Arsenal Transfers: 10 Players That Wenger Almost Signed
3. Vincent Kompany
Arsene Wenger eyed up Vincent Kompany as a long term replacement for Sol Campbell when he was a youngster at Anderlecht. The tale goes, however, that the Frenchman met Kompany's agent, but the Belgian opted against a move to London.
Kompany instead joined Hamburg for two years before a £6m move to Manchester City in 2008. It is at Manchester where the Belgian gained his reputation as one of Europe's finest defenders, and he has gone on to win five trophies in England - including two Premier Leagues.
At 29 years of age, Kompany has made 60 appearances for Belgium, and is approaching his 300th appearance for Manchester City. He has also since claimed he wouldn't join Arsenal 'for £60m and two Ferraris'.