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Arsenal has had tough times over the past few seasons. This is partly down to the fact that Arsene Wenger would never spend. They have always had to rely on youth, with the likes of Alex Iwobi and Chuba Akpom coming through the ranks. However, this has not always been enough to secure good finishes.
The last 2 seasons Arsenal have failed to qualify for the Champions League and this has impacted their transfer budget even more. The future, however, does look promising with the arrival of Unai Emery and some big summer signings including Stephan Lichtsteiner and Lucas Torreira.
There is a huge list of Arsenal players that Arsene Wenger has claimed that he nearly signed. Some of these players could have changed the history of Arsenal football club. However, they did not arrive at the club for some reason. These 5 players have had such a huge impact that Arsenal right now could be the best team in the World.
#5 Yaya Toure (Free agent)
Arsenal very nearly signed Yaya Toure in 2003. The player was happy to sign for the club, but it was sadly not that simple. As it happens Yaya Toure was refused a work permit which meant that he could not join the Gunners. He did, however, play in a pre-season friendly against Barnet, but that was his only contribution for Arsenal.
He ended up becoming a club legend for Man City scoring 59 goals in 230 appearances. He left the club this summer and is now a free agent. It looks like Arsenal could sign Toure 15 years late.
#4 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Arsenal had been tracking Bale and his former teammate Theo Walcott when they were at Southampton. Walcott joined the Gunners in 2006 and Bale joined rivals Spurs in 2007. Arsene Wenger has since admitted that he made a "huge mistake" in not signing the Welshman.
The main reason behind Bale not joining was the fact that Arsenal already had two left backs. As Bale was at the time a left-back, and with Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy in the way, it was unlikely he would get much game time.
Bale went on to leave Tottenham and play for Real Madrid. This turned out to be a great move as he has won 4 Champions League trophies and he has become one of the World's best.
#3 N'Golo Kante
N'Golo Kante nearly joined the Gunners during his time in France. He was at the time not very well know and so Arsene Wenger decided against it.
Look how badly that turned out. He went on to join Leicester City where he won the Premier League. He then left for Chelsea where he has won the FA Cup and Premier League. That is not all. He has become a great success for his country and he won the World Cup this summer.
This may turn out to be one of Wenger's biggest mistakes as he has gone on to become one of the World's best players. At 27 it looks like he has a lot left to offer as well.
#2 Lionel Messi
In 2003 Wenger tried to sign three players from the Barcelona academy. The Frenchman could sadly not prise all the players away from Spain, and he left with only Cesc Fabregas and not Lionel Messi.
It's fair to say that Messi deciding to stay at Barcelona was a great decision. He has gone on to become one of the best players in the World. This includes winning 5 Ballon d'Ors and winning the Champions League four times.
"In the end I think he was not so keen to move. It was not completely down to a flat, in the end, it was down to the fact that Messi was comfortable at Barcelona," said Wenger in 2014.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Yet another Ballon d'Or winner that got away. Ronaldo had a tour of the Arsenal training ground in 2003, and was said to have been very impressed by the club, and what they could offer him.
However, it was Man United who signed him and Arsenal yet again did not get their man. Ronaldo has since gone on to win 5 Champions League trophies and many individual awards in his career. This summer he left Real Madrid to go and play for Juventus. He has however had a difficult start to his time in Turin and is yet to score.
Which of these 5 players do you think would have done the best at Arsenal? Leave your comments down below...
