Samir Nasri's four-word comment about Arsene Wenger after leaving Arsenal summed him up

Samir Nasri's narration with Arsenal fans rapidly became toxic erstwhile helium near to articulation rivals Manchester City, but helium showed a antithetic broadside by defending Arsene Wenger adjacent aft his departure

Samir Nasri showed his existent colours by coming to the defence of Arsene Wenger erstwhile helium was nether occurrence astatine Arsenal, saying it’s "impossible to criticise him" successful spite of his bad-blood with the London club.

Two of Nasri’s erstwhile sides – Arsenal and Manchester City – look disconnected this Sunday successful a Premier League clash astatine the Emirates Stadium. In what has go an increasingly heated fixture in caller times, City volition look to adjacent the gap connected Arsenal to conscionable 3 points, portion the Gunners request each 3 points to support gait with runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool. And determination is nary uncertainty implicit who Nasri volition beryllium cheering on.

Before his 2 league titles astatine the Etihad Stadium, the now-retired Frenchman was a fan-favourite successful northbound London. He was signed from Marseille successful 2008 and, nether the tutelage of compatriot Wenger, became a standout subordinate successful his 3 years astatine Arsenal.

After a stellar 2010/2011 run and with the nine looking to him arsenic their focal constituent aft Cesc Fabregas’ departure, however, helium abruptly opted to permission successful the summertime of 2011. Not lone that, the winger would articulation City, becoming the 4th Arsenal subordinate to discontinue the nine for the Abu Dhabi-funded broadside successful a abbreviated abstraction of time, pursuing the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy.

He was booed successful his last crippled – a decision to Liverpool – by those who formerly adored him, and was accused of betraying the nine who had helped propel his career. The already-deteriorated narration with Arsenal fans was severed wholly erstwhile helium appeared to suggest helium near for fiscal reasons.

“I don't person immoderate regrets,” Nasri said aft joining City. “Yes, economically I person a amended beingness present than what I had astatine Arsenal. It's normal. If I said to you time that determination is different journal, arsenic superior arsenic your journal, that offers you 3 times your salary, I deliberation you are going to spell there! But my archetypal motive was to triumph trophies."

He sparked the wrath of the Gunners faithful further successful 2014 by moving to clarify his comments, telling The Telegraph that helium near to triumph trophies and pointing to Arsenal's deficiency of silverware successful his 3 years astatine the club. He besides told beIN Sport: "I don't regret leaving Arsenal. I won the league portion Arsenal person trouble finishing fourth."

His comments unsurprisingly resulted successful a hostile reception each of the 7 times helium represented City against his erstwhile side, with nary emotion mislaid connected the transportation either arsenic helium clashed with ex-Gunners midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong connected 1 occasion.

And truthful it came arsenic a daze that helium displayed a classy motion towards Wenger portion the legendary manager was facing expanding unit to measurement down from his long-time role. A increasing conception of Arsenal fans were calling for Wenger’s exit, portion the media questioned whether the Frenchman had mislaid his mojo aft a woeful tally of results betwixt January and April 2017.

No 1 would person expected Nasri, who was connected a season-long indebtedness to Sevilla from City astatine the time, to support Wenger, arsenic helium said: "You cannot criticise a feline similar that, it is impossible. Arsenal was a large nine but helium made it adjacent bigger. People request to beryllium fair. It is not due to the fact that Arsenal don't person occurrence successful the league that it's his fault, that is the players who are connected the pitch, it's the players who bash not get the results.”

He revealed that portion his narration with the fans was successful ruin, it was ne'er idiosyncratic with Wenger and helium inactive held a large woody of respect for Le Professeur. "It's hard for maine to accidental thing astir him due to the fact that I beryllium him a batch of things,” Nasri said.

“I came to the Premier League due to the fact that of him and I person had a bully vocation due to the fact that of him too. He gave maine assurance and helium made maine a amended subordinate and I conscionable deliberation each the players who played with him, erstwhile they near they became amended players.”

He besides said: "Wenger is the champion manager I've worked with. I lone regret not having much discussions with Arsene erstwhile I left. He's the 1 who understood maine the astir and made maine the subordinate I am. I'm thankful."

Wenger yet near successful 2018 aft a torrid last play successful charge, ending Nasri’s ties with the northbound Londoners completely. Six years later, helium admitted helium would basal for City implicit the nine helium made 125 appearances for erstwhile they adjacent faced each other.

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