Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips very nearly left the club to sign for Arsenal at one stage in his career
The Black Cats icon took the Premier League by storm following his the club’s promotion from the second tier in 1999, and would go on to win the European Golden Shoe during his debut in the top flight.
And his performances in red and white were evidently enough to catch the eye of some of the most prominent sides in the division, with Phillips telling TNT Sports’ Sign Up in a fresh interview that he was on the radar of both Arsenal and North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at various points.
What has Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips said about his failed move to Arsenal?
According to the Wearside favourite, a double hernia operation ultimately put pay to any prospect of him joining Spurs, while Arsenal manager Wenger decided to pursue a swoop for promising Everton striker Jeffers instead - a move that would backfire somewhat.
After a prolific stint on Merseyside, the emerging talent completed an £8 million switch to the capital, but was dogged by injury and would leave the Gunners three years later with just a handful of appearances and goals to his name.
And as per Phillips himself, Wenger’s error in judgement still earns him apologies from the Frenchman whenever the two cross paths. When asked whether he had any regrets from his playing career, the 52-year-old responded: “I don't. If I had to roll back the clocks now, I probably wouldn't change a thing.
“I was very close to signing for Tottenham when Glenn Hoddle was the manager. Glenn wanted to sign me, but I had to have a double hernia operation at the end of the season. So he said, ‘I can't take that risk’.
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“I was also close to signing for Arsenal as well. Very close. So it was out of me and Francis Jeffers. Do you remember Francis Jeffers? Arsene Wenger decided to sign Francis Jeffers instead of me. So whenever I see Arsene Wenger now, he always apologises to me, to say, ‘Sorry, I should have signed you’. I'm like, ‘Well, that doesn't help now, does it?’
“But it would have been my dream to play alongside the legend Thierry Henry. Is it a regret? Maybe a little bit, yeah.”
Phillips would eventually go on to leave Sunderland in 2003 following the club’s relegation from the Premier League, signing for Southampton for a fee of around £3.25 million.
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