Arsene Wenger left an indelible mark on Arsenal, winning three Premier League titles, including the famous unbeaten 2003/04 campaign, and seven FA Cups during his 22-year reign.
Yet the Frenchman’s remarkable legacy could have been even greater.
Throughout his time at Highbury and later the Emirates Stadium, Wenger came close to signing some of the biggest names in world football. Several players who ultimately became legends elsewhere were, at different stages, on Arsenal’s radar.
Here is a remarkable XI of stars who could have worn the famous red and white under Wenger as reported by Planet Football on Thursday.
Gianluigi Buffon – Goalkeeper
One of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, Gianluigi Buffon was reportedly on Arsenal’s radar before he left Parma for Juventus in 2001.
Buffon later revealed that he met Wenger for dinner in 1998 when he was just 20 years old.
Arsenal ultimately continued with David Seaman and later Jens Lehmann, but the prospect of Buffon between the posts remains one of Wenger’s intriguing missed opportunities.
Gerard Piqué – Right-back
Gerard Piqué is hardly remembered as a right-back, but the Barcelona legend was among the youngsters Wenger wanted to bring to Arsenal.
The Frenchman revealed that Arsenal had targeted Piqué alongside Cesc Fabregas and Lionel Messi.
“We wanted to take Fabregas, Messi and Piqué. It worked only for Fabregas,” Wenger said.
Fabregas eventually became a key Arsenal player, while Piqué moved to Manchester United before returning to Barcelona, where he established himself as one of the world’s leading defenders.
Raphaël Varane – Centre-back
Raphaël Varane represents another major defensive opportunity Arsenal missed.
Wenger identified the French defender during his early development at Lens, but Arsenal never completed a deal.
Reflecting on the situation, Wenger admitted that Arsenal could have signed Varane before Real Madrid eventually secured his services.
Varane went on to enjoy a hugely successful career, winning multiple major trophies with Real Madrid and later Manchester United, as well as the 2018 World Cup with France.
Vincent Kompany – Centre-back
Before becoming a Manchester City icon, Vincent Kompany was another defender Wenger admired.
Arsenal considered the Belgian as a possible replacement for Sol Campbell in 2006, but Kompany eventually joined Hamburg.
His agent, Jacques Lichtenstein, later confirmed that Wenger had personally met him during the process.
Kompany subsequently moved to Manchester City, where he became captain and won four Premier League titles.
Gareth Bale – Left-back
Gareth Bale’s transformation from promising left-back to global superstar makes this one particularly intriguing.
Wenger considered signing Bale during his early years at Southampton but decided against the move because Arsenal already had Ashley Cole and Gaël Clichy.
“We didn’t take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gaël Clichy and didn’t want another left-back,” Wenger later admitted.
“I must confess it was a huge mistake.”
Bale went on to become one of the biggest stars in world football with Tottenham and Real Madrid.
Claude Makélélé – Central midfield
Claude Makélélé was another player who came close to joining Arsenal.
Wenger revealed that the French midfielder was close to signing for the club in 1996, shortly after Patrick Vieira arrived in north London.
“Claude Makélélé was close to signing for us,” Wenger said.
Makélélé eventually established himself as one of the finest defensive midfielders of his generation, enjoying major success with Real Madrid and Chelsea.
A midfield featuring both Vieira and Makélélé would have been formidable.
Yaya Touré – Central midfield
Yaya Touré is arguably one of Wenger’s most famous transfer regrets.
The Ivorian midfielder actually trained with Arsenal and played in a pre-season match against Barnet, but the Gunners were unable to complete the deal.
Touré eventually moved to Metalurh Donetsk before spells with Monaco, Barcelona and Manchester City.
At City, he became one of the Premier League’s most dominant midfielders, winning three league titles.
Wenger later acknowledged the missed opportunity, although he stressed that the situation was complicated by work-permit and passport issues.
Lionel Messi – Right wing
Long before Lionel Messi became one of football’s greatest-ever players, Wenger was interested in bringing the young Argentine to Arsenal.
The Gunners also pursued Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Piqué from Barcelona’s famed academy.
However, Messi remained in Catalonia and went on to build an extraordinary career at Barcelona before later moving to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.
Wenger subsequently suggested that Messi himself was comfortable in Barcelona and was not particularly keen on leaving.
Ronaldinho – Attacking midfield
Ronaldinho was another superstar who came remarkably close to becoming an Arsenal player.
Wenger personally met the Brazilian’s brother, who also served as his agent, when Ronaldinho was around 20.
However, the transfer was ultimately blocked by England’s work-permit regulations because Ronaldinho had not made enough appearances for Brazil.
He instead joined Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Barcelona, where he became one of the most entertaining players of his generation.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Left wing
Perhaps the most famous missed opportunity of them all was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Wenger revealed that Ronaldo visited Arsenal with his mother and that the club was close to signing him.
Manchester United ultimately won the race after Ronaldo impressed against them while playing for Sporting Lisbon.
“He was here with his mother and we were very close,” Wenger later recalled.
The rest became football history.
Ronaldo developed into a global superstar at Manchester United and Real Madrid, winning numerous domestic and European trophies and establishing himself as one of the sport’s most prolific goalscorers.
Kylian Mbappé – Striker
Wenger also came close to signing another future superstar in Kylian Mbappé.
As a teenager at Monaco, Mbappé attracted the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Wenger personally visiting his family while the youngster considered his future.
Wenger later revealed that Mbappé could have joined Arsenal on a free transfer.
“He could have come to Arsenal for free,” Wenger said.
Mbappé ultimately stayed in France, first with Monaco and later Paris Saint-Germain, before becoming one of the leading players of his generation.
And the list could have been even longer.
Wenger also had reported interest in players including Xabi Alonso, N’Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Eden Hazard, Ángel Di María, Karim Benzema, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o and Luis Suárez.
