Former Scotland and Everton striker Steven Naismith has revealed he would have rejected any contract offer from Arsenal after a trial at the club in 2006, admitting he was too star-struck and unwilling to move to London.
The then 19-year-old Kilmarnock forward spent a few days training with Arsene Wenger's side, alongside the likes of Theo Walcott, Ashley Cole, Gilberto Silva and Emmanuel Adebayor. He travelled to the capital with Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies and the club's chairman.
Naismith, who had scored 13 league goals for Kilmarnock the previous season, described the experience as brilliant but said he felt unprepared for a permanent move. "They could offer me any contract, I'm not moving to London, it's far too far away," he recalled.
Arsenal did not make an offer, and Naismith later moved to Rangers before joining Everton under David Moyes. He also played for Norwich and Hearts, while Arsenal finished fourth in their first season at the Emirates Stadium and subsequently signed Eduardo from Dinamo Zagreb.
