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Player Man City sold for £21m says he actually could’ve signed for Arsenal

Charles Jones

Sat 23 March 2024 11:45, UK

Arsenal and Manchester City have done a lot of business over the years.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are just a few players who have crossed this divide over the years.

City and Arsenal aren’t opposed to doing business with each other, and now, it’s been revealed that one of City’s prized assets of the 2000s almost headed to north London.

Speaking to , Shaun Wright-Phillips has now admitted that he could’ve joined Arsenal at one point, but he turned down a move to the Gunners as he was so settled at Manchester City.

Shaun Wright-Phillips could’ve joined Arsenal

The winger spoke about almost joining the Gunners.

“I actually said no, because Arsenal came in first, Arsene Wenger, as he does, was messing around, and when the club came to me I said no I don’t want to leave. I was naïve as a kid, I thought I broke through at City and I’d be there for the rest of my life, I was settled and I was happy,” Wright-Phillips said.

Shaun Wright-Phillips could’ve been an Arsenal legend

Wright-Phillips probably doesn’t get the credit he deserves as a player.

During his time at Man City, he was one of the brightest young stars in the Premier League, and if he’d moved to Arsenal at the right time, he could’ve become a real fan favourite at Highbury and the Emirates.

Of course, the family tie is there with his Dad, Ian, so that would’ve been a great start, while his ability would’ve made Arsene Wenger’s side that much more dynamic in the mid-2000s.

Wright-Phillips would have been much better off moving to Arsenal than he ultimately was moving to Chelsea in a deal in 2005, that’s for sure.

In another world, Wright-Phillips could’ve followed in his father’s footsteps and been a star for Arsenal.