St Etienne captain Loic Perrin has lifted the lid on past interest from Arsenal.

The veteran came close to moving to the Gunners three years ago.

He recalled: "If my contacts went to the end with Arsenal, I think I would have tried the experiment because it's one of the clubs that are hard to refuse.

"I always said that if I left Saint-Etienne, it was for a bigger club and to discover a club of another level. I never had the opportunity.

"I did not see myself leaving just to leave. I know what I have in Saint-Etienne, I know what this club represents."