Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit has revealed that his departure from the club was motivated by personal reasons, a decision he now regards as one of the biggest blunders of his career.
The French World Cup winner, who became a fan favourite in north London, made a surprising move to Barcelona in 2000 after only three seasons in England.
Petit’s professional relationship with Wenger began at Monaco when he was a young player and developed over the next seven years. Within a year of Wenger taking over at Arsenal, he signed Petit and brought him to England.
Together, they clinched a Premier League title and an FA Cup, and Petit also lifted the World Cup with France during his three-year stint in London. He carved out a reputation as one of the best central midfielders but reflecting on his decision to relocate to Spain at the dawn of the new millennium, the 53-year-old concedes he should have remained at Arsenal and cemented his status as a true club legend.
Petit’s bond with Arsenal fans took a hit when he made the switch to Chelsea, their London rivals, after a brief stint in Barcelona. He spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge before hanging up his boots due to complications from knee surgery.
But when quizzed about his reason for leaving Arsenal, Petit told Stadium Astro: “For a woman.”
He continued: “I always loved Barcelona and [Real] Madrid, two of the biggest clubs in the world. But I should have stayed with Arsenal, definitely. You know, sometimes the grass is not greener somewhere else. It’s better to stay where you are when you receive love and happiness and you are successful. Why would you leave? Definitely [a big regret]. If I could turn the clock back, I would probably make a different decision.”
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