Lack Of Support From Arsenal Drove Anelka Out

Posted on November 24th, 2008 by Chelsea D

Nicolas Anelka is Chelsea and the Premier League’s top scorer so far this season with 12 goals and is hoping to collect his first championship medal since the one picked up with Arsenal almost a decade ago. Mind you, that must seem like a lifetime for the Frenchman who has since plied his trade with Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Man City, Fenerbahce and Bolton before moving on to Stamford Bridge.

At the time though, Arsenal supporters were stunned when he walked away from Highbury to join Real Madrid after just two seasons. The Frenchman might have taken time to settle in, with only 9 goals in his first season but he’d bagged 22 in his second term. He’d also been a part of their League and Cup double in 1998, scoring in the FA Cup final, so why would he want to leave?

Well, Anelka has come out and said that despite the part he’d played in his two seasons there, he was pretty pissed off to find out he couldn’t live up to Ian Wright’s status as far as the supporters were concerned so he decided to sling his hook.

Anelka explains “When I started the season there was a poll because I had taken the place of Ian Wright.  I thought the fans really wanted it to be me and were pleased with me. But seeing the result in the papers and on TV hit me hard because I had done things for nothing.  I thought ‘So that’s how it is. This is how you thank me. Okay now you watch what is going to happen. I am going to play, score my goals and just when you are saying Anelka, Anelka that’s when I’m going to leave.’ And that is exactly what I did because I was furious with them.”

Not that he fancied telling Wenger much, because he adds “I am not saying I was ashamed, but I felt something and had no wish to tell him face to face that I wanted to go.  It’s as if it was a betrayal. I didn’t want to tell him because he represented someone extraordinary in my life.”

Good job he ain’t playing second fiddle to Drogba then!

Filed under: Current Players, Rants

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6 Responses to “Lack Of Support From Arsenal Drove Anelka Out”

  1. Tom, London, on November 24th, 2008 at 14:10 Said:

    what the **** is he talking about exactly?
    a decade later and hes talking about a poll in a paper …. WTF?? is this really cause for a webpage? footballers… living in a dream world…
    “Okay now you watch what is going to happen. I am going to play, score my goals and just when you are saying Anelka, Anelka that’s when I’m going to leave” what **** are you going on about son???

  2. goonermichael, on November 24th, 2008 at 14:16 Said:

    Nothing to do with him and his brothers being money grabbing twats then?

  3. Mrs van Persie, on November 24th, 2008 at 14:36 Said:

    Oh please………his brothers pimped him out to the highest bidders!!!

  4. Baloney, on November 24th, 2008 at 14:54 Said:

    Er Anelka played 1 full season for us, we were expecting him to go on and become our big striker but he left. At the time he cited all kinds of reasons such as Bergkamp and Overmars not passing to him to having always wanting to play for Real. The ‘not feeling wanted’ is a new one. Arsenal fans loved Ian Wright and if Anelka thought he would replace him in one season where he moaned at every opportunity then he is sorely mistaken. Look at how revered Bergkamp and Henry were for their efforts for us?
    Either way Anelka is a damn good player but like Gallas, is prone to opening his mouth at the worst time.

  5. Squiddy, on November 26th, 2008 at 00:56 Said:

    Meanwhile there’s a lack of support for Drogba and guess what’s in the news today? Not a coincidence.

    Fans get who they deserve and lose who they deserve to lose.

  6. Chelsea D, on November 26th, 2008 at 14:36 Said:

    Oh come on Squiddy, this has got nothing to do with a lack of support for Drogba. Even when he had the full backing of supporters he wanted out of Chelsea.