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.

He said: ‘The idea was for Arsenal to acquire like-for-like replacements and still turn a profit. Unfortunately, the club were not able to complete the deals — Mata went to Chelsea and Cazorla joined Malaga.’

Unfortunately for Arsenal, Mata moved on to Chelsea in 2011, while Cazorla joined Malaga, before eventually moving to the Emirates for £25m 12 months later.

Despite Cazorla’s relative success at Arsenal, Wenger endured a dismal record in the transfer market during that period after losing a host of star players.

Fabregas’ departure was followed by the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United while Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna left for Manchester City in 2014.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker were all brought in but failed to fill the holes left by the club’s biggest names.

Cagigao, who has been the Gunners’ chief scout for 23 years, also revealed that he warned Wenger not to sign Shkodran Mustafi from Werder Bremen.

The Spaniard says he described Mustafi as a ‘mid-table player’ but Wenger pushed through with the signing of the Germany international.

Mustafi has since endured a torrid time at the Emirates and appears likely to be sold this summer with just a year remaining on his current deal.

Cagigao is now working closely with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who he scouted before the club signed him from Everton for £10m in 2011.