It's almost like a tradition now that every season someone is showing world class performances and Arsene Wenger starts saying that "he almost joined Arsenal"

Arsene Wenger recently has revealed he could have signed Dimitri Payet - but West Ham's ace is just one of many stars who ALMOST joined The Gunners.

Gianluigi Buffon

The Italian legend was linked with a move to north London after declaring his desire to join the club if Juventus were to show him the door. A deal never materialised and the Gooners were stuck with Manuel Almunia.

Gerard Pique

It's reported the Barcelona defender was a failed work-permit away from joining the Gooners with fellow Spaniard Cesc Fabregas. Arsenal signed young defender Philippe Senderos instead. Smart.

Vincent Kompany

The two-time Premier League winner was almost signed by Arsenal as a youngster from boyhood club Anderlecht. Wenger was keen to find a long-term replacement for Sol Campbell but wasn't keen on the £5million transfer fee. FYI, Johan Djourou made 30 appearances that season.

Roberto Carlos

The Brazilian legend revealed that joining the Gooners would be a 'dream', claiming that he wanted a move to the Emirates once his contract at Real Madrid had expired - he signed for Turkish side Fenerbahçe instead. Fortunately, the Arsenal faithful were later treated to the man dubbed the 'new Roberto Carlos'. You remember Andre Santos, right?

Cristiano Ronaldo

Wenger ranks this as his biggest regret, and quite rightly too. Ronaldo was shown around Arsenal’s training ground and the Gunners even had a shirt with his name and number ready for a presentation. But he went off and played a friendly for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United, and Sir Alex Ferguson immediately opened the chequebook.

Yaya Toure

He was on the club's radar from a early age only to be declined a work-permit in 2003. Despite featuring in a friendly against Barnet, securing a permit proved tricky work for Arsenal and Wenger's patience eventually ran out. As it has done many times against Man City in recent years.

Xabi Alonso

With Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez hoping to lure Gareth Barry to Merseyside, Alonso's feared his Liverpool career was over, Alonso headed to London hoping to secure a £15million transfer. The Barry move apparently fell through… and Mikel Arteta now plays for Arsenal.

Angel Di Maria

A 17-year-old Angel Di Maria was a work permit away from joining Arsenal, according to Arsene Wenger. “We had identified Di Maria when he was 17,” the Frenchman said. “We saw him in an international competition and we wanted him to come here. But he could not get a work permit...” The brilliant winger eventually went to Benfica before earning big money moves to Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG.

Lionel Messi

Alongside fellow prospects Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas at Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Messi attracted interest from Arsenal but the Argentine superstar refused to join the Premier League club aged sixteen as he was happy with life in Spain.
“It’s true, it’s just that he didn’t want to move,” Wenger told reporters. “In the end, he was comfortable at Barcelona.”

Didier Drogba

Wenger passed up on Drogba when he was a youngster at French side Le Mans. In fairness to the Gunners boss, they did already have Thierry Henry at the time, but Drogba’s later success at Chelsea must have been particularly galling... Particularly as he made a habit of terrorising Wenger’s side at every opportunity.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan was on the verge of a £3million move from Malmo, back when he was 19. All was going to plan until Wenger asked him to play in a trial match. The Swede replied with: "Zlatan doesn't do auditions.'' Arsenal signed current West Ham full-back Guy Demel instead - back in the days when he thought he was a striker.

So this is who we missed out on:

That line up would destroy every team.

I can imagine all these players in Arsenal, except one, Messi.

For some reason I just can't see Messi in any other team except Barcelona.

But yeah that line-up is just unreal

I understand the point of this post, but fact is, all these players attracted some sort of interest from several major clubs. Very rarely does a Jamie Vardy just happen - most of the time you can see it coming in advance. I could make a list such as this for any top-10 club in any major league and it would look just as stupidly good as this one.

How on earth Arsenal never gets the work permit for all the players? Or is it just another excuse by Arsenal board...

Football is not about 'if', not about 'almost'; it's about mathematics

Jose Mourinho

@quik

It actually happens quite a bit with foreign players coming to the EPL. If you ever see a youngster come to a club and then go out on loan right away to a different country (even back to the team they just transferred from) work permits are usually why.

Can you imagine this team with all players in their prime? Add in Henry..............

Somehow this team would end up 4th.
Messi, Ibra, and Di Maria would be injured 3/4 of the season.
Drogba would miss open goals.
Ronaldo never learnt how to finish and is just a fast car.
Kompany is too slow.
The rest are not played because Wenger is giving some random 15 year olds a chance.