Jeremie Aliadiere might have ended up playing against — not for — Arsenal at Middlesbrough today.

Wenger had almost agreed to let the striker leave in the transfer window and Gareth Southgate showed an interest in bringing him to the Riverside.

However Wenger decided to keep Aliadiere for the remainder of the season when Robin van Persie broke a bone in his foot.

“It was an option we considered and he considered,” said Wenger. “But the injury to Robin van Persie killed that possibility.”