Kylian Mbappé the latest in a long line of stars to evade Arsene Wenger and Arsenal

Another summer gone, and another ‘almost’ marquee signing by Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.

Or so it seems, with striker Kylian Mbappé openly admitting last week that positive talks were held with the club before his high-profile move across France to Paris-Saint Germain went through on Deadline Day.

The French manager has quite an extortionate list of close-calls when it comes to big incomings, so much so you could make a whole starting XI.

And if the Gunners had pulled off at least a couple of these eye-catching deals, supporters might not be entering their eighth season without Premier League glory this time around.

1995: Zlatan Ibrahimović

Back in 1995 a 21-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimović was handed the no. 9 shirt by Arsene Wenger so he could pose for a photo with it thinking he was bound to be convinced to join the club. However, the Arsenal manager “didn’t even try” and instead asked the Swedish striker to undergo a trial to prove how good he actually was. But unfortunately, “Zlatan doesn’t do auditions” and has instead a dazzling career representing clubs such as AC Milan, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris-Saint Germain.

Wenger recalls the story differently, stating that he just asked him if he wanted to train with the first team and he declined, but it was a huge miss either way. Ibrahimović’s 33 trophies since that moment and his brilliant season at Manchester United last time around completely prove that attempts to secure his signature should’ve been bigger. All seems to be well in the striking department for Arsenal now though, as Alexandre Lacazette will be looking to be that world-class striker they’ve been looking for in the red side of North London for so long.

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2003: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009 as a club great after scoring 118 goals across six brilliant seasons and helping the Reds claim three Premier Leagues, two League Cups, one FA Cup and, of course, Champions League glory in 2008. He certainly still could’ve enjoyed those accomplishments, but with Arsenal instead of United. And the transfer was flowing smoothly until the young Portuguese winger caught Sir Alex Ferguson’s eye in a pre-season friendly for Sporting Lisbon on August 7 2003.

Ferguson’s assistant at the time, Carlos Quieroz used his nationality to lure the 18-year-old to Old Trafford even though Arsenal had agreed a £4m fee for his services. Ronaldo even had a tour of The Arsenal Training session and was handed the no. 9 shirt to have a photo with, similarly to Zlatan Ibrahimović. Wenger spoke out on his “biggest regret” in 2014, stating that it “still hurts today” because the player was not only “so close” to a move, but because he joined their rivals up north.

2006: Gareth Bale

Arsenal were tracking highly promising left-back Gareth Bale a bit before he made his breakthrough move to Tottenham Hotspur and became one of the most sought-after wingers in the profession today. Arsene Wenger – also chasing Theo Walcott at the time – was looking for a double Southampton swoop but opted against Bale because Ashley Cole and Gaël Clichy were seen as valid options in the position. The Gunners boss admitted in 2013 that it was a “huge” mistake to snub the Welshman though, after being unaware of his midfield capabilities.

Unlike Ronaldo, Gareth Bale is yet to win the Balon D’Or, however, did break the record transfer fee when he joined Real Madrid for €101m in 2013. Injuries have disrupted his time in Spain but has reminded us of his quality on many occasions, making Wenger’s choice all those years ago highly questionable to say the least. Bale’s excellence at White Hart Lane prior to his dream move would’ve made the decision even more sickening for the Arsenal faithful, who can only dream about a front line including Alexandre Lacazette, Alexis Sánchez and the dynamic 28-year-old.

2013: Gerard Piqué and Lionel Messi

It was in the close season 2003 after Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Manchester United when Arsene Wenger decided to search Barcelona’s La Maisa academy for fresh talent to boost his ranks. The three players he was after were 15-year-old trio Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Piqué and Lionel Messi. A deal for Fabregas materialised and he became a key member of Wenger’s squad, before becoming a foe by joining London rivals Chelsea in 2014, but the same can’t be said about Piqué and Messi.

The latter was “comfortable” on the Spanish coast and has remained there since, arguably becoming the greatest player the world has ever seen in the process. The transfer of Piqué was much closer though as he even travelled to England to secure a move, however, legal problems resulted in Arsenal having to offer him a contract the summer after once he turned 16. Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United swooped in for the Spanish centre-back a year later after his agent rejected the Gunners’ approach, where he’d stay for four successful years before moving back to Catalonia under Pep Guardiola.

2003: Yaya Touré

A young, powerful centre midfielder emerged onto the scene in 2001 for Belgian outfit Beveren and two years later he was being hunted down by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, one of those being Arsenal – his name was Yaya Touré. Arsene Wenger wanted the big Ivorian at the Emirates a year after signing his brother, Kolo and became as close as you can get to making it happen. Touré even featured in a pre-season friendly against Barnet after being a stand-out trialist, however, those dastardly work permits got in the way of a transfer that could’ve changed Arsenal’s later fortunes completely.

Because the 20-year-old hadn’t represented his country at international level yet, a permit wasn’t given and he therefore had to settle for a move to Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine, leaving a dream Premier League switch in tatters. He did finally arrive in England though, but not for Arsenal, for Manchester City where he’s since been one of the greatest players in the Blues’ history – playing a huge part in their first two title wins. As he’s got older and Pep Guardiola has brought in fresh talent like Ilkay Gündogan, the iconic midfielder has become less important and seems to be nearing retirement, but what could’ve been if Arsenal clinched him when they nearly did so.

2015: N’Golo Kanté

More recently, N’Golo Kanté was by far the least known from this selection of players when Arsene Wenger went in for him back in the summer of 2015. After an eye-catching 2014/15 campaign with French outfit SM Caen, a range of clubs were after Kanté but it was Leicester City where he ended up. He quickly transformed from an unfamiliar £9m man to one of the most talent midfielders in world football throughout Leicester’s remarkable 2015/16 title win and is now a key member of Antonio Conte’s plans at Chelsea.

Things could’ve been a lot different though as Wenger revealed earlier this year he ‘tried to sign” the France international “when he was in France and at Leicester.” Arsenal needed to strengthen their enforcements in the middle of the park but had to settle with Borussia Monchengladbach’s Granit Xhaka who has exactly set the Emirates alight since. You just have to ponder the extended success the North London club could’ve enjoyed by now if Kanté, or any of these players for that matter, were added to the ranks when Arsene Wenger originally chased them.