President Vladimir Putin has hit out at the decision to ban Russian track and field athletes from the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio. Putin described the exclusion of the athletes as discrimination and part of a deliberate campaign.And Putin also said that medals won in Rio would be devalued due to the absence of Russian participation. Your colleagues from other sports powers realise that the value of their medals will be different, Putin told track and field stars such as Yelena Isinbayeva and Sergey Shubenkov.This victory will have a different taste - or no taste at all.And the Russian president added: The current situation does not only go beyond the legal sphere, it goes beyond common sense.We cannot accept indiscriminate disqualification of our athletes with absolutely clean doping histories. We cannot and will not accept what in fact is pure discrimination. Pole vaulting great Yelena Isinbayeva will have to sit out the Rio Olympics Putin was speaking after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had confirmed that the ban on the athletes would remain in place.The suspension was imposed in November due to systematic state-sponsored doping by Russia and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld that decision last week.Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko wrote to the IAAF on Monday in an attempt to get the ban overturned but was told there were no grounds for further review.Putin spoke to the Russian team on Wednesday, before they fly out on Thursday, and dozens of the track and field athletes who are not eligible to compete in the Rio Games also attended.Its obvious that the absence of Russian competitors, leaders in many disciplines, will lower the intensity of the fight and that means the spectacle at the upcoming events, said Putin.More than 100 Russian athletes - including all but one of the track and field team - will miss the Olympics but the country has avoided being totally excluded. Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a meeting with Russian athletes at the Kremlin The International Olympic Committee (IOC) sparked fierce criticism on Sunday when it resisted a blanket ban in favour of allowing individual sports federations to make the call on which Russians can go to Rio.And Russias Olympic team could number more than 200 after fencing, triathlon and volleyball became the latest sports to declare the countrys athletes eligible to take part in the Games on Wednesday. Also See: Russian judo team get all clear Pavey: IOC sending wrong message IOC opts against Russia ban Russian swimmers to miss Rio Yasmany Tomas Jersey . Canada wasnt in the game from the outset. Head coach Dan Church left Calgary in the morning without addressing the players. He told The Canadian Press he felt the organization lacked confidence in his ability to defend the Olympic gold medal in February. Yasmany Tomas Diamondbacks Jersey . 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But he is just one of many world stars who could have been playing at Arsenal... It has been another frustrating summer at Arsenal with a number of Arsene Wengers transfer targets already turning down moves to the Emirates Stadium.The Gunners missed out on Leicester striker Jamie Vardy earlier in the window, while long-term reported target Gonzalo Higuain left Napoli for Juventus in a £75m deal. They are just the latest in a long line of players Arsenal have missed out on during Wengers tenure in north London, with the seemingly Manchester United-bound Paul Pogba, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the star-studded list of names who got away.Here we take a look at the XI Wenger might have had… Joe Hart Wenger tracked Joe Hart while he was on loan at Birmingham Wenger was first drawn to Harts talents following a loan spell the goalkeeper had with Birmingham during the 2009/10 season.The Frenchman enquired about the England internationals availability but there was one slight problem, Harts parent club Manchester City.I remember when Hart played at Birmingham, I asked about him and they told me he is at Man City. I thought he would be the keeper there. He has something that is needed for a goalkeeper to play at a big club and I am not surprised he made it as No 1. - Wenger in 2011.Raphael Varane Raphael Varane was scouted by Arsenal while he was at Lens Varanes rise from Lens to Real Madrid has seen him make 93 appearances for the Spanish giants and win 29 caps for France.But Arsenal could have had the 23-year-old at their disposal had Wenger and his scouts acted faster when the player was plying his trade at Lens.Im happy for him because hes carving out a role at one of the worlds best clubs, which is remarkable. Yet at the same time, when you are in charge of a club like Arsenal, you have to wonder why this player is not playing for us. He was at Lens, and we might well have caught him there. - Wenger in 2013.Gerard Pique Arsenal were interested in Gerard Pique at the time they signed Cesc Fabregas In the summer of 2003, Arsenal signed a 16-year-old Cesc Fabregas from Barcelonas La Maisa academy, but it could have been even better for the Gunners.Pique, who starred in the same youth team as Fabregas, was also on Wengers radar but the Frenchman could not get the deal over the line.A year later the central defender joined Manchester United and spent four years at Old Trafford before moving back Barca.It was at a period where Fabregas came. We wanted to take Fabregas, Messi and Pique. It worked only for Fabregas. - Wenger in 2014.Vincent Kompany Vincent Kompany was chased by a host of Europes top clubs while he was at Anderlecht Before Manchester City signed the Belgium international in 2008, Kompany was one of the hottest prospects in European football.Wanted by Barcelona and Real Madrid as a 20-year-old at Anderlecht, Kompany was also identified by Wenger as a potential replacement for Sol Campbell.However, the Frenchman was beaten to his signature by Hamburg.I had meetings with Emilio Butragueno at Real Madrid, the club leaders at Barcelona and by Arsene Wenger himself at Arsenal. But heading to an absolute top club immediately was not the right solution because Vincent is someone who feels alone in an environment where he is not properly valued. Vincent is not a third or fourth choice. - Kompanys agent Jacques Lichtenstein in 2014.Gareth Bale The Gunners turned Gareth Bale down because they already had two left-backs on their books Arsenal were tracking Real Madrid forward Bale at Southampton alongside England star Theo Walcott.Walcott made the move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006 with Bale joining north London rivals Tottenham in 2007, and Wenger has since