QPR midfielder Joey Barton has insisted that Arsenal attempted to sign him in the summer, after seeing his claims dismissed by Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
Barton had previously stated that a clash with Gervinho in the first game of the season may have cost him a move to Arsenal upon leaving Newcastle United at the end of the transfer window.
He told The Sunday Mirror: "Peter Hill-Wood said they never had any serious interest in me, I just don't understand. The dialogue between him and his coaching staff has broken down so severely that he doesn't know what's going on at his football club.
"I don't know [why Hill-Wood said that]. Fair enough if I was claiming to sign for Real Madrid or Barcelona or Manchester City or Manchester United, but I don't think it's that big of a shout to say Arsenal were after me because it's definitely a club in - what shall I say? - transition."
The former Manchester City man also went on to express his shock at Arsenal's decline and poor current form.
The Gunners sit in 15th place in the Premier League following a poor start to the season and have struggled through their Champions League ties.
Barton continued: "Financially, they have put themselves in a great position but I don't know what's happening there.
"I don't understand. You look at Arsenal and you think, 'Well, they obviously have an abundance of money'. Their stadium is almost paid for. I would say, financially, they are the most well-run club in the league, barring Manchester City.
"I watched them the other day, it's a very different side from that great team they had with Petit and Vieira. If I was an Arsenal fan... well.
"It's nothing to do with me because it's not my football club but, even so, I like to see those great English sides do well. I remember watching the Champions League and Arsenal against Olympiakos at home was a shoo-in, four or five-nil win for Arsenal, but they made hard work of it. But this is the game we're in."
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