Turkey international goalkeeper Rustu Recber nearly signed for Arsenal this summer... before mouthing off at Arsène Wenger at their very first meeting.

The other pony-tailed one tells the Daily Express: "... at that point [Wenger] seemed to get obsessed with my back and asked if it gave me any problems [after an injury].

"I told him it was absolutely fine and that it caused me no worries, but he insisted he needed a second opinion.

"I told him that I wasn't just some 19-year-old he could treat as he wanted," the Turk added helpfully, convincing both Wenger and himself that establishing a sound working relationship might be difficult.

Meanwhile, several reports say that any move for Jens Lehmann must be concluded within days, or Arsenal will look elsewhere for Stuart Taylor's new rival.