The starting line-up Arsenal could’ve had
Wenger’s latest comments regarding Paul Pogba will have given gooners and eerie sense of deja vu. Wenger revealed he was interested in Pogba when the player was at United but came short in capturing the talent. Pogba is not the first (and probably won’t be the last) starlet Arsenal nearly had in their ranks and it is astonishing to think what an Arsenal squad would look like had Wenger successfully recruited some players.
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Cech was all but set to join Arsenal upon leaving Sparta Prague in 2002. Fees and personal terms were agreed but work permit issues meant Arsenal were left with a decision as to whether or not he was worth the hassle. He joined Rennes two years later before going to that other side in London.
Arsenal were amongst several top clubs after the young brazilian from Sao Paulo but it was not to be and Madrid scooped the player. He is not nearly as illustrious as the other men on this list, but worth mentioning nonetheless. He eventually tailed off in form but what a talent he was at one point. He was one of the original wing backs and could have been useful for Arsenal.
Arsenal nearly signed Kompany on two occasions. In 2006, Kompany was looking to move away from boyhood club Anderlecht and it was Arsenal who first made contact with the club and the player’s agent. Arsenal was keen to replace Sol Campbell, seeing the Belgium man as a perfect like for like. It was not to be and Kompany opted for Hamburg instead. Arsenal were back in for the player while at Hamburg, but were financially outmuscled by Man City.
Much less publicized, but Arsenal were admirers of De Vrij from a young age while at Feyenoord. Arsenal tracked him as a youngster and looked to sign him on several occasion but failed to meet the asking price. Lazio eventually swooped for the player this summer, but de Vrij could have been an Arsenal player as a teenager.
The lifelong Milan player has been admired by Arsenal quite some time. Arsenal began tracking the 28 year old 10 years ago and it a mystery as to why Arsenal were not amongst the 5 teams Abate was loaned to before getting his Milan chance.
Madrid were the bad guys once again in this deal as Arsenal were beaten to the punch by Los Blancos. The then 21 year old Robinho was amongst the hottest names in World football as far as young stars went and was dubbed by Pele himself as Brazil’s next thing. Arsenal were on the case and agreed a fee with Santos, only for Madrid to swoop in a blow Arsenal’s offer out of the water with a fee rumoured to be rising in the region of €41m (Madrid actually ended up paying around €24). Arsenal couldn’t match it, Santos couldn’t refuse it.
18 year old Ronaldo was making all sorts of waves for hometown club Sporting. He was quickly on the radar of many top clubs, none more so than Arsenal who nearly agreed a deal to bring the player to North London. Again, money was the issue, as Manchester United’s £12.3m bid ( a whopping sum for an 18 year old at the time) was too much for Arsenal to compete with.
This one is not so painful. Yaya, alongside his brother Kolo, started his career at Beveren in Belgium. Just 15 at the time, Yaya was called into a trial for Arsenal, and after impressing the coaching staff was invited to join full time but couldn’t get a work permit. Arsenal then applied for one but Yaya “was not patient enough and left for Metalurh Donetsk” according to Wenger. For lack of a better cliché, the rest is history.
Following Wenger’s latest admissions, it seems Arsenal were also in for Pogba from United. Not sure what hindered the move (aside from United being Arsenal’s mortal enemies) and it appears Pogba had his mind set on leaving the country for a change of scenery. Boy has he flourished, and we can only imagine having him in our midfield.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
By now we have all heard the story, but it doesn’t make any less funny. Half his current age at 17, but every bit as arrogant, Zlatan strolled into the Highbury training ground for a trial. In typical Zlatan fashion, he declined the trial offer, exclaiming “Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.” In his auto biography he elaborated (I use that term loosely) saying he couldn’t believe it and that he felt a lack or respect. Gooners are bemused to this day.
Simple case of a young player not being ready. At least in his own account. Arsenal approached 19 year old Torres while at Atletico and had a clear run at the player with no other real big club opposition. Torres admitted he was flattered to be linked with Arsenal but opted to continue to grow and learn his trade in Spain. A few years later he joined Liverpool. Bad timing I suppose. Given the dreadful fall from grace by Torres of late, gooners probably aren’t too broken up about this one at this point.