---
title: "The one that got away: Arsenal and Marco Reus"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/the-one-that-got-away-arsenal-and-marco-reus/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-11-30T07:20:45Z"
modified: "2019-11-30T07:20:45Z"
---

# The one that got away: Arsenal and Marco Reus

**This article forms part of our The Ones That Got Away feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern take a look back at players linked with moves in the past, and see how they would have made an impact had they signed for the interested side.**

Back in the summer of 2015, Arsenal were a team hunting the title. With the [financial shackles](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jun/06/arsenal-wayne-rooney-arsene-wenger) imposed on the club due to their move to the Emirates Stadium seemingly swept away following the club-record buy of [Mesut Ozil](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23929339) some two years prior, the Gunners had started to flex their economic muscle as they threatened to top the English pyramid.

While their campaigns in [2013/14](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2013) and [2014/15](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2014) ended in Premier League disappointment (despite season-ending [FA Cup triumphs](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32856754)), Arsenal had welcomed the big-money additions of Ozil and [Alexis Sanchez](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/28177987), though to no avail in pursuit of title glory.

Having gained [one place](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-arsenal/platzierungen/verein/11) following the addition of the Chilean, an onslaught on the summit was surely within the Gunners’ reach. The acquisition of Petr Cech may have been a big-name arrival in the off-season but he remained their priciest incoming at [£12.6m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/arsenal-fc/transfers/verein/11/plus/0?saison_id=2015&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=) – after failing to bring in Marco Reus that same summer.

According to Sport Bild (via [Sport Witness](https://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/bild-arsenal-will-pay-48m-to-complete-marco-reus-deal)), the Gunners were prepared to spend £48m on the Borussia Dortmund winger, before he decided to stay in Germany.

The approach for Reus made sense from Arsenal’s point of view; the club were short of solid, top-class wide [options](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/arsenal-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/11/plus/0?reldata=%262015) in attack, especially with the likes of [Sanchez](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alexis-sanchez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/40433/plus/0?saison=&verein=11&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) and [Theo Walcott](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/theo-walcott/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/33713/plus/0?saison=&verein=11&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) filling in at centre-forward throughout their Gunners careers.

But for whatever reason, Arsene Wenger’s backup plan seemed to be relying on [Joel Campbell](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/arsenal-fc/leistungsdaten/verein/11/plus/0?reldata=%262015) and the emerging talent of Alex Iwobi to fulfil a position that was essentially neglected as Arsenal struggled for consistent [results](https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/2015-16/fixtures-and-results.html#JbyEvent) in the title run-in that year.

Their unsuccessful approach for Reus had broken a recent trend that saw Arsenal substantially add to their squad – and in a year where champions Chelsea went into [meltdown](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2015) while both Manchester clubs were far below-par, a rather standard season in terms of points for the Gunners (just four fewer than the [previous campaign](https://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2014)) saw them relinquish the opportunity for a first title in 12 years to Leicester City.

Reus has remained loyal to Dortmund and [continues to deliver](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50524472) for them today – though his lengthy [injury history](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marco-reus/verletzungen/spieler/35207) may have been detrimental to any title tilt involving the German.

Still, he netted [23 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marco-reus/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/35207/plus/0?saison=2015&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) that season.

With that in mind, the 2015/16 season arguably remains one of Arsenal’s biggest ‘what if’ moments in recent memory – and the failed pursuit of Reus may, in hindsight, stick out as a potential turning point as they were unable to bring the title home.

\[freshpress-poll id=”260003″\]

***Arsenal fans, would Reus have been a success at the club? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!***