Ex Arsenal forward says leaving for Barcelona was his biggest error

Former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Petit has confessed that leaving Highbury for Barcelona in 2000 was the biggest mistake of his career, recalling a spell of 31 appearances in Catalonia that yielded no trophies and a longing for the bond he felt with English supporters.

Arsenal departures and mixed fortunes

Plenty of Arsenal players haven't gone on to better things after leaving the club. Nicolas Anelka became the Gunners' record sale when he departed for big things in the 1990s, but despite his journeyman career, perhaps never reached the heights that some thought he would during his Arsenal days – while Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Marc Overmars can all safely claim to have given their best form in North London after big moves to Europe.

While the likes of Ashley Cole, Serge Gnabry and Robin van Persie have enjoyed silverware after leaving, Emmanuel Petit offers a contrasting view. “I have some very good memories. When I first came to England, I really loved the tradition over there,” he tells us now, courtesy of Betfred.

He signed for mentor Arsene Wenger in 1997 and helped the club win a league and FA Cup double in his first full season. Petit remains the only Gunner to have scored in a World Cup final.

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Petit's Barcelona spell and its aftermath

Petit's move to Barcelona in 2000 saw him make 31 appearances under manager Lorenzo Serra Ferrer after Louis van Gaal's departure, but he failed to win any trophies in Catalonia. “I love the link with the fans in England and I would pay good money to go back to those days because I miss that sometimes,” he says, adding, “I do believe that my biggest mistake was leaving Arsenal to move to Barcelona'.”

A year later he returned to the Premier League with Chelsea, spending three seasons before retiring in 2004 after a spell at Stamford Bridge. Image credit: Alamy.

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