Former Chelsea winger Salomon Kalou turned down the chance to join Arsenal in January according to the Daily Express.
The winger claims that the Gunners wanted to sign him on loan until the end of the season, but the Ivorian footballer rejected the idea preferring to remain at his current club Lille and help them to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Speaking to French sports newspaper L’Equipe Kalou said: “A possible departure? Yes, to Arsenal.
“It could have been done as a last-minute loan.
“But I wanted to finish third, prepare for the World Cup and go to the Stade de France to compete in the final of the Coupe de France.”
Kalou has become an important player at the French club who were responsible for grooming Belgium international Eden Hazard.
Kalou is also expected to play a huge part for the Ivory Coast in this summer’s World Cup along with Manchester City’s Yaya Toure and Galatasaray’s Didier Drogba.
