Angel Di Maria was supposed to have signed for Arsenal in 2007, before, at the last minute, it became clear that he would don the colors of Benfica, much to the disappointment of the Gunners fans.
Di Maria went on to make quite a name for himself at the Portuguese club, with Real Madrid capturing the Argentine in 2010 - Arsenal were heavily linked with a move even then, although they were blown away by the transfer fee.
The 24-year-old had a nice start to his Real Madrid career, and went from strength to strength in the following season, culminating in the winning the La Liga in record-breaking fashion.
So much was the value of Di Maria's stock at Real, that he was considered one of the "untouchables" of Jose Mourinho.
However, this season has been a completely different situation, with the winger in and out of Real's team, with a place in the starting XI few and far between.
"I feel great, but it's up to the coach who plays," Di Maria said. "I work hard to be 100 percent and be in the team but it's difficult. When you are not getting games it becomes more difficult and I'm not getting the run of games that I had in other seasons.
"He hasn't spoken to me, not before when I was playing or now when I'm on the bench. He has decided that I have to be on the bench and that's fine by me. All I can do is keep working to get back in."
The relationship between Di Maria and Mourinho has broken down considerably over the past couple of months, with the Portuguese manager pointing the finger solely at the Argentine after Real's disappointing 0-0 draw against Osasuna at the weekend, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
"You aren't playing at all," Mourinho shouted at the Argentine in the locker room according to Marca. "You played better when you were earning less money. Since you've signed a new deal, you've hardly played."
This is a situation that Arsene Wenger must keep a keen eye on. There are no more financial restrictions at the club, everyone at Arsenal keeps saying, so time is ripe to take advantage.
"My plan is to keep all of the players we have and then to add maybe, if possible, two new players to the squad," Wenger told in an interview to Al Jazeera Sport last week. "We will spend big (again) because we had restricted finances because we had built the stadium and had to pay that back."
So, a transfer fee of around £20-30 million ($32-46 million) should not be a problem for a potentially game-changing player, should it?
Arsenal fans have been crying out for a marquee signing that will bring a smile across the faces of everyone around the club for quite some time now - yes Santi Cazorla was a brilliant recruit, but the Gooners need, and dare I say deserve, more.
Enough has been endured by the Arsenal fans over the past few years, as they see the once invincible Gunners retreat into mediocrity with each passing season, while also paying the highest ticket prices around.
Third place or a place in the Champions League is just not good enough. Draining the talent at the Emirates by other clubs one by one needs to stop.
The Gooners, who have stuck by thick and thin, deserve more, and taking advantage of the current situation with Di Maria by making Real an offer they cannot refuse might just be the first step.
