Arsene Wenger is a person who has written his title into Arsenal legend with three Premier League titles, one unbeaten season and 7 FA Cups – so it’s bizarre to assume that it might have nonetheless been higher.
But given the high-profile names that the Frenchman got here near signing for the Gunners all through his time on the membership, it actually might have been.
We’ve compiled an XI of high-profile players who nearly signed for Arsenal throughout Wenger’s reign, organized in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
GK: Gianluigi Buffon
One of the best goalkeepers in trendy 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“I keep in mind once I was 20 years outdated in 1998 I had dinner as soon as with Wenger from Arsenal,” Buffon instructed BT Sport in 2016.
Given how effectively Jens Lehman 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.
But you may wager 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 must make do with Pique.
Back when Wenger introduced Cesc Fabregas to Highbury, he wished so as to add Pique to the combination, 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 solely for Fabregas,” he instructed Sport.es.
Pigue later moved to Manchester United however returned to Barcelona after 4 years in England. He’s not accomplished too badly since then…
CB: Raphael Varane
Considering how badly Arsenal have struggled to seek out high quality centre-backs lately, this one might sting greater than most.
Wenger discovered a lot success in his early years as Arsenal supervisor within the French market, choosing out tough diamonds, sprucing them, and turning them into particular players.
But that 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.
“Yet on the identical time, when you find yourself in cost of a membership like Arsenal, you must marvel why this participant just isn’t taking part in for us.”
Read: A tribute to younger Nicolas Anelka at Arsenal, one of the very best transfers ever
CB: Vincent Kompany
Back in 2006, Wenger recognized Kompany as a possible substitute for Sol Campbell however Hamburg gained the race for his signature.
“I had conferences with Emilio Butragueno at Real Madrid, the membership leaders at Barcelona and by Arsene Wenger himself at Arsenal,” agent Jacques Lichtenstein mentioned in 2014.
“But heading to an absolute high membership instantly was not the fitting answer as a result of Vincent is somebody who feels alone in an setting the place he’s not correctly valued. Vincent just isn’t a 3rd or fourth alternative.”
The defender spent two years in Germany earlier than transferring to the Premier League with Manchester City, the place he gained 4 league titles.
LB: Gareth Bale
Ok, everyone knows Bale turned out to be a lot greater than a left-back.
However, 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. But with a crop of first rate 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 by way of Eurosport.
“I have to confess it was an enormous mistake.”
CM: Claude Makelele
Makelele was a key part of the Chelsea squad that gained back-to-back titles beneath Jose Mourinho however Wenger nearly signed him in 1996.
“Claude Makelele was near signing for us, Samuel Eto’o too. I missed just a few,” Wenger instructed the Independent in 2006. “Makelele was straight after Vieira got here, August 1996. He was nonetheless in Nantes.”
While Viera grew to become a membership legend for Arsenal, a midfield partnership with him and Makelele would have been formidable.
CM: Yaya Toure
While Kolo Toure did signal for the Gunners, Yaya famously didn’t regardless of present process a trial and taking part in in a pre-season pleasant in opposition to Barnet.
He later developed into one of the very best midfielders on this planet, successful three Premier League titles, two La Liga titles and the Champions League throughout his time at Barcelona and Manchester City.
“It could be up on the high [of my list of regrets],” Wenger mentioned in 2014. “But let’s not overlook that Yaya Toure had an settlement with us – and it’s not as a result of we didn’t need to signal him that he went to Ukraine.
“We wanted to attend for his passport in Belgium. We have made errors however he’s not a mistake, it’s simply the very fact that he most well-liked to go to Metalurh Donetsk. He might go there with none passport.”
READ: The story of Yaya Toure’s ‘utterly common’ Arsenal trial in opposition to Barnet
Had Barcelona been a barely extra disagreeable place to develop up, Messi might effectively have made his title in an Arsenal shirt.
Wenger was one of many managers hoping to metal the teenager from La Masia, however Barca had been reluctant to promote and Messi himself was not eager on the concept of leaving his new residence.
“I believe ultimately he was not so eager to maneuver,” Wenger mentioned again in 2014.
“It was not utterly all the way down to a flat ultimately, it was all the way down to the very fact that Messi was snug at Barcelona.”
READ: A forensic evaluation of Lionel Messi’s superb 2010 efficiency v Arsenal
CAM: Ronaldinho
One of 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 in the end stopped him from strutting his stuff at Highbury.
“We might have gotten Ronaldinho earlier than he went to PSG,” Wenger instructed Sky Sports in 2005. “I met his brother, who’s his agent, an extended, very long time earlier than he went to PSG – when he was 20 – however we simply couldn’t get him to England as a result of of the foundations right here.
“He had not performed sufficient video games for Brazil to get a piece allow over right here.”
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo
Imagine. Messi and Ronaldo each taking part in for the Gunners. One of soccer’s largest 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 instructed 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 might think about on the time what it could have been wish to have Thierry Henry and Ronaldo collectively. That will surely have modified somewhat bit the historical past of my keep right here as effectively.”
ST: Kylian Mbappe
Possibly probably the most wanted participant on this planet proper now, Wenger noticed that expertise early.
The former Arsenal boss tried to signal his younger compatriot for free when his contract with Monaco was winding down, but it surely wasn’t to be.
“We can speak about Mbappe, I used to be at his residence when he was undecided whether or not to increase his contract with Monaco,” Wenger instructed beIN Sports.
“He might have come to Arsenal for free. I might say each membership is full of 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.
More Arsenal
Arsenal ‘Rebel’ Guendouzi is having a tumultuous season at Hertha Berlin
Watch: Arsenal hero Cazorla scores last-minute screamer for Al Sadd
Can you title Arsene Wenger’s 30 most used players at Arsenal?
Watch: Pep Guardiola says Mikel Arteta ‘is aware of the whole lot about soccer’
