Arsène Wenger still stands alone in English football history as the only manager to win the Premier League without tasting defeat, leading Arsenal to that remarkable triumph in 2004. His “Invincibles” side was one of Europe’s most dominant forces, featuring superstars such as Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp.
Silverware became harder to come by in the latter years of Wenger’s reign, a period that overlapped with Arsenal’s move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium. The club increasingly prioritised nurturing talent from the academy over signing established names. Even so, the Frenchman’s squads during this phase of his career were hardly short of elite-level players.
Cesc Fàbregas, Robin van Persie and Mesut Özil all hit top form under Wenger’s guidance, a testament to his ability to elevate those he coached. The pull of playing in his Arsenal side was so strong that Pep Guardiola later confessed he would have relished the opportunity to play for Wenger during his Barcelona days.
Across his long managerial journey, Wenger had no shortage of top-class players to develop. Yet when he departed Arsenal in 2018, after 1,234 matches in charge that brought 715 wins and 252 defeats, there were still two world-famous names he admitted he wished he’d had the chance to work with.
Wenger: I Regret Not Signing Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Wenger has made it no secret of his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo despite the former Manchester United forward being a constant thorn in his side during his Arsenal reign. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner managed five goals in 11 Premier League games against the Frenchman's side during his first Old Trafford spell.
Ronaldo won the first of his five Ballons d'Or at United and helped Sir Alex Ferguson beat Wenger to three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2008. The Portugal captain scored a stunning 40-yard free-kick against the Gunners en route to winning the European title.
Wenger explained how close Ronaldo came to joining Arsenal before arriving at Old Trafford in the summer of 2003. He told SPORTbible:
"Which player did I regret not signing the most? Certainly Cristiano Ronaldo. I thought it was possible and if we had been a fraction quicker, a few days... Because we had agreed and Man United came in five, six days later."
Wenger: We Could've got N'Golo Kante Easy
Another former Premier League star who relished coming up against Arsenal was N'Golo Kante, who dominated midfield in meetings between the Gunners and Chelsea. The France international is, for many, one of the greatest defensive midfielders in English top-flight history and a player who Wenger wished he had brought to the Emirates:
"So I would say at the start of my career, Cristiano Ronaldo. At the end of my career, N'Golo Kante."
Wenger revealed just how close the North Londoners came to signing Kante during his youth days:
"We could've got Kante easy, because he played in a club in Paris, that's called Suresnes, where one of my best friends is director. And he told me: "Please, I have a player, he's unbelievable. Nobody wants him in France."He took him in his car and travelled with him from club to club.And finally, a club of Division 3 in France took N'Golo Kante."
Wenger left his mark on the English game and paved the way for foreign managers such as Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp to enjoy similar success in the Premier League. He evidently has regrets over his managerial career, including missing out on Ronaldo and Kante, who are undoubtedly two of the best players to grace English football.
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