Wenger has been a shrewd manager and has always found a way to to convince Arsenal fans that he wanted to buy a certain player but for price he has been unable.
He was use to offering a price for a particular player far below what the club would sell just to appease the fans. For instance he would not mind bidding for Messi 12o million pounds knowing quite well that Messi would not be sold for anything less than 200 million pounds. He did same with Suarez and others he had attempted to buy.
Then came Lemar. Monaco had insisted that Lemar would not be sold in this season and even if, it must be above 100 million pounds. Wenger was hoodwinked as he wanted to prove to fans that he made attempt to sign Lemar by pricing as much as 90 million which Monaco turned down. Surprisingly to Wenger when he offered 90 million far below the 100 Monaco was asking for Monaco did a u-turn and asked Wenger to present the cash. Wenger was dazed and came up with the excuse that it was too late to complete his medical. Wenger never wanted to sign Lemar. It was just one of his I wanted to sign Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, Kante, Vardy and others.

How Lemar deal went down:
Arsenal: £50M for Lemar?
Monaco: No
Arsenal: £60M?
Monaco: No
Arsenal: £92M?
Monaco:Sure, deal
Arsenal: Never mind