Wenger reveals Owen temptation

Wednesday 14 December, 2005

Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger has revealed that he was tempted to make a move for Michael Owen before the forward decided to join Newcastle.

Owen, then of Real Madrid, was linked heavily with a move to Liverpool before making the switch to Tyneside, but he could have been heading for London instead.

“I was tempted,” said the former Monaco Coach. “But I knew I had Robin van Persie, Jose Antonio Reyes, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, players who can come out and score goals.

“At some stage you have to make room for your young players or they never play. If I bring Michael Owen, Van Persie today would not play.

“For me, it was not a money question. It was really 'do I stick to what I started or do I change direction completely?'

“I decided to give a chance to my young players because I felt if I had to do it, I had to this year. When you are a young player there is a moment where you have to come in; if you miss that moment you lose the player.”