3. Yaya Toure
This one is probably the most public of all the players on this list. Arsenal had his older brother Kolo Toure on their books and would have hoped that helped them sign Yaya. He did play in a trial match against Barnet where he impressed, but the problem came with documentation. Arsene Wenger has often been criticised for not tying up a deal for the Ivorian and it is thought by many that Wenger chose not to sign him. This is actually untrue. In 2011 Arsene told Arsenal.com
“He was here as a young boy but we cannot get players in here if they are not internationals. He had no work permit and was too young. We tried to wait until when he was in Belgium, we tried to get him a European passport. He was not patient enough and left for Metalurh Donetsk”. Gutted Rating: 9/10
Is this the most gutting of all? Arsenal could really do with someone like Yaya | Photo via Oemar