Defender: I didn’t join Arsenal because they wanted to play me on the left

France international defender Djibril Sidibe admitted he was “really close to signing” for Arsenal during this year’s summer transfer window, according to Le Parisien (via ESPN).

The Premier League side, who currently sit third in the English top-flight table following five success league wins on the bounce, were heavily linked with a late swoop for the highly-rated AS Monaco full-back during the previous transfer window.

The 24-year-old, who has four international caps for his country and starred for France in Monday night’s 1-0 win over Netherlands in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 10 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 outfit this season.

Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Sidibe; who opted to snub the Gunners’ late interest and sign a new five-year contract with Monaco, told Le Parisien, “I was really close to signing, and I had a headache given how late they came in for me.

“Normally, you jump at the chance, but after thinking about it, I wasn’t certain that I would get playing time. I would have played perhaps 25 games with the cups.

“And they saw me playing rather on the left while I want to establish myself on the right.

“So, I preferred to stay in Ligue 1 to get a maximum of experience and leave for the Premier League next year, because it’s a league that I’m really attracted to.”