Former Arsenal target confirms interest ahead of Europa League clash | OneFootball

Ramy Bensebaini will face Arsenal on Thursday evening but he could have been lining up for the Gunners.

The Rennes defender has confirmed he was on trial in north London for a month in 2015.

“I spent time there, a month on trial, in 2015,” Bensebaini told Ouest France, per Daily Cannon.

“I was training with the first team and I was playing matches with the reserves.

“I had spoken several times with Arsène Wenger.”

Speaking in the build-up to this week’s Europa League meeting in France, Bensebaini went on to explain why he didn’t remain with the Premier League club.

“I was going to sign, but there were problems in relations to my papers, my nationality,” said the left-back.

“In the end, it didn’t happen. It makes me happy to face Arsenal (in the Europa League).”

The 23-year-old has now been capped 11 times by Algeria and established himself in the Rennes first team since joining the club in 2016.

Speaking to France Football in 2017, Bensebaini said he was at Arsenal in 2012 for a trial but a move didn’t happen as he didn’t have a European passport.