Jamie Carragher has admitted his disappointment that Rafa Benitez was not considered for the Arsenal job this summer.
The Gunners were on the lookout for a new manager earlier this year after it was announced that Arsene Wenger would leave his role after 21 years.
Arsenal appeared set to appoint Mikel Arteta as their new boss before a last minute change of mind, which saw Unai Emery get the job.
The Spaniard has had a mixed start to life at the Emirates, with two wins and two defeats during his opening four Premier League games.
However, the two losses did come at the hands of champions Manchester City and a rejuvenated Chelsea.
Carragher has admitted that Emery would not have been his first choice for Arsenal - instead believing his former Liverpool boss Benitez should have got the nod.
Benitez won the Champions League for Liverpool in 2005, with a side in which Carragher was one of the key names.
"Rafa is probably my biggest influence in football - I had him for six years as my manager,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
"You look at someone like Rafa and his CV, with what he's done - he's got trophies everywhere.
"Why wasn't he in the running for the Arsenal job?"
Benitez remains as Newcastle manager despite constant battles with the board over transfers.
The Toon have not broken their transfer record since they signed Michael Owen in a £16.8million deal.