Arsene Wenger wrote his identify into Arsenal legend with three Premier League titles, one unbeaten season and 7 FA Cups – so it’s bizarre to assume that it may have nonetheless been higher.
However given the high-profile names that the Frenchman got here near signing for the Gunners all through his time on the membership, it actually may have been.
We’ve compiled an XI of high-profile gamers who apparently almost signed for Arsenal throughout Wenger’s reign, organized in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
GK: Gianluigi Buffon
One of many best goalkeepers in soccer historical past, Buffon snubbed a transfer to Arsenal whereas nonetheless a Parma participant earlier than becoming a member of Juventus in a €52million transfer again in 2001.
“I keep in mind once I was 20 years previous in 1998 I had dinner as soon as with Wenger from Arsenal,” Buffon informed BT Sport in 2016.
Given how effectively Jens Lehmann and David Seaman served the membership throughout the identical interval, it’s a transfer that most likely doesn’t sting as a lot as others.
However you may guess Gunners followers would nonetheless like to have seen the Italian legend in an Arsenal shirt.
RB: Gerard Pique
Not your typical right-back however, sadly for this record, Wenger by no means appeared to overlook out on any high-profile ones. So we should make do with Pique.
Again when Wenger introduced Cesc Fabregas to Highbury, he wished so as to add Pique to the combo, together with one other attacker who I don’t assume ever amounted to a lot.
“We wished to take [Cesc] Fabregas, [Lionel] Messi and Pique. It labored just for Fabregas,” the Frenchman informed Sport.es.
Pique later moved to Manchester United however returned to Barcelona after 4 years in England. He didn’t do too badly again at his boyhood membership.
CB: Raphael Varane
Contemplating how badly Arsenal struggled to search out high quality centre-backs for thus lengthy, this one could sting greater than most.
Wenger discovered a lot success in his early years as Arsenal supervisor within the French market, choosing out tough diamonds, sharpening them, and turning them into particular gamers.
However that had waned barely by the point Varane began to make a reputation for himself.
“He was at Lens, and we would effectively have caught him there,” Wenger wrote for Eurosport.
“But on the similar time, if you end up accountable for a membership like Arsenal, it’s important to marvel why this participant just isn’t enjoying for us.”
CB: Vincent Kompany
Again in 2006, Wenger recognized Kompany as a possible substitute for Sol Campbell however Hamburg received the race for his signature.
“I had conferences with Emilio Butragueno at Actual Madrid, the membership leaders at Barcelona and by Arsene Wenger himself at Arsenal,” agent Jacques Lichtenstein mentioned in 2014.
“However heading to an absolute high membership instantly was not the appropriate resolution as a result of Vincent is somebody who feels alone in an surroundings the place he’s not correctly valued. Vincent just isn’t a 3rd or fourth selection.”
The defender spent two years in Germany earlier than transferring to the Premier League with Manchester Metropolis, the place he received 4 league titles.
LB: Gareth Bale
OK, everyone knows Bale turned out to be a lot greater than a left-back.
Nevertheless, as that is the place he began his profession, and the place he performed when Wenger first eyed him, we’re placing him right here. However with a crop of respectable left-backs nonetheless on the books, the Frenchman opted in opposition to the transfer.
“We didn’t take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy and didn’t need one other left-back,” he as soon as once more mentioned through Eurosport.
“I need to confess it was an enormous mistake.”
On This Day in 2013, Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon on the scoresheet in a 2-1 NLD victory over Arsenal at WHL 🙌 #THFC pic.twitter.com/xkVXtOwLCb
— COYS.com (@COYS_com) March 3, 2022
CM: Claude Makelele
Makelele was a key part of the Chelsea squad that received back-to-back titles beneath Jose Mourinho, however Wenger almost signed him in 1996.
“Claude Makelele was near signing for us, Samuel Eto’o too. I missed just a few,” Wenger informed the Unbiased in 2006. “Makelele was straight after Vieira got here, August 1996. He was nonetheless in Nantes.”
Whereas Viera grew to become a membership legend for Arsenal, a midfield partnership with him and Makelele would have been formidable.
CM: Yaya Toure
Whereas Kolo Toure did signal for the Gunners, Yaya famously didn’t regardless of present process a trial and enjoying in a pre-season pleasant in opposition to Barnet.
He later developed into among the finest midfielders on this planet, successful three Premier League titles, two La Liga titles and the Champions League throughout his time at Barcelona and Manchester Metropolis.
“It could be up on the high [of my list of regrets],” Wenger mentioned in 2014. “However let’s not neglect that Yaya Toure had an settlement with us – and it’s not as a result of we didn’t wish to signal him that he went to Ukraine.
“We would have liked to attend for his passport in Belgium. We have now made errors however he’s not a mistake, it’s simply the truth that he most well-liked to go to Metalurh Donetsk. He may go there with none passport.”
RW: Lionel Messi
Had Barcelona been a barely extra disagreeable place to develop up, Messi could effectively have made his identify in an Arsenal shirt. He spent years punishing them on the pitch as a substitute.
Wenger was considered one of many managers hoping to steal the teenager from La Masia, however Barca had been reluctant to promote and Messi himself was not eager on the thought of leaving his new dwelling.
“I believe in the long run he was not so eager to maneuver,” Wenger mentioned again in 2014.
“It was not utterly all the way down to a flat in the long run, it was all the way down to the truth that Messi was snug at Barcelona.”
CAM: Ronaldinho
One among soccer’s nice entertainers got here agonisingly near a transfer to north London.
Wenger even took it upon himself to go to the Brazilian legend’s agent previous to his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, and solely points with work permits finally stopped him from strutting his stuff at Highbury.
“We may have gotten Ronaldinho earlier than he went to PSG,” Wenger informed Sky Sports activities in 2005. “I met his brother, who’s his agent, a protracted, very long time earlier than he went to PSG – when he was 20 – however we simply couldn’t get him to England due to the principles right here.
“He had not performed sufficient video games for Brazil to get a piece allow over right here.”
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
Think about. Messi and Ronaldo each enjoying for the Gunners. One among soccer’s biggest-ever debates settled in north London. Life would have been so easy.
“The apparent participant [that we missed out on] that involves thoughts is [Cristiano] Ronaldo,” Wenger informed Arsenal’s official web site in 2018.
“He was right here along with his mom and we had been very shut. Then Man United got here in and so they had Carlos Queiroz on the time, who was their coach. United performed in opposition to Sporting Lisbon and Ronaldo was excellent and so they signed him.
“You can think about on the time what it will have been prefer to have Thierry Henry and Ronaldo collectively. That would definitely have modified a bit of bit the historical past of my keep right here as effectively.”
ST: Kylian Mbappe
Probably essentially the most beneficial participant on this planet proper now, Wenger noticed that expertise early.
The previous Arsenal boss tried to signal his younger compatriot without spending a dime when his contract with Monaco was winding down, nevertheless it wasn’t to be.
“We will speak about Mbappe, I used to be at his dwelling when he was undecided whether or not to increase his contract with Monaco,” Wenger informed beIN Sports activities.
“He may have come to Arsenal without spending a dime. I might say each membership is filled with histories like that.”
Honourable mentions: Xabi Alonso, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Eden Hazard, Angel Di Maria, Karim Benzema, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Luis Suarez.
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