10 Players You Didn't Know Arsenal Almost Signed

Cristiano Ronaldo Arsenal It is often one of the biggest gripes for football fans across the world. Missing out on a player who you thought was coming to your club can be incredibly frustrating and, in some instances, just down right heart-breaking. Over the years, there have been some near spectacular transfers that have not quite got over the line. Diego Maradona almost joined Sheffield United, while Blackburn Rovers elected to keep the faith with Tim Sherwood, rather than signing a certain Zinedine Zidane from Bordeaux. Chairman Jack Walker famously argued with the manager Kenny Dalglish, €œWhy do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?€ Arsenal are no different to any other club and have been close to some big signings before. Arsene Wenger is renowned for being meticulous in his transfer dealings, with papers not being rubber-stamped until the Frenchman is entirely sure about the move. It is a policy which has saved him from singing some undeniable flops, but it has also seen him miss out on some terrific talent. The viewing of this list may make painful reading for Gunners fans, who knows what might have been had these players graced Highbury or the Emirates Stadium. They say you can€™t live life by ifs and buts, however throw that rule out of the window for the next five minutes as you learn who almost pulled on the red and white shirt of Arsenal.
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Simon is an NCTJ qualified sports journalist. He has conducted interviews with Tony Adams and Peter Shilton, while also having work published in The Daily Telegraph and The Sun. Follow him on Twitter via @sr_collings.