The transfer window is over and it's time to look at what could've been. Plenty of players have been linked with Arsenal this summer, and this is a starting XI and seven substitutes of players that have been linked with a move to the Gunners.
Starting XI:
GK: Iker Casillas - This was a hard choice to make because Arsenal have been linked to numerous goalkeepers over the summer, but it has to be Iker Casillas. His contract is expiring at the end of the year, and was linked with a move out of Real Madrid after Keylor Navas' move to Los Blancos.
RB: Serge Aurier - Before the signings of Debuchy and Chambers, Arsenal were linked with Serge Aurier throughout the summer. He was voted right-back of the year in Ligue 1 last season and had a good World Cup with the Ivory Coast. After his move to Arsenal didn't work out he moved to PSG.
CB: Sokratis Papastathopoulos - Sokratis, unlike many of Arsenal's other linked players, was linked late on in the transfer window, as a replacement for Thomas Vermaelen. Sokratis currently plays for Borussia Dortmund and played at this years World Cup with the Greek national team.
CB: Kostas Manolas - Another Greek defender who was linked to Arsenal after the sale of Vermaelen was Manolas. He, like Aurier, also moved after his move to Arsenal didn't materialise. Manolas is now playing for Roma in Serie A.
LB: Luke Shaw - There really weren't many left back that Arsenal have been linked with this transfer window, but early in the window Arsenal were among a range of clubs chasing the young left back. He left Southampton to join Manchesrer United for over £27 million.
CDM: Sami Khedira - Defensive midfield was a position where Arsenal really needed to invest in this season, but didn't. One of the players linked throughout the window was Khedira. The Geeman only has a year left on his contract with Real Madrid, and Los Blancos wanted to sell him to Arsenal this season, rather than lose him to Bayern Munich on a costless transfer next term. He remains a Real though.
CDM: William Carvalho - Carvalho is a another defensive midfielder that Arsenal were linked with throughout the window. Arsenal supposedly made a move to sign him on deadline day, but a move didn't materialise. He is still at Sporting Lisbon and Wenger could make a move to sign the young midfielder in January.
RM: Juan Fernando Quintero - Was surprisingly linked to Arsenal midway through the transfer window. The Colombian is an attacking midfielder who plays for Porto and was reportedly on the verge of a move to North London. He remains at Porto.
CAM: Cesc Fabregas - the ex-Arsenal captain had been linked with a move back to Arsenal ever since he left. Arsenal had a buy back clause on Fabregas and he wanted to move, but Arsene Wenger rejected the move and he moved to Chelsea.
LM: Marco Reus - Reus reportedly has agreement to join Bayern Munich next year and the club may want to sell him now to stop him moving to Bayern. According to the Metro, Arsenal made a €40 million bid to sign him on deadline day, the bid was swiftly reject by Dortmund.
ST: Falcao - Falcao has been one of the most prolific strikers in world football for years and was reportedly offered to Arsenal on a season loan deal. After signing Welbeck, many fans complained that the London outfit didn't sign Falcao. There is good reason for that, his wages are around three times that of record signing Mesut Özil's. Falcao left Moanco to sign for Manchester United on loan.
Substitutes:
Victor Valdes - The costless agent has been linked with a move to Arsenal, but his injury meant he failed a medical at Moanco.
Matija Nastasic - The young Manchester City defender was linked to a deadline day move to Arsenal, but the player rejected all offers to stay at Manchester City and fight for his place.
Micah Richards - Micah Richards has been linked to Arsenal for many years, and could've moved if he became available earlier in the window. He moved to Fiorentina on loan.
Javi Martinez - Javi Martinez was linked as a defensive midfielder that can also play centre back. After his injury a move became virtually impossible.
Adiren Rabiot - Another midfielder who was linked to Arsenal who Rabiot. The teenager was linked to Roma as well, and despite both clubs reportedly agreeing a fee, he remains at PSG.
Loic Remy - Two days before the window closed, Arsenal and Chelsea both reportedly triggered the Frenchman's release clause. The Arsenal rumour turned out to be false and he moved to Chelsea.
Edinson Cavani - Cavani was reportedly unsettled at PSG and was interested in a move to Arsenal, no move happened and he still plays for PSG.
