10 superstars Arsene Wenger missed out on

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is as highly revered a figure at the Emirates Stadium as he is despised. The French tactician did wonders with the North London club before the financial constraints due to the building of the new stadium forced his hand in the transfer market.

Widely acclaimed for his patience with the development of young talents and giving chances to youngsters for a place in the starting XI, Arsene Wenger has managed some of the biggest players to play in the Premier League.

However, the Gunners boss has still managed to make huge blunders in the transfer market as he has let go of opportunities to sign some of the biggest superstars of the modern day.

Here's a look at 10 such players who almost signed for Arsnenal before going on to sign for other clubs:

---

#10 Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon's love for the 'Old Lady' stopped him from jumping ships

The legendary Juventus stopper has had many admirers throughout his career but the Italy international revealed that it was Arsenal that he was very close to signing for.

However, the Bianconeri legend revealed that ultimately his love and loyalty for the club stopped him from swapping sides and he decided to stay with the Italian giants instead of moving over to England.

Dspite being 39, Buffon is still going strong and it is anyone's guess how influential a role the Azzurri icon would have played for Wenger and Arsenal had he signed for the club.

#9 Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany's agent decided to stall negotiations back in 2006.

Arsenal were very close to signing Vincent Kompany back in 2006, when the Belgian was playing for Anderlecht. Kompany was scouted by Arsene Wenger and the Frenchman even met with the player’s agent - but things failed to materialize.

The Manchester City skipper’s agent Jacques Lichtenstein revealed that him and Kompany decided against moving to Arsenal in favor of Hamburg as they felt that Kompany wasn't ready to play for a top club just yet and being a third or fourth choice player in the team would have hurt his growth as a player.

One can only imagine how different the Gunners would have performed with a rock-solid defender stopping any and all attacks.Considering how Arsenal's biggest problems in the past have been defense related, it might have been a very influential transfer.

#8 Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure was courted by Arsenal and even attended training sessions but failed to secure a work permit.

Yaya Toure was playing in Belgium as a teenager when his brother Kolo Toure was at Arsenal. Yaya went for training with the Gunners but failed to convince Arsene that he was a midfielder and not a striker.

Toure revealed that he had a chat with Wenger about his playing position during which Wenger told him that he looked more like a striker than a midfielder.

Things however didn't go as planned and once again Wenger was left fuming. The British work permit rules dictated that he had to play either 75 or 90 per cent of international games to get a permit.

A teenage Yaya could not meet the asked criteria and had to return to Belgium before being picked up by Barcelona where he became one of the world's best midfielders in the world. Yaya Toure was the backbone of Manchester City's titles in the PL and would have been a vital transfer to Arsenal.

#7 Paul Pogba

Wenger was quick to approach Pogba as his contract came to an end in 2012

Paul Pogba left Manchester United in 2012 on a free transfer for Juventus before returning to the club on a then world record fee of £89 million in 2016.

However, it was Arsene Wenger who made the first move for the Frenchman when his contract ended with the Red Devils.

Wenger revealed that he tried to sign Pogba for Arsenal but the star had already signed for the Italian giants. Considering his market value it would have been a coup for the Gunners had Arsene managed to sign the playmaker.

#6 Xabi Alonso

Wenger failed to respond to Liverpool's counter offer in Alonso's case

Spain legend Xabi Alonso was another superstar who almost signed for Arsenal in 2009 but the move ultimately fell through.

Xabi Alonso was told by then Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez that he was no longer needed at the club and soon Arsenal came calling as the Gunners made a £15 million bid for the Spaniard to which they received an £18 million counter bid.

However, Arsene Wenger never responded to the counter made by Liverpool and Xabi was sold to Real Madrid at the end of the season for £30 million.

Xabi went on to achieve tremendous success first with Los Blancos and later with Bayern Munich before retiring at the end of the 2016/17 season – one can only wonder what could have been had Wenger signed one of the world’s most creative midfielders for the Gunners.

#5 Ronaldinho

British work permit rules left Wenger fuming once again

Arsenal came very close to signing the former Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho long before he signed for Paris Saint Germain in 2001.

Wenger met the Brazil legends brother and discussed the transfer details but the transfer could not be completed as the player failed to get a work permit. The Brazilian icon could have been the missing piece in the puzzle Wenger kept looking for ever since winning his last Premier League title in 2003/2004.

Ronaldinho went on to become a legend at Barcelona and Arsene Wenger could only complain about the stringent rules of the British immigration department.

#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan didn't want to audition for Wenger and the move failed to materialize.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic almost signed for the North London side back in 2000 for a meager transfer fee of £3 million from Malmo.

The Swedish superstar even visited Arsenal's training ground and was presented with a customized shirt with his name on the back. The Swede has stated in his book that he was scared of Arsene the first time he entered his office, as he thought the Frenchman could see right through him.

However, things fell out when Arsene Wenger asked him to play in a trial match to which the former AC Milan star replied with :"Zlatan doesn't do auditions."

#3 Lionel Messi

Leo Messi was a youth player at La Masia when Wenger tried to lure him to the Premier League

Leo Messi could have been plying his trade at Arsenal instead of Barcelona had Arsene Wenger gotten his wish. The Frenchman tried to sign Messi along with Fabregas and Pique in 2003 but only succeeded in signing Cesc.

Arsene was in constant touch with the Messi family and a move was almost on the verge of happening before being called off, as the club failed to find a flat for the Argentine stars family. Arsene Wenger has however revealed that Messi opted against the move as he felt more comfortable in Barcelona.

If only Wenger could have convinced the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to move to the English capital – Arsenal could have been the most ‘feared’ team in Europe instead of Barca.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo

Another Manchester United player who could have been at Arsenal

The Portuguese superstar could have been playing at Arsenal instead of Manchester United and Real Madrid had Wenger moved a little quicker for Cristiano Ronaldo's signature.

Ronaldo was discovered by Arsenal scout Damien Comolli back in 2000 during a youth tournament in France - he immediately informed Arsene Wenger about the young Portuguese wonder-kid.

CR7 twice visited Arsenal's training ground and even met his idol Thierry Henry - but the transfer ultimately fell through when Wenger failed to collect funds for the transfer.

A few months later Sporting Lisbon played Manchester United and Ronaldo went on to destroy the Red Devils, catching the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson in the process - and the rest, as they say, is history.

#1 Kylian Mbappe

Arsenal could have signed Mbappe for just £230,000

Kylian Mbappe emerged as one of the most sought-after player in Europe at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, as PSG came calling for the France international.

The Gunners had however contacted the teenage sensation a year before he broke on to Monaco's first-team as a starter.

Wenger had made contact with Mbappe and his family as his contract was about to end with Monaco and the Gunners would have had to pay just £230,000 for the youngster as per FIFA's compensation rules.

Arsenal's hopes fell flat as Monaco convinced Mbappe to sign a contract extension and the player went on to become one of the brightest young talents in Europe.

Mbappe has the potential to be a star around which a team could be built around - something Wenger loves to do. Ultimately, Mbappe only managed to become yet another name in the list of players Arsene Wenger almost signed.