Ex-France international Michael Ciani has opened up on his failed transfer to Arsenal, insisting it wasn't his fault.
The retired centre-back was linked with a move to the Emirates around a decade ago but a deal never materialised.
As quoted by Girondins4Ever, Ciani revealed: "The biggest club that came after me? I had a period when I was approached by Arsenal.
"It’s when I was at Bordeaux. It wasn’t my fault because I would have accepted immediately, but there was a story of agents, I think."
The Arsenal manager at the time was Arsene Wenger, who was renowned for bringing French talent to the Premier League.
During his time in North London, Wenger signed Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Nicolas Anelka, Samir Nasri, Alexandre Lacazette, Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud and many more France internationals.
Ciani, now 37, came through the ranks at minnows Racing Paris before stints at fellow French clubs Charleroi, Auxerre and Sedan.
The defender's career took off at Lorient, making 98 league appearances between 2006 and 2009 to earn a move to French giants Bordeaux.
Shortly before that transfer, though, he did admit that he fancied a spell in the Premier League.
As quoted by Sky Sports, Ciani said in 2009: "If I have to stay in France, it would only be for such big clubs, otherwise I would prefer to go abroad.
"I heard about interest from Paris. It is a very good trail for me. I am happy to see big clubs are attracted.
"I know coach Antoine Kombouare [the Paris Saint-Germain manager] has appreciated me as he already wanted to sign me when he was at Valenciennes.
"There are clubs interested so I will surely leave Lorient this summer."
Ciani's time at Bordeaux proved to be a success, playing 91 league games and earning his one and only senior cap for France in 2010.
He eventually got his move abroad in 2012, joining Serie A regulars Lazio before having spells at Sporting Lisbon, Espanyol, Lorient again and LA Galaxy.
Do you think Michael Ciani would have been a success at Arsenal? Let us know in the comments below
The Frenchman never did get the chance to grace the Premier League and has admitted his disappointment at that fact.
Ciani added: "I’d just arrived at Bordeaux, it was my first year. I was in the national team, the top scorer in the Champions League [laughs].
"I was really at the peak of my career. I therefore got that approach and it was kind of just forgotten. It could have been a good opportunity for me."
