Former Arsenal chief Dick Law admits they wanted to sign Juan Mata before his move to Chelsea in 2011.

Mata had agreed personal terms with the Gunners about making the switch to North London, but the club dithered over the price tag set by Valencia.

This led rivals Chelsea to swoop in and secure the services of Mata, who had chipped in with nine goals and 18 assists in 43 games during the 2010-11 season.

Law had travelled to Spain to meet with Mata's father, and he has stated that the player was keen to make the move to the Emirates.

Law told the Athletic: "Then we waited. Juan definitely wanted to come to Arsenal, there was no question about that."

When asked if Arsenal ever considered paying above their valuation of a player, Law declared that it was never spoken about.

He added: "I don't think that calculation ever entered our equation.

"We didn't have the money to say, 'We'll spend a bit more'."