Arsenal turned down Joe Hart, reveals former Gunner

Former Arsenal youth team player reveals Gunners almost signed England keeper from Shrewsbury.

Writing in his new book Journeyman: One Man’s Odyssey Through the Lower Leagues of English Football, Ben Smith explains that he played with the current Man City keeper at Shrewsbury Town, where he was already attracting attention.

"Our reserve keeper, however, was a seventeen-year-old called Joe Hart. It was obvious from training that Joe was going to be a brilliant keeper and I can honestly say I am not surprised in the slightest that he has gone on to have the success he has had.

An injury gave Hart his chance in the first team and he kept his place. Smith continues:

"A few games into his career I saw a familiar face in the crowd: Steve Rowley – the man who initially signed me for Arsenal and was now their chief scout – was at a Shrewsbury game. It did not take a genius to work out who he was watching.

"Steve obviously asked my opinion on Joe and I gave him a glowing reference. Steve said Arsenal had earmarked him as one of the best three young keepers in Europe. I could not stress any clearer how good Joe was and how much potential, in my opinion, he had."

Somewhere along the line, Arsenal’s interest cooled. And Smith made some enquiries.

"When it became evident that Joe would be joining Manchester City, it turned out it was because apparently the powers that be at Arsenal decided Joe was not agile enough."