Arsene Wenger signed the likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira for Arsenal, but equally regrets missing out on a number of football's biggest stars. Here, Goal has taken a look at who the Frenchman famously missed out on luring to the Gunners...
ANGEL DI MARIA
If Di Maria had moved to England when he was younger he may have flourished, unlike his time at Manchester United. Arsene Wenger revealed that work permit issues halted a potential transfer to north London:
"We had identified Di Maria when he was 17. We wanted him to come here but he went to Portugal and from Portugal he went to Spain. Why? Because he could not get a work permit."
LIONEL MESSI
What could have been at Arsenal.
Wenger attempted to sign a young Leo Messi but couldn't tempt him away from Barca:
"It's true, it's just that he [Messi] didn't want to move. In the end, he was comfortable at Barcelona.”
CRISTIANO RONALDO
Completing the set, Wenger revealed that he missed out on signing Messi's only true rival for the title of best player in the world:
"My biggest regret? I was so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo... that of course still hurts today."
PAUL POGBA
When Paul Pogba was allowed to leave Man Utd on a free transfer, Wenger wanted to sign him.
The midfielder would undoubtedly have been an ideal fit, being a young fellow Frenchman.
"We were interested in him. We tried to get him to come here. But he very quickly signed for Juventus."
DIEGO COSTA
A perennial thorn in Arsenal's side, Diego Costa was once a target for Arsenal before he joined Chelsea.
“Yes [I wanted Costa], but that was a deal that was struck early.”
EDEN HAZARD
Eden Hazard slipped through the Frenchman's fingers as he signed for Chelsea in 2012, with Arsenal unable to afford Lille's £30 million asking price.
"Yes, I wanted to take him... the barrier was financial and Chelsea made an effort that I couldn't make."
ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC
Maybe the most famous instance on this list, Zlatan Ibrahimovic famously told Wenger "I don't do auditions" when asked to have a trial at Arsenal.
"He was 16. I asked him to have a little training session with the first team and he didn't want to do it."
GARETH BALE
Before Gareth Bale realised his potential as a winger, he was offered to Arsenal as a left-back.
Wenger turned him down due to having better options in that position at the time.
"We didn't take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy... I must confess it was a huge mistake as he can play in midfield."
LUIS SUAREZ
Luis Suarez was subject to £40 million + £1 bid from Arsenal during his time at Liverpool.
The bid triggered a clause in Suarez's contract but he turned down a move to the Emirates
“Did he want to join us? I do not want to dwell any more on that situation - it was one of the transfers that did not work."
