Arsenal have always kept a high standard of football on the pitch, but have not been so successful retaining their players due to lack of silverware; however, there are five players who still wish they had not left the London based club for not so greener pastures, as reported by Metro.
The Gunners have had trouble loosening their purse strings due to the excessive capital expenditure incurred on the development of the Emirates Stadium. As a result, rival clubs have improved their squads while Arsenal depended on their younger players to step up to the mark.
Here are five players who wish they had not left:
- Fran Merida
Merida left the club in 2007,but his spell at Atletico Madrid was no better, with just 20 appearances in two seasons and now playing at Brazilian outfit Atletico Paranaense.
- Emmanuel Adebayor
At Tottenham Hotspur now, Adebayor had to struggle at Manchester City to get in the team and at Spurs has been in and out of favour so who knows how he will get along with new manager Pochettino.
- Alexsandr Hleb
After a successful three years at Arsenal, Hleb left for Barcelona, where he was quickly cast aside. Several loan spells, and the midfielder yet has not settled at another club.
- David Bentley
Bentley has retired from all forms of football after failing to rediscover his good form from his days at Blackburn.
- Robin van Persie
The Dutchman had a lacklustre second season at Manchester United, and could have to fight for his place this season against a motivated Wayne Rooney despite the arrival of countryman Louis Van Gaal as manager.