ARSENE WENGER endured an up-and-down time as Arsenal manager.
During his 22 years at the club, he led the side to an unprecedented period of success – including the 2003-04 Invincibles campaign.
But he lost the fans towards the end as results suffered on the pitch, the squad fell apart and he failed to replace leaving stars in the transfer market.
It wasn’t necessarily for a lack of trying, with Wenger linked to a host of star names down the years.
However, more often than not, the former Gunners chief missed out – and we’ve compiled a best XI of players he tired and failed to sign.
Goalkeeper — Gianluigi Buffon
Juventus star Gianluigi Buffon lines up in goalGetty Images
At 45 years of age, Italian legend Gigi Buffon finally announced his retirement this month, following a spell with boyhood club Parma.
Although it was always hard to imagine the World Cup winner lining up for any other side, back in 2011 it looked as though the veteran stopper could leave the Serie A giants and Arsenal weighed up a move.
Buffon was also thought to favour London should he leave Italy for England, but a transfer never got off the ground and he remained in Turin.
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Defender – Gerard Pique
Barcelona ace Gerard Pique is one of three centre-backsAP:Associated Press
Wenger wanted to bring La Masia product Gerard Pique to North London at the same time as Cesc Fabregas, and was incredibly close to doing so before a failed work permit scuppered the deal.
Arsenal instead signed Philippe Senderos from Servette, while Pique joined Manchester United a year later.
Defender — Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany won the Premier League four times during his time at Manchester CityReuters
The four-time Premier League champion may have consistently struggled with injuries in his final years as a player, but for a time Kompany was one of the best central defenders in Europe.
Arsenal almost signed the Belgium international from his first club Anderlecht but Wenger didn’t want to part with the £5million transfer fee.
Hindsight doesn’t reflect well on that particular bit of prudence.
Defender — Raphael Varane
Arsene Wenger also missed out on signing current Manchester United defender Raphael Varane
Frenchman Varane is easily one of the planet’s top defenders, with the player swapping Real Madrid for Manchester United in 2021.
The Gunners had scouted the young defender during his time with Lens – and failed to bring him to the Emirates.
In 2013, Wenger revealed: “He was at Lens, and we might well have caught him there.”
Central midfielder — N’Golo Kante
Chelsea star N’Golo Kante takes his place in midfieldGetty Images
Wenger once admitted he enquired about France star N’Golo Kante before the France international moved to Chelsea from Leicester.
However, it was the club’s failure to sign the player during his time in Ligue 1 that gets him onto this list.
The club looked into a move for the energetic midfielder before the Foxes snapped him up for just £5.6m — a paltry sum for a player who has won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League and World Cup.
Central midfielder — Yaya Toure
Manchester City icon Yaya Toure was targeted by the Gunners as a youngsterGetty Images
Kolo Toure is a legend at Arsenal, and his younger brother Yaya could have well ended up at Highbury aged 20.
The then-K.S.K. Beveren youngster was close to joining up with his older sibling in London – even playing in a pre-season friendly for the Gunners – only to be declined a work permit, leading to Wenger abandoning the deal.
Given the success the Ivorian enjoyed at Barcelona and City, it may well have been worth showing a bit more patience.
Left winger — Gareth Bale
Ex-Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale was another played that was eyed up by Arsenal
Arsenal were monitoring the progress of Welsh superstar Bale at the same time as Theo Walcott while the pair were at Southampton.
But in the end only Walcott made the switch to the Emirates — with Bale ending up at north London rivals Tottenham.
The former Real Madrid man started his career as a left-back, and as Wenger already had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy filling that position, the club never followed through with their interest.
Wenger has since admitted not signing Bale was “a huge mistake”. Yep.
Right winger — Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo was linked with a switch to North London when he was at Sporting Lisbon
The 38-year-old might have lit up the Emirates before moving to Old Trafford had it not been for a friendly match between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United in 2003.
A young Ronaldo had been shown around Arsenal’s London Colney training complex, while a £4m deal was agreed for the then-18-year-old forward.
But after the skilful youngster gave the United defence the run-around in a preseason friendly, Sir Alex Ferguson made sure the Portuguese star headed to Manchester.
Attacking midfielder — Lionel Messi
Barcelona legend and current PSG star Lionel Messi could have joined Arsenal
Arsenal could’ve had not only one, but both of the world’s best players in their starting XI had Lionel Messi opted to leave Catalonia for England along with pals Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas.
The Gunners had offered the Argentine a contract at the end of the 2002-03 season, but the teenager chose to remain with his boyhood club at 16 and, well, you know the rest.
Striker — Victor Osimhen
Victor Osimhen could have joined Arsenal six years agoGetty
Victor Osimhen’s career could have gone down a completely different path before he joined Wolfsburg in 2017.
He has confirmed he held talks with then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger about joining the club, only to go elsewhere.
Speaking to CentreGoals, he said: “I spoke with Arsene Wenger and he wanted me to come to Arsenal but it was not the best option at the time.”
Osimhen has gone on to bag 53 goals in 91 games for Napoli, including 25 in 29 games this term.
His sensational scoring form is inspiring Luciano Spalletti’s side to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
They hold a remarkable 19-point lead at the top of the table, with their crowning moment only a matter of time.
Striker — Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another player that got away for Arsenal
Considering the impact Zlatan had on the Premier League at the age of 35 with Man Utd, who knows what a hard time the Swede would’ve given defences had he arrived to these shores at a younger age.
Arsenal had the chance to find out when they came close to signing the then 19-year-old Ibrahimovic while he was still at Malmo, but the striker didn’t respond well to being asked to play in a trial match.
The player later admitted he responded to that by saying: “No way, Zlatan doesn’t do auditions.”
The Bench
Petr Cech and Didier Drogba are both on the benchNews Group Newspapers Ltd
Goalkeeper — Petr Cech
The Czech Republic stopper may have finally played for Arsenal in his career, but Wenger had the chance to sign a younger, less error-prone Cech from Rennes in 2004.
Defender — Roberto Carlos
Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos had claimed to be keen on a move to the Emirates after his contract with Real Madrid expired in 2007, but he ended up at Fenerbahce instead.
Midfielder — Xabi Alonso
Bizarrely enough considering the career he went on to have with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, there was a time when it looked as though Xabi Alonso would be shown the door at Anfield in favour of Gareth Barry, and a £15m switch to Arsenal seemed to be on the cards in 2009.
The deal falling through left Fabregas infuriated.
Midfielder — Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria struggled to live up to his £59.7m price tag for United, but he would’ve found it easier to justify the amount Arsenal could have paid for him at 17 — nothing.
Again, failure to secure a work permit scuppered the deal.
Striker — Didier Drogba
Wenger revealed in 2009 that he passed up the opportunity to sign Didier Drogba from Le Mans for £100,000, but the Arsenal boss wasn’t convinced the then 24-year-old striker was ready.