Arsenal have earned themselves a reputation for being linked with a lot of players whenever the transfer windows come, yet there have been times when the club really had genuine interests in top talents, but the deals unfortunately fell off.

It was in the days of their legendary manager Arsène Wenger, and given how things have panned out over a decade later, huge credit should be given to the Frenchman, as well as the scouts who worked for the Arsenal at the time.

In the transfer windows, Arsenal was not only linked with, but also made attempts and sometimes came very close to making things happen with several players who have gone on to define an era. Unfortunately, their efforts always failed to materialise.

In several interviews, Arsène Wenger has revealed frustration and regrets over seeing players he was close to signing shine for rival teams. Once he was quoted to have saying these when asked about his biggest regrets in management;

"My biggest regret? I was so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo. And not only did I not get him, but he signed for Manchester United."

A lot of big names were linked with Arsenal in those days. In several articles, names like Lionel Messi, Vincent Kompany, N'Golo Kanté, Xabi Alonso, and even traces of Ronaldinho links can be found. It isn't that there was no interest in these; some weren't just as concrete.

From the popular Cristiano Ronaldo deal, to the 'Zlatan doesn’t do auditions' and 'What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?', we take a look at some of the most prominent names in the list of players Arsène Wenger almost signed for Arsenal.

10 Players Arsène Wenger almost signed for Arsenal 

1. Gianluigi Buffon in 1998

'Staying in Italy was a priority'

Arsene Wenger attempted to sign 16-year-old Gianluigi Buffon for Arsenal when the Italian goalkeeper was just starting at Parma.

“From what I know, there have been three serious times when English clubs made an approach for me," Buffon is quoted as saying by The Mirror in 2016.

“Two of them were when I was a young player at Parma, and I know Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger asked about me – and then, when Manchester City was taken over, I know they approached Juventus.

Despite the Frenchman's persistence, including inviting Buffon to a dinner to discuss a seal, the move never materialized due to several factors, highlighted by Buffon's priority to remain in Italy.

Buffon, in an interview with BT Sport last decade, said: "I remember when I was 20 years old in 1998, I had dinner once with Wenger."

Buffon ultimately stayed in Italy, where he developed into one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history, making his name with Juventus. 

He won nine Serie A titles and plenty of other domestic titles. He reached two UEFA Champions League finals but lost in both, while he also had a great career with the Italian national team, winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2000

'Zlatan doesn’t do auditions'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was one of the players Arsène Wenger nearly signed for Arsenal. It almost happened in the year 2000, when the Swedish striker was still a teenager playing for Malmö FF.

The Swede even visited Arsenal's training ground in North London and received an Arsenal shirt with his name on it.

However, Wenger requested that he take part in a trial, which Ibrahimovic famously declined, saying, "Zlatan doesn’t do auditions."

The missed opportunity allowed Ibrahimovic to pursue his career elsewhere, eventually establishing himself as one of the world’s top strikers at clubs like Juventus, Milan, Inter, and Barcelona.

He became one of the greatest strikers of his generation and won the Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1 titles, scoring over 550 career goals before his retirement in 2023.

3. Didier Drogba in 2002

'When things don't happen, it's for a reason.'

Didier Drogba could have been playing alongside Thierry Henry and other Arsenal stars during the Invincibles campaign had the attempt to sign him from Guingamp proved successful in 2002.

Drogba was keen on the move, but things happened, and the Ivorian striker moved to Marseille, from where he would join Arsenal's London rivals, Chelsea, two years later, and went on to have a successful career.

"I don't know if Arsene Wenger has regrets - you have to ask him. But remember he had Thierry Henry. Arsenal was a team with many French players and players from the French League. Sylvain Wiltord, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires... the French used to joke and say that Arsenal is the 21st team in Ligue 1." Drogba said in an interview in 2010.

"And then I heard that Arsene Wenger was interested in me. But for some reason it didn't happen and I didn't sign for Arsenal, I don't think it was my destiny. I honestly believe that when things don't happen, it's for a reason," concluded Drogba. 

