That's according to BBC Sport's David Ornstein who says he was reliably informed the Monaco ace was keen to come to The Emirates.
Arsene Wenger started making moves for Lemar after Alexandre Lacazette signed for the Gunners.
But the deal for Lemar dragged on and he ultimately rejected Arsenal's deadline day approach.
But Ornstein says in the middle of the summer Lemar was well and truly up for joining the north London side.
Ornstein told Arsenal podcast Arseblog: "The messages I was getting was that the interest in Lemar was absolutely concrete.
"They were hoping to make him their next signing [after Lacazette], but it wasn't close at that point.
"Monaco weren't interested in selling.
"Although, he had given indications, as I understand it, to Arsenal that he was prepared to join at that point.
"Lemar visiting the training ground? I know nothing of that.
"I'm not saying it's not true but it's certainly not been told to me by anybody.
"I have seen those reports and I fully respect them but I just can't verify them myself.
"But what I have been told, reliably by a number of people, is that he had told Arsene Wenger that he wanted to, and was prepared to, join at that time."
