Arsenal scout confirms that the club were interested in signing France star

He believes the player would have become a hit at Emirates Stadium

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Florian Thauvin in the past few times but a deal never materialised. Former manager Arsene Wenger was reportedly interested in bringing the player and followed him closely.

The France International has starred since returning to Marseille following an unsuccessful spell at Newcastle, and has progressed so far that he was a member of the World Cup-winning squad in the summer.

The 26 year old enjoyed an excellent campaign last season, scored 22 goals and provided 11 assists for the Ligue 1 giants.

The winger has enjoyed an exceptional start to the Ligue 1 season, having scored six times and created two more in the opening seven matches of the campaign.

Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi has confirmed the club tried to sign him when he was at Bastia and feels if they managed then he would now be a first team regular.

“Arsenal were scouting him when he was at Bastia and we were following him closely at the time,” he admitted to L’Equipe. “After he moved, he wasn’t at the same level.

“Today, at Arsenal, he would play.”

“He’s starting to score in big games, he’s rarely injured, and while I found him unpredictable a couple years ago, he’s not much more efficient. I didn’t think he could reach that level.

“When he was in Chateauroux’s youth system, no big club wanted him. Mentally, he’s a true champion.

“Personally, I’ve doubts over his physique. He has work-rate but lacks power.”

Though Grimandi believes the Frenchman’s hopes to play for a club is very limited.

“He’ll be 26 soon, so his hopes to play for a top club are very limited,” he added. “The fact that he doesn’t play with the France team, even if he’s in the squad, is a problem. It reinforces some of the doubts over him. Dimitri Payet has a stronger rating than him.”