Didier Drogba scored 13 goals in 15 games against Arsenal, making the Gunners his favourite opponent throughout his career. Wenger said in 2013; 

"I would have loved to have managed Didier Drogba, for two reasons. One, I missed him when he played at Le Mans in France, not even in the top league. I knew there was a good player there and I missed him.

"And secondly, because he hurt us so much in big games that all this pain would not have happened."

4. Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003

'A deal hijacked by Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United'

In 2003, Arsène Wenger came close to signing a young Cristiano Ronaldo for Arsenal before Manchester United ultimately secured the deal.

Ronaldo even visited Arsenal’s facilities and met Wenger, who was highly impressed with his talent. The club had made an initial offer to Sporting to secure his services.

Unfortunately, Manchester United’s more attractive financial package and swift action following a friendly match with Sporting Lisbon allowed them to sign Ronaldo for £12.24 million.

This transfer became one of the most significant missed opportunities in Arsenal's history, as Ronaldo went on to become one of the greatest players of all time.

He succeeded at Manchester United, where he won three Premier League and a UEFA Champions League titles, before securing a world record move to Real Madrid in 2009, where hw went on to solidify his status as one of the all-time greats.

5. Lionel Messi in 2003

'Barcelona were quick, and clever'

Yes, Arsenal had genuine interest in Lionel Messi. He was one of the players Arsène Wenger almost signed for Arsenal. Unfortunately, the deal never happened due to the awkwardness of the circumstances.

It came in the summer of 2003, when the Gunners were discussing a move for Cesc Fabregas. Both Gerard Piqué and Lionel Messi were involved in the deal, as Arsène Wenger wanted to sign all three.

In the end, only Cesc Fabregas moved to the club, with Piqué joining Manchester United and Messi staying put at Barcelona. It was later revealed that the deal was complicated when Barcelona offered the Argentine a professional contract.

Aware that he might be lured away by the temptation of first-team integration, Barcelona secured his future. An additional factor is that Messi's medical condition made a move abroad risky, while accommodations for himself and his father, whom he always travels with, were an obstacle.

In an interview with beIN Sports in 2017, the legendary manager stated:

“We wanted to bring Messi, Fàbregas and Piqué to the club. Fàbregas came, Piqué and Messi stayed in Spain. We tried for all three. The interest was genuine.”

“The story of Messi is he was coming with his father, and the agent, but in the end it was not possible because Barcelona were very quick to offer him a contract, and they were clever.” he added.

6. Yaya Touré in 2003

'A match made in heaven by dissolved by work permit'

Yaya Touré is one of the players Arsène Wenger nearly signed for Arsenal in 2003 when he had a trial with the club.

He even featured a friendly against Barnet, where he impressed and even came close to scoring a goal. However, issues with securing a work permit prevented the move.

Wenger saw Toure’s potential but ultimately couldn't finalize the deal. The Ivorian, only 20 at the time, grew impatient of waiting and signed for Ukrainian side Metalurh Donetsk, where he spent 18 months before moving to Olympiacos Pireus.

Speaking much later, the Frenchman said: “Yaya Toure is a top player, but his passport situation was an issue. He was not completely ready, but you could see the talent.”

Toure later went on to become a powerhouse midfielder with AS Monaco, Barcelona, and Manchester City, where he won multiple trophies. He also had success with the Ivory Coast national team, winning the AFCON title in 2015.

Toure is today considered one of the best midfielders of his time, and one of Africa’s best players ever, with four CAF Player of the Year awards; he shares the record for most with Samuel Eto'o Fils of Cameroon.

7. Luis Suarez in 2013

'What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?'

Ten years after missing out on Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsène Wenger tried to sign Luis Suárez from Liverpool by making a widely reported £40 million + £1 bid in 2013.

The offer was based on a rumored release clause of £40 million that Arsenal believed would trigger negotiations. But Liverpool find it ridiculing.

Then-Liverpool owner John Henry laughed off the bid, and even posted on X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage.

“What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?” He tweeted.

The Reds rejected the bid, insisting they wouldn’t sell Suarez at that price, especially to a league rival. The failed attempt frustrated Wenger, and Arsenal went on to sign Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid on deadline day.

