Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he was eager to sign West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry in the past.
Barry is set to claim the record for all-time Premier League appearances if he lines up for West Brom against Arsenal on Monday night.
And Gunners boss Wenger has revealed he would have been part of his squad for years had he got his wish in 2009 when he tried to sign him.
Wenger said: “We were interested in him when he moved from Villa to City.
“But City were the big investors then, and that financial potential was superior to ours at the time."