Arsenal didn't want to sign me enough – I joined Chelsea instead and the rest is history

Arsenal's claimed lack of desire saw them miss out on one of Chelsea's greatest ever midfielders

Arsenal are the favourites to get one over Chelsea as the two sides clash in the Premier League this afternoon. But a decade ago, it was the Blues who were pulling down the pants of their north London rivals.

The two Premier League heavyweights both registered an interest in signing N'Golo Kante after he played a starring role in Leicester City's improbable Premier League title-winning 2015/16 season.

However, a move to the Emirates Stadium never materialised and he subsequently signed for Chelsea in a £30million deal.

Nearing the end of his first season at Stamford Bridge - which resulted in his second Premier League title in a row - Kante claimed he rejected a move to Arsenal, then led by Arsene Wenger, because the club didn't try hard enough to secure his services.

In 2017, he told Sky Sports: "With Arsenal there was an interest but not a big as other clubs. That is why I didn’t go to Arsenal and went to Chelsea." His time at Stamford Bridge lasted seven years as he made 269 appearances for the club and helped them to six major honours, including the Champions League title in the 2020/21 season when beating Manchester City

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Ahead of that European final against Pep Guardiola's side, Kante discussed his footballing journey and revealed watching ex-Chelsea stars as a child inspired him to make his mark in the game. "Growing up, coaches or team-mates might tell me that I resemble such-and-such a player," he told UEFA.

"I was just someone who watched football; I would watch the games which interested me, without necessarily focusing on players in a similar position to mine. Whenever the international break came around, I would obviously watch France play.

"And getting to watch the likes of [Claude] Makélélé or Lassana Diarra, I drew inspiration from them at some point. But in the end, I’m not like them. I was lucky to be in touch with them and they’re great players with their own career, and I have my own career and path at my side. I have had some chats with Claude since I came to Chelsea.

"He was here to give me advice on my play, and the impact I can have on the game. Being able to talk with him about that is beneficial for me because he knows the position."

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After leaving Chelsea in 2023, he signed for Al-Ittihad on a free transfer and spent two years there before making his return to European football this year with Fenerbahce. The Blues haven't won a league title since 2017 but they can make a dent in Arsenal's title charge when they take on the league leaders in north London this afternoon.