Transfer news: 'I lost in summer pursuit for Gonzalo Higuain,' admits Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Argentine forward eventually signed for Napoli

Gonzalo Higuain speaks with his manager at Napoli, Rafa Benitez

Ahead of Arsenal’s vital Champions League fixture against Napoli on Tuesday, Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he tried to sign Gonzalo Higuain during the summer, before the striker eventually joined the Serie A side.

Higuain will spearhead the Italians' attack at the Emirates Stadium, and Wenger has revealed that he would have loved to have signed the Argentine, but in the end lost out to Napoli.

“We were working on two or three targets and he was one of them,” Wenger told Arsenal.com. ”It didn't come off in the end, that doesn't take anything away from his quality.

“Napoli took advantage of that at the right moment, it's more about timing as well.

“In the end Real Madrid sold two great players, one of them went to Napoli, one [Mesut Ozil] went to Arsenal so it's 1-1 on that front.”

Higuain, meanwhile, claimed that Arsenal have signed one of the best players in the world in Ozil. The German playmaker, who cost a club record £42.5m, has enjoyed a fine start to his career in England, already assisting three goals in the Premier League.

“I had the pleasure to play with Mesut and he is one of the best players in the world,” Higuain told The Sunday People. “As a striker he is a dream to play with – because you know he is going to create you chances.

“When you look at some of the crazy fees that players moved for this summer you have to say that Mesut was a great deal for Arsenal.”