Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted he regrets not signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, as he prepares to come face-to-face with the player when they play Juventus in the UEFA Champions League.
Ibrahimovic enjoyed a trial at Arsenal as a teenager and Wenger was keen to bring him to Highbury.
However, Ajax won the race for the Swede's signature and Wenger concedes he regrets not snapping up the skilful forward.
"He was here at 16 but he chose to go to Ajax, which was a big disappointment because I wanted to sign him as a youngster," said Wenger.
"I regret not being able to sign him very much because he is a very talented player and he has made a big reputation for himself within Europe as one of the best strikers of his type."
Meanwhile, Wenger is hoping Arsenal can copy Liverpool by going all the way in this season's Champions League.
Like Liverpool last season, Arsenal have excelled in Europe, but struggled domestically.
The Reds beat Juventus on their way to winning the competition last term and Wenger believes his side can learn from their Premiership rivals.
"Liverpool can be a positive example for us but it does not mean that, because they did, we will automatically do it. We realise that," added Wenger.
"You can compare the two situations, but the only difference is that they went on to finish the job.
"It is a cup and the meaning of the cup is to win it.
"If you go to the semi-final and go out, people say: 'Arsenal only got to the semi-final'.
"If you get to the final and lose it, people say: 'Arsenal have lost the final', so let's just get out and try to win the game."
Source: Skysports
Ibrahimovic enjoyed a trial at Arsenal as a teenager and Wenger was keen to bring him to Highbury.
However, Ajax won the race for the Swede's signature and Wenger concedes he regrets not snapping up the skilful forward.
"He was here at 16 but he chose to go to Ajax, which was a big disappointment because I wanted to sign him as a youngster," said Wenger.
"I regret not being able to sign him very much because he is a very talented player and he has made a big reputation for himself within Europe as one of the best strikers of his type."
Meanwhile, Wenger is hoping Arsenal can copy Liverpool by going all the way in this season's Champions League.
Like Liverpool last season, Arsenal have excelled in Europe, but struggled domestically.
The Reds beat Juventus on their way to winning the competition last term and Wenger believes his side can learn from their Premiership rivals.
"Liverpool can be a positive example for us but it does not mean that, because they did, we will automatically do it. We realise that," added Wenger.
"You can compare the two situations, but the only difference is that they went on to finish the job.
"It is a cup and the meaning of the cup is to win it.
"If you go to the semi-final and go out, people say: 'Arsenal only got to the semi-final'.
"If you get to the final and lose it, people say: 'Arsenal have lost the final', so let's just get out and try to win the game."
Source: Skysports
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