Arsenal fans react as David Villa admits near-Gunners move

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Arsenal fans have been reacting to comments from former Spain striker David Villa that he almost joined the Gunners in 2013.

The 38-year-old, who recently retired after a final stint with Japanese side Vissel Kobe, explained that his proposed move to the Emirates Stadium was even ‘90% sure’.

Arsenal were linked with a move for the player in January 2013 while he was at Barca, but the Catalan giants ultimately didn’t want to sell.

The following summer, Villa moved to Atletico Madrid where he spent one year, before heading Stateside to play for New York City, where he spent four seasons.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Villa – who scored 384 goals for clubs and country across his glittering career – said: “We were in a lot of meetings and a lot of calls.

“I felt 90% in that moment that I [would] go to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.

“But in that moment we didn’t arrive to the deal, Atletico Madrid arrived and in three or four days fixed everything.”

Villa becomes the latest player to have ‘almost joined’ Arsenal after the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Cristian Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Gigi Buffon and Kylian Mbappe (talkSPORT).

Arsenal fans react

A lot of Arsenal fans were dismayed to learn how close the club came to landing Villa, who scored 16 goals in his final season for Barca, and then 15 in his one season with Atleti: