Arsene Wenger admits Arsenal made a mistake by passing up the chance to sign Raheem Sterling during his QPR days.

The Gunners scouted the Brent winger when the youngster was coming up through the ranks at Loftus Road.

However, Liverpool were quicker off the mark and beat Wenger to his signature by agreeing a £600,000 fee with the R’s.

Sterling has since gone on to become one of Europe’s hottest properties and joined Manchester City for an eye-watering £49million in the summer.

"We had many players on the flanks, but when Sterling was at QPR - that's where we should take the players," Wenger said ahead of Monday’s clash with Sterling’s City side.

"We watched him but you miss obvious players. The history of every club is full of top players that you missed. At the time Liverpool were quicker."

Raheem Sterling's Mancester City unveiling in pictures:

Sterling lived on the Caribbean island of Jamaica until he was six before emigrating to England with his family, living a stone’s throw away from the famous Wembley arch on the St Raphael’s estate.

It was a school of hard knocks for the young footballer as he ignored the temptations of gangs to focus on his game.

Sterling attended Oakington Manor and Copland Community Schools in Brent.

And it was at the former where Alpha & Omega football coach Peter Moring first laid eyes on the precocious talent and took him Rangers .

QPR snapped up the exciting winger at the age of 11 but, such was his ability, it wasn’t long before Liverpool came calling.

Shortly before his 15th birthday he was on his way to Anfield and from there he earned the mega-money move to Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester giants.

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