Gunners chief opens up over striker pursuit.
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Arsenal manger Arsene Wenger has admitted that he tried unsuccessfully to sign Gonzalo Higuain this summer as his side prepare to face Napoli in the Champions League this week, Sky Sports reports.
Wenger made the Argentinian international one of his top targets in the transfer market this summer as he looked to increase the club’s striking options, but he missed out on the player to the Italian giants.
Higuain will line-up against Arsenal in the Champions League and Wenger admits he is a big admirer of the former Real Madrid ace.
“We were working on two or three targets and he was one of them,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website. “It didn’t come off in the end, that doesn’t take anything away from his quality.
“Napoli took advantage of that at the right moment, it’s more about timing as well.
“In the end Real Madrid sold two great players, one of them went to Napoli, one [Mesut Ozil] went to Arsenal so it’s 1-1 on that front.”
However, Higuain has admitted that he holds no regrets over where he chose to go, insisting that Serie A is one of the strongest leagues in the world.
“I am very happy that I have joined Napoli,” continued Higuain. “We have started well in the league in Italy and have got off to a good start in Europe too.
“I know there was other interest from England and Italy, but I am very sure that I made the right choice by joining Napoli and have no regrets.
“It is a club where I can achieve everything I want.”