Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he toyed with the idea of bringing Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka back to North London.
The 30-year-old joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old in February 1997 from Paris St Germain and helped them win the Double in 1998.
However, Anelka jumped at the chance of a big-money move Real Madrid. After a frustrating time in Spain he wandered around Europe playing for Paris St Germain again, Liverpool, Manchester City, Fenerbahce and Bolton before landing at Chelsea in 2008.
Wenger has revealed he had considered bringing the striker back to Arsenal.
He said: "I was disappointed when he wanted to leave us, but the rest is down to him.
"He has not always been at the clubs where his talent deserves him to be, but in the end the talent told, now he is more mature.
"He was out of the French national team for a long time and out of the top level clubs, but now he is where he belongs.
"Slowly, Anelka is getting the credit that he deserves at Chelsea."
Wenger added: "I always kept in touch with Nicolas because I like him and I still believe deeply that he has never lost touch with Arsenal.
"I believe he still loves this club.
"I always considered bringing him back at some stage, but it never worked because we always had strikers, and I was never a big fan of bringing old players back."
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