The midfielder could have lined up for the hosts at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday if the boss had chosen to sign the dynamic Frenchman
Arsene Wenger admitted he turned down the chance to sign Leicester City's N'Golo Kante before the midfielder joined the Premier League club last summer.
The 24-year-old Frenchman has been a revelation for the Foxes since joining from Caen for a fee of around £5.6 million in August, starring in Leicester's rise up the table.
Claudio Ranieri's side travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, knowing they have the opportunity to damage Arsenal's pursuit of a long-awaited title.
Ahead of the encounter, Wenger has revealed he turned down signing Kante as a youngster, despite receiving a recommendation for his signature.
"Kante is a huge force in their team," the French boss said.
"Of course I know him. You look at his career and you will be amazed. Because he played in Suresnes in Paris at the age of nine, 10 years old. After that he went to Boulogne as an amateur. They didn't want to sign him pro.
"After, he went to Caen, and then he came finally to England. But everywhere he has been, he has always adapted to the level where he was.
"One of my best friends in life has known him since he was 10 years old, and he spoke to me about him. We went to watch him and we saw he had quality. But I didn't know he would come so quickly to England."
- Goal