£17m player now admits he wishes he signed for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger

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Arsenal famously failed to sign several superstars while Arsene Wenger was in charge.

The Gunners came close to luring the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Yaya Toure to north London under the Frenchman, as well as Luis Suarez and N’Golo Kante later down the line.

Arsene Wenger surely regrets the manner in which some of these discussions panned out, but now – while speaking to SportBild (print version, Tuesday 30th September) – Julian Draxler has revealed that he rues ignoring Arsenal.

Julian Draxler wonders what could have been had he signed for Arsenal

The Germany international – now playing for Al Ahli following a £17m move from PSG in September 2023 – has now admitted that he had the chance to join Arsenal while he was playing for Schalke.

Draxler – who Newcastle liked – said: There are several (moments I think about). When I was still very young at Schalke and extended my contract, I could have gone to Arsenal. Honestly, I’d be interested to see what would have become of me if I had learned from Arsene Wenger so early.”

The German signed a lucrative new deal with Schalke in May 2013 amid interest across Europe, so it seems he is alluding to that summer as the one in which Arsenal made a concrete approach.

Draxler went on to join VfL Wolfsburg in August 2015 before a move to PSG in January 2017 – where his career began to stall as the Parisians packed their squad with other elite talents too.

Therefore, it is no wonder the 32-year-old still imagines what could have happened to his career had he let Wenger coach him early on.

What Arsene Wenger said about Julian Draxler

Wenger made no secret of his admiration for Draxler – who also once rejected Leeds United – and said he would even be keeping an eye on the attacking midfielder at UEFA Euro 2016.

The 75-year-old said: “It will be very interesting to follow what Draxler does, from Germany, he is still a very young player.”

Wenger also commented on the Al Ahli No.7 in January 2014 after Arsenal were again linked, saying: “The Draxler situation has been created by the newspapers, not by me. You ask me, what is that situation? I say nothing is happening on that front. He will stay at Schalke.”

Arsenal ended up with an elite attacking midfielder, signing another Germany international in Mesut Ozil back in September 2013, but it is hard to ignore the fact Draxler probably could have done better for himself had he moved to N5.