Former Dynamo Moscow striker Aleksandr Kokorin opens up about his decision to reject a move to Arsenal and the impact it had on his career.

• Aleksandr Kokorin reveals he turned down a move to Arsenal in 2015, believing Dynamo Moscow’s project was on par with the Gunners’ ambitions.
• Arsenal continued their search for attacking options, eventually signing Lacazette and Aubameyang.
• In hindsight, Kokorin’s decision may have been a missed opportunity for both the player and Arsenal.

Former Dynamo Moscow forward Aleksandr Kokorin has recently spoken about his decision to reject a move to Arsenal back in 2015.

In an interview with Nobel on YouTube, the Russian striker revealed that he turned down the chance to join the Premier League giants, believing that his club at the time had a project that matched Arsenal’s ambitions.

Back in 2015, Arsenal were reportedly keen on signing Kokorin, who was a highly-rated forward in Russian football.

The Gunners tried to secure a loan deal for the player during the summer transfer window, but Dynamo Moscow refused to let him go.

However, it appears that Kokorin himself was also not interested in the move, as he explained in the interview: “I turned down a transfer to the Gunners. I was at Dynamo Moscow, we were in the Europa League and the club had a big project.

“There was a moment when I thought the team held up to Arsenal’s level. Then, we went crazy, and so many left.”

Since that decision, Kokorin’s career has taken several turns, with stints at Spartak Moscow, Zenit Saint-Petersburg, and Fiorentina. Currently, the 32-year-old is on loan at Aris Limassol in Cyprus, where he has managed to score 11 goals, with six assists, in 26 games.

Arsenal, on the other hand, continued to search for striking options, eventually signing the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Looking back, it’s interesting to consider how Kokorin’s decision may have impacted Arsenal’s attack at the time.

As the Gunners sought alternatives to Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, and an injury-prone Danny Welbeck, Kokorin could have provided a different dimension to the Arsenal frontline. With his versatility and work ethic, he could have offered an option in the wide areas or as a central forward.

However, it’s impossible to predict how Kokorin would have fared at the Emirates, and whether he could have adapted to the demands of the Premier League.

As it stands, both the player and Arsenal have moved on from the situation, with the Gunners now boasting a new generation of attacking talent under Mikel Arteta.

In hindsight, Kokorin’s decision to turn down Arsenal may have been a missed opportunity for both parties. But, as with any transfer story, it’s the decisions made and the paths taken that shape the careers of players and the fortunes of clubs alike.