Former Arsenal transfer negotiator Dick Law has opened up about the Gunners' infamous £40million plus £1 bid for Luis Suarez.
Then Liverpool forward Suarez was looking for a way out at Anfield in 2013 and was attracted by the proposition of Arsenal as they could offer him Champions League football.
The Uruguayan had a clause in his contract that meant Liverpool had to inform Suarez a bid had been made for him if it was more than £40m.
Crucially, it was not a buy-out clause, but Law insists Arsenal were always aware of this. They simply added the extra pound to kick-start negotiations with Liverpool.
But the Reds took offence to the offer and decided to publicise it.
"What do you think they're smoking over there at Emirates?" is what Liverpool owner John W Henry famously said about the received bid.
On the face of things Henry's reaction seems justified, but Law believes it was precisely this response that lead to the club losing Suarez.
Speaking to Goal, Law said: "I always thought that the move to publicise it was counter-productive.
"One of the things we were always very proud of at Arsenal was working quietly behind the scenes. Ivan [Gazidis], Arsene [Wenger] and I always worked very hard on being discreet in all transfers.
"And I thought Liverpool shot themselves in the foot by basically saying they were now forced to entertain offers because of this clause, by publicising it they just made everyone aware and eventually they lost the player."
