Unai Emery reportedly wanted Arsenal to complete the signing of Steven N'Zonzi last summer, only to be encouraged by the recruitment team to move for Lucas Torreira.
The Gunners were heavily linked with N'Zonzi last summer, with reports even suggesting that a £35.3m deal for the 30-year-old had been agreed.
However, no such deal materialised, and Arsenal's midfield signing of last summer ended up being Torreira, who had just enjoyed an impressive World Cup with Uruguay.
According to The Athletic, Emery's initial preference was for N'Zonzi having already worked, with the Frenchman at Sevilla, only for scouting experts to win him over through a presentation demonstrating why Torreira would be a better signing.
The Arsenal boss is said to have harboured concerns over Torreira's diminutive stature and capacity to handle the physicality of the Premier League.
N'Zonzi, who enjoyed three successful years with Sevilla before joining Roma, completed a loan move to Galatasaray earlier this month.
Leo Nieboer
