Arsenal legend Tony Adams has revealed that he was worryingly close to joining Manchester United before Arsene Wenger joined the club in 1996.

That’s right. Mr. Arsenal himself almost moved to the Red Devils after Sir Alex Ferguson hounded him for years. The centre-back wanted to see changes and wanted to be part of a team who was competing. But before the move could go ahead, Wenger road in on his faithful steed (or more likely some sort of french car) and rescued the club.

“Alex Ferguson wanted to sign me twice, just before Arsene Wenger came to the club,” said Adams. “I was ready for a change and he was on to me every day.

“The chairman at the time, Peter Hill-Wood, convinced me that there was a good man on the way and that we were going to be ambitious financially.”

Statue of former Arsenal player Tony Adams
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 18: Statue of former Arsenal player Tony Adams is seen outside the ground before the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Fulham at Emirates Stadium on January 18, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

Adams went on to appear 669 times for the Gunners and spent his entire career at the club. If the defender had left for Manchester United, our view of the legend would be a very different one. He would have moved from north London to Manchester and would have probably gone on to win numerous titles and trophies there.

Maybe we would have signed someone else who would have also gone down in Arsenal history as one of the best defenders ever to play for the club.

Although that would make the statue outside the Emirates a bit inappropriate, wouldn’t it?