Transfers we wanted to happen but with the benefit of hindsight we are glad didnt happen: Joe cole: When this guy left Chelsea to join Liverpool on a free transfer i was devastated i thought wenger was blind to the fact that a quality player like J.Cole was available and us passing on him was bad business. his performances since then have been awful at best Chris Samba: when our team was more lightweight then it is now and we where all crying out some more height and strength in our squad The poster child of Fat Sams Blackburn side was being mentioned in the press i for one wanted this transfer to go through desperately. But again with hindsight its best we never got him Stewart Downing: i am sure we where linked to him whilslt he was at villa and i am pretty sure i was happy for him to come to arsenal. these are that come to mind but i am sure there are alot more. What this has taught me is that Arsene knows best. i am sure there are others please share...
Phil Jones I believe we tried to buy. He might have actually been played in his proper position for us though..
Chris Smalling had a medical with us before he was taken from under our noses by United. thank **** for that.
Neither did quite a few Liverpool fans. And to be fair, looking at his contribution, it's almost like he never did...
I remember a few pundits crowing over the fact that we 'allowed Spurs' to sign Scott Parker a few seasons ago
People have very select memories when it suits them. Downing had 2-3 seasons of being a very reliable, if uninspiring winger. You're stereotypical 7 out of 10 player every week. A lot of fans, myself included, thought he could have done a job for us. Then he joined Liverpool and everyone laughed for 2 years. ... except Liverpool. I think I wanted Jones too at the time and still think he'd be perfectly acceptable if used in his natural position. Likewise many Gooners were screaming out for Chris Samba's "physicality" in the side! Others though...hmmmm. OK. I remember wanting Francis Jeffers back in the day and then wishing it hadn't happened. Not quite the same thing but..you know! I was reasonably jealous when Spurs signed Soldado at the time. Established player, great goal scoring record but yeesh.
It is easy with hindsight to say certain players shouldn't have been bought. But Jeffers for example was on a par with Michael Owen at youth level - and I think they played together too. One went on to be a world class striker, the other just never quite made it.
