Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud insists that he tried to persuade France teammate Moussa Sissoko to join the club before he moved to Tottenham.
Sissoko, 27, signed for Spurs from Newcastle on deadline for a reported fee of £30 million but Giroud revealed that he spoke with the midfielder about a possible switch to the Emirates stadium.
"I told him to give Arsenal the priority. It's true it was special denouement. Until the end he didn't know what he'll do," Giroud said in quotes reported by Le10 Sport.
"It's good for him. I think it was quite a long month for him so it's good that something could have happened even in the very last moments. It's great for him.
"Tottenham is a great team in our league. Obviously we all wanted for him after his good Euro and great performances, that he joins a premier League club. In the Premier League Tottenham are an opponent for the trophy this year. I hope he will not be in good conditions against us."
Since the Euros, Giroud has made just one 78th-minute substitute appearance in the goalless draw at Leicester City, but insists he will be back in the first XI soon.
"If I am underestimated, I'm not sure but I started the season on the bench because I came back from holidays the ninth of August," he added. "I wasn't in the group for the first game. For the second game I came in with only two days of training in the legs. It seems then a logical choice.
"For the last game I should have come in but a player got injured so I didn't and that's it. After two weeks of preparation a player cannot be ready. That's why I started on the pitch.
"Gradually I hope to play more and find my fitness back. Like the last season as easy as that. It's just a question of preparation I'm not more worried than that."