Arsene Wenger admitted Mkhitaryan was a target for Arsenal before he moved to Manchester United in the summer of 2016, SkySports reports.
"I met him at the time (he moved to United), at the time we were close but in the end it didn't work."
Wenger also noted that he is concerned that Henrikh Mkhitaryan may have suffered a dip in confidence after a largely-disappointing stint at Manchester United.
"Yes, of course you worry about how much it has affected him," Wenger said. "But as well it's a new chance for him, what you want in life is a new chance and I'm sure with his quality that he will take it’’.