admitted he made a huge mistake in not signing the Welshman.We didnt take him as we had Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy and didnt want another left-back. I must confess it was a huge mistake as he can play in midfield. He struggled at the start at Tottenham, then they moved him to midfield and he has done exceptionally well. The career of a player sometimes depends on playing in the right position. - Wenger in 2013.Lionel Messi The Gunners tried to sign Lionel Messi alongside Pique and Fabregas As previously mentioned, Wenger tried to sign three players from Barcelonas academy in 2003 but the Frenchman could not prise Lionel Messi away from the Nou Camp.I think in the end he was not so keen to move. It was not completely down to a flat in the end, it was down to the fact that Messi was comfortable at Barcelona. - Wenger in 2014.Paul Pogba Arsenal were interested in Paul Pogba when he left Manchester United in 2012 There has been a massive scramble for Pogbas signature this summer and it looks like Manchester United are closing in on their man in what is expected to be a world-record transfer fee.However, Arsenal could have landed the France international when he was preparing to leave Manchester United in 2012, but the Gunners were too slow out of the blocks and Pogba moved to Juventus. Is Pogba still improving? Would Manchester United be getting the finished article in Paul Pogba? Things happened very quickly. We were interested in him. We tried to get him to come here. But he very quickly signed for Juventus. - Wenger in 2014Yaya Toure Yaya Toure featured for Arsenal in a pre-season friendly against Barnnet in 2003 Arsenal already had Yayas brother Kolo in their ranks and they were very close to adding the former after he had a trial with the club in 2003.dddddddddddd.However, the Gunners could not beat Metalurh Donetsk to the Manchester City midfielders signature because he did not have a passport.Wenger has since admitted it was a huge blow to miss out on the Ivory Coast international, who did wear an Arsenal shirt in a pre-season friendly against Barnet in 2003, but revealed it was beyond the clubs control.Lets not forget that Toure had an agreement with us - and its not because we did not want to sign him that he went to Ukraine. We have made mistakes, but he is not a mistake. - Wenger in 2014.Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United beat Arsenal in the race to sign Cristiano Ronaldo Another Ballon dOr winner that got away, Ronaldo had a tour of Arsenals training ground in 2003, where he was impressed by Wengers approach and what the club could offer him.However, Arsenal failed to get the deal done with Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz using his Portuguese influence to help lure Ronaldo to Old Trafford.My biggest regret, I was so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo, and not only did I not get him he signed for Manchester United, so that of course still hurts today. - Wenger in 2014.Didier Drogba Didier Drogba scored 15 goals against Arsenal during his time at Chelsea Arsenal have suffered at the hands of Drogba over the years but it could have all been avoided for the small fee of £100,000.Wenger was well aware of the talents of Drogba, who has scored 16 goals against Arsenal during his career, through his time at La Mans but thought he was not ready for a move to the Premier League.We watched Drogba very carefully when he was at Le Mans and his value was just £100,000. But we felt at the time he might not be completely ready… Looking back now, of course it was a mistake. - Wenger in 2009.Luis Suarez Arsenal bid £40m and a pound in an attempt to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool in 2013 Described as the biggest mistake of Wengers managerial career by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, Arsenal missed out on Suarez after bidding one pound over his £40m release clause.The offer did not go down well with Liverpool and after speaking to club captain Steven Gerrard, Suarez, who was thought to be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, stayed at Anfield.He almost fired Liverpool to the title in the following season before moving to Barcelona for £75m. Highlights from the Avaya Stadium as Arsenal warmed up for the new Premier League season by beating the MLS All-Stars Im very happy with what I did. There again, the details will maybe come out one day - maybe not in my book, but somebody elses book! I know only one side of the story, but we always had fair relations with Liverpool, we kept in touch over that period. It was not meant to be provocative at all - it could be interpreted like that, but it was not our purpose. - Wenger in 2013.SubsZlatan Ibrahimovic Zlatan Ibrahimovic was offered a trial at Arsenal Ibrahimovic was a teenager when he met Wenger to talk through a potential move to Arsenal, but things did not quite go to plan as Wenger only offered the Swedish striker a trial.But Zlatan doesnt do trials...Arsene gave me the famous red and white jersey - the No 9 shirt with Ibrahimovic on it and I was so pleased I even posed for a picture wearing it. It was a fantastic moment for me. So then I waited for him to convince me that I should join Arsenal. But he didnt even try. He never actually made me a serious offer, it was more, I want to see how good you are, what kind of player you are. Have a trial. I couldnt believe it. I was like, No way, Zlatan doesnt do auditions. - Ibrahimovic in 2012.Ronaldinho Ronaldinho played with Lionel Messi at Barcelona Arsenal were working on a deal to bring the Brazilian star from Gremio to north London in 2001.With the deal to bring the two-time World Player of the Year to the Premier League almost done, work permit issues scuppered the transfer and left Wenger bemoaning the rules.We could have got Ronaldinho before he went to PSG. I met his brother, who is his agent, a long, long time before he went to PSG - when he was 20 - but we just could not get him to England because of the rules here. - Wenger in 2007.Dimitri Payet Wenger decided against signing Dimitri Payet The West Ham forward took the Premier League by storm last season, scoring nine goals and laying on 12 assists.He continued his excellent form at Euro 2016, scoring three goals as France went all the way to the final.And his form was no surprise to Wenger, who admitted watching him many times when he was at St Etinne before deciding against signing him.He was a top talent, always. But [he] had periods of being up and down. Ive looked at him many times. Ive known him for a long time. He played at Saint-Etienne and we watched him many times. - Wenger in 2016. 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