Arsene Wenger: 'Pep Guardiola wanted to join Arsenal'

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola wanted to join Arsenal as a player more than a decade ago.

Guardiola, who will oversee his side's Champions League game at home to Arsenal on Wednesday, contacted the Gunners with a view to playing in London, according to Wenger.

Instead of moving to England, Guardiola joined Brescia in 2001 as he ended an 11-year playing career with Barcelona.

"He wanted to play with me as a coach," Wenger told reporters. "He wanted to play for Arsenal. I met him. He was 30-31 back then.

"I can't really remember, after that he went to Italy and I had players like Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit who were still young and played for the national team as well."

Wenger, who masterminded his side to a 2-0 victory over Guardiola's Bayern a fortnight ago, will go head to head against the Spaniard again at the Allianz Arena on matchday four.