Roman Abramovich considered buying Arsenal before he took over Chelsea in 2003, it has been revealed.

The billionaire also tried several times unsuccessfully to lure Gunners talisman Thierry Henry to Stamford Bridge when the Frenchman was in his pomp.

The revelations have been made in book, The Club, penned by two Wall Street Journal writers.

They spoke at length with executives from leading Premier League clubs.

The book claims in 2003, Abramovich hired Swiss bank UBS to examine the economics of English top-flight football.

One of its findings was that "Arsenal were categorically not for sale".

Abramovich instead took over Chelsea for £140million and went on to win five Prem titles and a Champions League.

The book also says former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein believed the club's owners would have cashed in if Abramovich had offered.

Another claim is Abramovich met with Tottenham's chairman.

But "while his Mercedes trundled along Tottenham High Road, he looked out and said in Russian, 'This is worse than Omsk' — the grim Siberian outpost where he had a refinery."