Villarreal coach Unai Emery passed on new Arsenal signing Thomas Partey a year ago while in charge.

The Gunners left it late to activate Partey's release clause and snap him up from Atletico Madrid moments before the transfer deadline.

But the move was well over a year in the making.

Partey was on Arsenal 's radar last summer after being identified as a transfer target by former manager Unai Emery.

Emery even undertook a personal scouting mission, heading to Spain to watch Partey in action against Levante in May 2019 as he eyed a move last summer.

But the Guardian says Emery decided he needed to prioritise the addition of a right winger.