The end of the season saw them end their nine-year trophy drought by winning the Emirates FA Cup, while Suarez and Liverpool came close to winning the league title, with Arsenal not far behind.

Suárez later joined Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and went on to have a highly successful career. One would continue to ponder what could have been if he had joined Arsenal in 2013.

8. Antoine Griezmann in 2013

'From desperation to forget it'

Another one famous name on the list of players Arsène Wenger nearly signed for Arsenal is Antoine Griezmann, in 2013 when he was playing for Real Sociedad.

Wenger had been monitoring the young French forward, who had impressed in La Liga, and Arsenal advanced in their attempts to sign him immediately after the move for Luis Suarez fell through.

The deal almost materialized, but in the last minute, Arsenal opted for Mesut Ozil after the opportunity to sign the German from Real Madrid came, missing out on Griezmann, who eventually signed with Atlético Madrid.

At Atlético, Griezmann flourished into one of the world's top forwards, winning numerous accolades, including the UEFA Europa League in 2018, where he scored a decisive goal to dump Arsenal out in the semi-final.

Griezmann, who also had a successful career with the French national team, said in his autobiography entitled Behind the Smile (h/t TalkSport), that a move to Arsenal was on the cards in 2013 for a spell:

"I waited, I waited, and I kept waiting ... when there was no news, [agent Eric Olhats] called [scout Gilles Grimandi], who said that the manager was still interested in me [and] to keep waiting.

"Finally a few hours before the market closed, he let us know Arsenal would not make a move. I don't like to be told something and for it not to happen. So when Eric told me later that the London club were interested again I told him 'forget it, after the blow they gave us'."

9. Kylian Mbappé in 2016

'A strong NO.'

One of the latest players in the famous list of players Arsène Wenger nearly signed for Arsenal is Kylian Mbappé, when the now Real Madrid forward was still in his early teens in 2016.

Wenger recognized Mbappé's potential and looked approaches leverage his affiliation with Monaco; he approached the player's entourage to discuss a move to London before his talent starts to attract more attention.

Despite Wenger’s convincing pitch, Mbappé decided to remain in France, seeking regular first-team opportunities and development at Monaco.

In less than a year, Mbappé broke onto the scene, leading Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and the UEFA Champions League semi-final, eliminating Manchester City en route.

He moved to PSG in 2017 as one of the most expensive players of all time, won the FIFA World Cup with France in 2018, and won all young player awards available at the time.

He went on to become PSG's all-time best goalscorer and best player, breaking records at the club and the French top division as a whole before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 to fulfil his childhood dream.

Wenger later remarked on his failure to sign the now 25-year-old as a "huge mistake" on Arsenal's part.

10. Thomas Lemar in 2017

A famous name amongst Arsenal fans of this age. Not many have forgotten the excitement at the thought of the club landing the sensational player from Monaco in 2017.

Arsène Wenger nearly signed Thomas Lemar. Arsenal’s bid of £92 million was accepted by Monaco on transfer deadline day, as Arsenal aimed to replace Alexis Sanchez, who was set to join Manchester City.

However, Lemar ultimately declined the move, choosing to stay at Monaco, leading Arsenal to retain Sanchez instead.

"Yes, we bid €100m for Lemar but the player wanted to stay in Monaco," Wenger said in an interview with Telefoot in 2017.

Alexis Sanchez would go on to spend half of the season at Arsenal before joining Manchester United in January, in a deal that saw Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mikhitaryan move in the opposite direction.

Arsenal also added Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in that winter window, which was Arsene Wenger's final as the manager of Arsenal.

Imagine a world where Zlatan Ibrahimovic is flanked by both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at Arsenal, with Cesc Fabregas and Yaya Toure pulling the strings in the middle of the park, all players in their prime. It could have changed the entire history of the game.

Names like Gareth Bale, Yann M'Vila, Julian Draxler, Virgil van Dijk, Karim Benzema, Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane, and more can be found on some list of players Arsène Wenger almost signed for Arsenal.