after game."