One would speculate that the Gunners boss has many regrets after each transfer window.
The one thing Arsenal fans are often frustrated about is Arsene Wenger’s inability to get a star striker to the Emirates.
Now, Arsene Wenger has admitted that he regrets missing out signing Diego Costa.
It would seem as if the Arsenal Boss is a little worried as Costa looks to challenge the Frenchman’s line-up an Chelsea take on Arsenal Saturday.
Costa launched Chelsea to the Premier League title with 20 goals in his first season and has netted five goals so far under Antonio Conte.
The Spaniard has two goals in three encounters with the Gunners, all three Chelsea wins. Costa brought more attention on himself when he injured Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista, which the Brazil international was sent off for lashing out at Costa.
Wenger admits the club failed to ‘realise’ a deal for Costa that could have been in the offing when signed for the West London Club two years ago.
“I never thought he would leave Atletico Madrid at the time, I was surprised,” Wenger said.
“Would I have made a harder play for him had I known? Yes. I like him, as a quality striker.”
Wenger also hinted at a bit of admiration for Costa’s hardened approach ahead of this season’s rematch.
“You want full commitment from every single player,” he. “But commitment is different from these kind of over-reactions. He is a fighter and you respect that. The rest is down to the referees to get the game and the rules respected.
“He is similar to [Didier] Drogba because he’s a top-quality player.
“I cannot put it on Costa the fact that we got caught last year [at the Emirates]. It was more the tandem – [Cesc] Fabregas, Costa – which was very dangerous for us.
“Fabregas found him quickly with his runs. In the first incident [last season, at Stamford Bridge], we were a bit guilty of reacting [to Costa]. But in the second, we were caught tactically. Mertesacker had only the opportunity to try to tackle. He got rightly sent off.”
