Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he was interested in Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Hart joined City from Shrewsbury Town as a promising 19-year-old back in 2006 and has since established himself as No 1 for both club and country.

The young goalkeeper spent a season on loan with Birmingham City in the 2009/10 season, during which time Wenger enquired about the England international's availability.

"I remember when Hart played at Birmingham, I asked about him and they told me he is at Man City," he told arsenal.com.

"I thought he would be the keeper there. He has something that is needed for a goalkeeper to play at a big club and I am not surprised he made it as No 1.

"Usually it is a job for over 30s, but we have seen that with Van der Sar, who went at a very young age to Juventus," he added.

"He went to Fulham and Manchester United where, for a few years, he was the best keeper in England."