Arsenal managed to beat Europe's biggest clubs to land Mexican whiz Carlos Vela - thanks to Steve Rowley's love of hotdogs!

The Daily Mail says talent spotters from Europe's top clubs had descended on the Peruvian capital of Lima in October 2005 for the final of the Under 17 World Cup.

What better way to run the rule over the next generation of Latin players than a game between Mexico and Brazil. Arsenal were in town to watch, among others, a certain Carlos Vela.

The vultures from Real Madrid were already circling and Arsenal's chief scout, Rowley, needed an edge.

As luck would have it, Rowley fancied a hot dog and sent his righthand man in South America to the Estadio Nacional concession stand.

He returned with a lot more than a perrito caliente. Also in the queue was Vela's father, Enrique, easily identifiable thanks to the T-shirt emblazoned with his son's image.

Chatting with Vela's father as his son helped Mexico to a first international title and himself to his Golden Boot-winning fifth goal of the tournament, Rowley persuaded Enrique that Arsene Wenger's record with youngsters meant Arsenal should be Carlos's destination.