"?Former Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has revealed that he came very close to joining bitter rivals Arsenal at one point in his career.
Blues fans have had to suffer week in week out as their Stamford Bridge legend Petr Cech continues to suit up for the Gunners, but it wouldn't have been felt if Schwarzer had made the move - especially as he wasn't even close to joining Chelsea then.
Speaking via Sky Sports' Fantasy FC, the former stopper explained how he almost left Fulham for the Emirates in 2010.
"Roy Hodgson rang me. It was about three days before the World Cup in South Africa, and he says to me 'Mark, the Arsenal have been on the phone. They're interested. Do you want to go?'," Schwarzer said.
"I went 'Definitely. I loved my time at Fulham. It's been brilliant and really great working under you. But yeah, it's an opportunity to play Champions League football and play for an unbelievable club.'
Mark Schwarzer on just how close he was to joining #Arsenal in 2010. Full show available from @SkySports on demand! #AFC #FFC pic.twitter.com/5sJEdyYQ1n
"So he says 'Yeah, we'll sort it out. We'll get another goalkeeper in. As long as we get enough money for you, we'll make it happen.'"
Unfortunately for Schwarzer, Hodgson left for Liverpool shortly after they spoke, and incoming boss Mark Hughes wasn't as keen on letting him go.
"So I waited until about two weeks before the start of the season when Mark Hughes was appointed.
"My very first conversation with Mark was knocking on his door, saying 'Gaffer, nice to meet you. As you know, Arsenal made an offer and I want to leave, could you please sell me?'
"That's how it kinda went. It dragged on and dragged on, and unfortunately it didn't eventuate."
He eventually joined Chelsea, where he would claim the record of oldest player to ever take the field for the club, playing in a match against Sunderland at 41 years and 195 days old.