Unai Emery has revealed that Arsenal were targeting a move for Fabinho until just before he moved to Liverpool and the Gunners boss believes the former Monaco star's progress at Liverpool augurs well for Nicolas Pepe.
Though it was well known that Paris Saint-Germain coveted Fabinho when Unai Emery was in charge it had not previously been revealed that Emery and the Arsenal hierarchy were also hopeful of snaring the 26-year-old in the summer of 2018.
Ultimately they were beaten to the punch by Liverpool, who had secured a £39million deal for Fabinho 48 hours after their defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final. In the early weeks of last season it appeared that Jurgen Klopp's side had erred in their major investment as the Brazilian struggled to adapt to the pace of the game in England.
However by the second half of the campaign Fabinho was firmly established in Klopp's strongest XI, missing only 13 minutes of knockout football as Liverpool went on to win the Champions League.
Arsenal have seen their own big money recruit from Ligue 1 labour through the early weeks of life in England with Pepe's only goal so far coming when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang handed him a penalty in a 3-2 win over Aston Villa. Even when there were signs of improvement in the defeat at Sheffield United the club record signing saw his copy book blotted when he missed an open goal from Sead Kolasinac's cross.
Yet Emery is convinced that Pepe will eventually prove to be as great a success for Arsenal as Fabinho has been for Liverpool.
"We spend money with Pepe," Emery said. "Pepe needs time to adapt to the Premier League.
"For example, in France I love a lot Fabinho. He was in Monaco and I wanted to sign for PSG.
"When I arrived here, also his name was on the table to achieve to sign him, but he signed for Liverpool.
"The first six months he didn't play, it was adaptation. But now he is amazing and I want the same with Ceballos, with Pepe.
"We need patience, but Pepe is improving, but on Monday, the key to win was with him. If he scores the first goal, it's different.
"But it's one process and I believe in him and I know we need time and patience. The supporters have patience, some more than others.
"But I know we are convinced. We are going to fight to convince them and tomorrow to show another 90 minutes at the Emirates and then on Sunday."
Arsenal would subsequently sign Lucas Torreira that summer, a player who impressed in his first season in England but has played a fringe role this term.
