Arsenal failed in their pursuit of Vinicius Junior as the Brazilian pens fresh terms with Real Madrid and they've experienced similar snubs before
Vinicius Junior left winger of Real Madrid and Brazil celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Sevilla FC and Real Madrid CF
Vinicius Junior will not sign for Arsenal after agreeing to a Real Madrid extension(Image: Getty)
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Arsenal have lost out on Vinicius Junior, who has penned an extension with Real Madrid. And the suggestion swirls that the Gunners' interest was used to secure these fresh, lucrative terms.
MikelArteta's side threatened to pull off the largest coup of the summer window when they made their intentions to pursue the Real Madrid winger clear. But after crunch contract talks this week, the Brazilian will stay a Galactico until 2032.
Karim Benzema
In 2014, Olivier Giroud led Arsenal's line, but manager Arsene Wenger wanted an upgrade so Real Madrid star Karim Benzema was singled out. The club tried everything they could to get a deal over the line and the Frenchman, who had bagged 24 goals during the 2013/14 season, was on the verge of joining them.
However, the deal hinged on Luis Suarez leaving Liverpool for the Spanish capital. This transfer did not materialise following his World Cup biting incident and he joined Barcelona instead. Speaking to La Mesa, the Uruguayan shed light on the Benzema move that never was.
French forward Karim Benzema arrives at the French national football team centre in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, outside Paris, on November 11, 2013, for a training ahead of the two-legged World Cup 2014 qualifying play-off against Ukraine
Benzema's move to the Emirates collapsed(Image: Getty)
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"My agent spoke to Real Madrid before the 2014 World Cup," Suarez said. "Madrid wanted to sign me and everything was going well. They were thinking of selling Benzema to Arsenal, everything was practically already done."
Instead, Benzema used the commotion to put pen to paper on a five-year contract extension and cemented himself as a Real great, making 648 appearances and scoring 354 goals before leaving for Al-Ittihad in 2023. He now plays for Al-Hilal.
Jamie Vardy
Jamie Vardy of England on team bench before the UEFA Euro 2016 Group B match between England and Russia at Stade Velodrome
Vardy snubbed the Gunners for a new Leicester deal(Image: Getty)
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Two years after the Benzema ordeal, the Gunners' search for a new striker led them to approach the Premier League title-winning Jamie Vardy.
Vardy had just bagged 24 league goals to help the Foxes win the top flight and whilst he was at Euro 2016 with England, Arsenal triggered the £20million release clause in his contract.
There was nothing Leicester could do and it appeared as though Vardy would become a Gunner. However, he instead signed a fresh four-year improved deal at Leicester and yet again, Arsenal were left licking their wounds.
Dayot Upamecano
Bayern Munich star Dayot Upamecano has just enjoyed a stellar World Cup with France, but six years ago, he was close to joining Arsenal.
Dayot Upamecano of RB Leipzig looks dejected during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and 1. FC Koeln at Red Bull Arena
Upamecano ended up at Bayern(Image: Getty)
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The defender was pursued quite intently by Arteta and Co. whilst he was at RB Leipzig and in July 2020, things heated up. Upamecano had just one year left on his deal and a tempting £53m release clause - a transfer looked likely.
A series of bids were rejected and then, out of nowhere, Upamecano inked a contract extension, putting an end to the speculation. To make matters worse, this deal also tactically included a clause that would make him available for £37m in one year's time.
So, in 2021, Bayern activated the bargain clause and snapped up their man, much to the dismay of Arsenal, who were yet again the victims of a brutal snub.