Perrin admits talks were held between his agent and the North London club.
Arsenal were interested in signing Saint-Etienne defender Loic Perrin in the January transfer window, but instead chose to snap up Gabriel from Villarreal instead.
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Perrin has spoken out about the approach from the Gunners and has clearly been left disappointed by Arsene Wenger’s decision not to complete the deal.
“There were serious contacts via my agent. I think I was on a shortlist but not at the very top apparently,” the 29-year-old was quoted by talkSPORT.
“A transfer in this window, it is difficult. But it is difficult to refuse Arsenal. I have always said that if I have to leave St Étienne, one day, it would be for a bigger club, a club that plays Champions League.
“I don’t think many Ligue 1 players would refuse a club such as Arsenal.”
At 29-years-old it may be Perrin’s age that put Wenger off bringing him to the Premier League, with the Frenchman signing a 24-year-old Gabriel instead.
The Frenchman has been something of a late bloomer, but was considered to be among the finest centre-backs in European football last season.
Perrin has even earned a call-up to the France national team in recent times, although is still yet to earn his first cap for the country.