Arsene Wenger lifts lid on failed bid to sign Gareth Barry as Arsenal boss praises midfielder who is set to break Premier League appearance record
- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger tried to buy midfielder Gareth Barry in 2009
- But the Gunners were beaten to Barry's signature by rich rivals Manchester City
- Barry is now at West Bromwich Albion and will play against Arsenal on Monday
- It will be the 36-year-old's 633rd Premier League appearance - a new record
- Wenger has praised Barry's achievement, describing it as 'outstanding'
Arsene Wenger has revealed he failed in an attempt to sign Gareth Barry in 2009.
Barry, 36, will break the all-time Premier League appearance record if he plays against Arsenal for West Brom on Monday.
And Wenger admits he tried to sign Barry - who is set to make his 633rd top-flight appearances - eight years ago.
Arsene Wenger has praised Gareth Barry who is preparing to make Premier League history
Barry equalled the League's all-time appearance record last week and will break it on Monday
Barry's historic 633rd outing will be against Wenger's Arsenal, who tried to sign him in 2009
Wenger said: ‘We were interested in him yes, when he moved from Villa to Manchester City, but at the time City was the big investor and so that financial potential was superior to ours at the time.
‘I believe (the appearance record) that it’s an outstanding achievement and that he’s a player who is intelligent, determined, strong in the challenge, has good technical quality.
‘I personally always rated him highly and I think just he was a bit unlucky in England because he was in the period of (Frank) Lampard and (Steven) Gerrard and got not the number of caps he deserved maybe for England, but it’s an exceptional achievement what he’s doing.’
Arsenal have lost two of their last four games against West Brom.
The Gunners were beaten 3-1 at The Hawthorns in March, after sneaking a 1-0 win over the Baggies at home on Boxing Day courtesy of a late Olivier Giroud goal.
But it is seven years since West Brom last won away at Arsenal - a 3-2 victory inspired by Peter Odemwingie, Gonzalo Jara and Jerome Thomas in September 2010.
Wenger was keen on Barry after the defender-turned-midfielder broke through at Aston Villa
Barry established himself as key man at Villa, making 365 Premier League appearances
This saw Arsenal's interest grow but they missed out as Barry moved to Manchester City
Wenger said Arsenal were unable to sign Barry because of City's superior financial potential
Barry added 132 games to his Premier League tally while at City and won the title in 2012
Then came 131 outings for Everton, before a move to West Brom earlier this summer
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