LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he was "never close" to signing Joey Barton, but added he had plenty of opportunities to snap up the midfielder.
Barton will come up against Arsenal when Burnley travel to the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, having proved a nuisance to the Gunners several times in the past.
Barton has previously said he nearly signed for Arsenal, but that Wenger's interest faded after two memorable games for Newcastle in 2011, when he got both Abou Diaby and Gervinho sent off in separate incidents. Diaby's red card came in the match where Arsenal were 4-0 up at St James' Parks but Newcastle rallied for a 4-4 draw, after Barton netted twice from the penalty spot.
However, Wenger said ahead of Sunday's game that there was never any serious interest from Arsenal.
"I was contacted many times to take Joey Barton, but it was never close," Wenger said. "Because there was no need in midfield."
Barton first said in 2011 that the clash with Gervinho ended his chances of joining Arsenal, and repeated the claim in his recent autobiography "No Nonsense."
"There was definitely some low-level interest, and before I got sent off against Arsenal, when the thing with Gervinho happened, I was due to hold some form of discussions with them," he wrote. "But then it never came to be. Would I have liked to have played for Arsenal? Of course. Who wouldn't?"
Wenger said he remembers Arsenal's previous run-ins with Barton well, especially the 4-4 draw at Newcastle.
"We had some fights with him, that's true," Wenger said. "I remember that of course because we were 4-0 up and it finished 4-4 with two penalties that were inspired by coming from heaven."