Arsene Wenger has said that he regrets not being able to bring Yaya Toure to Arsenal in 2003.

The Ivorian had a trial with the Gunners while his brother, Kolo Toure, was already at the club, but later chose to join Metalurh Donetsk in Ukraine instead.

The manager told Sky Sports News: "It's up at the top. But let's not forget that Yaya Toure had an agreement with us and it's not because we did not want to sign him that he went to Ukraine.

"We had to wait for his passport in Belgium. We have made mistakes [with transfers], but this was not a mistake. He preferred to go to Metalurh Donetsk because he could go there without a passport."

The Manchester City midfielder will face Arsenal when the two sides meet at the Emirates later today.