Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he decided against signing West Ham United and France star Dimitri Payet last summer, before the midfield maestro finally joined the Hammers, as reported by the "?Daily Express.
Payet has demonstrated his abundance of talent after a stellar first season in East London, scoring nine goals and assisting a further 12, followed by an excellent start to the European Championships with his French national team, having already scored two in as many games for the hosts.
The 29-year-old scored the winner in Les Bleus' opening match against Romania with a scintillating finish late in the game, before scoring the second goal in France's 2-0 victory over Albania on Wednesday night.
In a season that many Gunners fans seemed to have soured in their opinion of their manager, Arsene Wenger has further risked their wrath by claiming that he turned down the opportunity to sign the midfielder from Ligue 1 side Marseille.
Wenger said: "I also have to say that I decided against it because he was not consistent. I have never doubted that he had enough talent to play in my team.
"I have been lucky enough in my club to always have very good players in his position and it was crowded!"?
Now, after having taken the Premier League and European Championships by storm, a host of big name clubs are reportedly queuing up to sign the dead-ball specialist, and Arsenal fans will feel aggrieved, particularly since they lacked a cutting edge to their attack last season.