Arsenal reportedly came close to signing Juan Mata as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas after the midfielder joined Barcelona in 2011.
The Gunners were left with a hole in their midfield when Fabregas moved to the Nou Camp and scoured the globe for a creative spark to replace the Spaniard.
Mata, who was playing his football for Valencia at the time, was reportedly top of the club's list of transfer targets after being flagged by former head scout Francis Cagigao.
According to The Athletic, Cagigao urged Wenger to launch a bid for Mata, while he also identified Santi Cazorla, then at Villarreal, as another potential signing.