MX23RW : Sunday, November 17 19:18:03| >> :120:4690:4690:

Arsene Wenger admits he regrets not leaving Arsenal earlier

Arsene Wenger admits he regrets not leaving Arsenal earlier
© Reuters
Arsenal's most successful manager in history Arsene Wenger admits that he 'regrets' not leaving the club back in 2007 following the Kroenkes' introduction.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed he 'regrets' not leaving the North London club back in 2007.

The illustrious Frenchman guided the Gunners to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his 22 years in charge but departed in 2018 following pressure from sections of the club's fanbase.

Wenger turned down opportunities from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United to stay loyal to Arsenal, but the 72-year-old has now admitted that remaining in North London was not the best decision following the Kroenkes' welcome.

Speaking in his Arsene Wenger: Invincible documentary, Wenger said: "2007 was a decisive point, It's the first time I could feel there were tensions inside the board.

"David Dein had an agreement with Stan Kroenke, who he wanted to bring in. I was torn between being loyal to the club and being loyal to David.

"I still today wonder if I did the right thing, because life was never exactly the same after. I thought, I now have to go to the end of this project. I could have gone to the French national team, the English national team twice or three times even.

"I could have gone twice to Real Madrid, I could have gone to Juventus, to Paris Saint-Germain, even to Man United. My fatal flaw is that I love too much where I am...where I was.

"I regret. I should have gone somewhere else. I identified myself completely with the club and that was the mistake I made. Now there is no special reason for me to go there. All the rest is purely emotional and that is less important."

Wenger steered Arsenal to three FA Cups post-2007 but could only muster a fifth-placed Premier League finish with the Gunners during his farewell 2017-18 season.

ID:469600:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect2193:

Click here for more stories about Arsene Wenger

Click here for more stories about Arsenal

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Arsene Wenger watches on during the Premier League game between Liverpool and Arsenal on August 27, 2017
Read Next:
Ex-United chief: 'Wenger was our top choice'
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Packers
@
Bears
6pm
Raiders
@
Dolphins
6pm
Colts
@
Jets
6pm
Jags
@
Lions
6pm
Rams
@
Patriots
6pm
Browns
@
Saints
6pm
Ravens
@
Steelers
6pm
Vikings
@
Titans
9.05pm
Seahawks
@
49ers
9.05pm
Falcons
@
Broncos
9.25pm
Chiefs
@
Bills
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!