Hleb: I was wrong to leave Gunners

Thu, 13 Aug 13:30:44 2009

Alexander Hleb admits he made a mistake in leaving Arsenal last summer.

The Belarus midfielder has returned to Stuttgart, four years after he left the Bundesliga side, on a year-long loan deal after a difficult season at Barcelona. Hleb rarely featured as the Catalans stormed to the treble and he believes he should never have left North London.

He told ESPN: "Of course I regret leaving Arsenal. I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe, a team which was always in the top four in the Premier League and were Champions League contenders."

He added: "Also, I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.

"I developed a better all-round game under him and I became more robust physically, learnt to look up more and play better passes and generally improved greatly as a team player. No player ever gets worse under Wenger. For me, leaving Arsenal was not a good move.

"A footballer only exists when he takes to the field and makes a proper contribution to the team and even though I was part of a Barca squad that was almost unstoppable, it was hard not to feel detached from all the happiness and celebration at the end."

Arsenal also had a poor season as they finished in fourth place in the Barclays Premier League, 18 points behind Manchester United who also dumped them out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage, winning 4-1 on aggregate. However, Hleb feels Arsenal can usurp United this season.

"Obviously, I still look out for Arsenal each week and I hope they can do well this time," he added.

"I think they will be in the top four again and could even push for the title if they don't have the terrible injuries of last season.

"People forget the long unbeaten run they had after Christmas last season, which was a good sign for this season."

 

Comment 17 - 36 of 36

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  1. I'm really sorry for u not being happy but i guess­ u have leaned a lesson that u should look at where u­ are going before u go,let the name of the club not take­ u,u knew u shouldn't compete with those guys over­ there,wenger knew the best for u guys and if he at once­ told u that u were fit to go, then it could be the rear­ time for u and u could have shined the same happened to­ arsenal's Eduardo Daude Gaspar well known as EDU­ he said the same thing,anyway arsenal was Ur home and u­ could have taken your time thinking of what u were to­ do.arsenal was Ur level and u played most of the games­ but finally u disappointed them.that's what u get­ for acting the way u did so try to deal with it but­ arsenal ain't gonna being u back unless if u wanna­ be a 4th sub in Ur position,u can start from there to a­ 2nd sub as the best but u gotta almost no place there

    From CASSIM, on Tue 18 Aug 2:42AM

  2. shut up and go away.The day you were leaving you said­ you cant withstand the london noise, kwani what has­ changed HLEB???????

    From paul, on Fri 14 Aug 2:15PM

  3. Omijiahina G. writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
    Sorry Hleb,­ it's too late to cry. At a point, I remember the­ board saying Hleb will not be sold, until he began to­ insult the city of London by saying London is too noisy­ for him to say. Now he is no longer the Hleb that­ attracted Barcelona, he is now regretting. He now­ remembered Arsenal is one of the best club in Europe­ and Arsene Wenger is the best coach in the world. What­ a world?

    From Omoijiahina G, on Thu 13 Aug 10:59PM

  4. he's been rubbish ever since he left gunners . come­ back ! it is not too late

    From ahnge23, on Thu 13 Aug 9:06PM

  5. This is a come and get me plea for Arsenal. Hleb­ regrets his decision to leave every second. He has­ praised Arsenal massively and is signalling an SOS to­ Arsenal

    From Omar F, on Thu 13 Aug 7:01PM

  6. This is a come and get me plea for Arsenal. Hleb­ regrets his decision to leave every second. He has­ praised Arsenal massively and is signalling an SOS to­ Arsenal

    From Omar F, on Thu 13 Aug 7:01PM

  7. When Barca calls, you answer. No shame about it. Got­ to check out the other side of the fence.
    Barca is not­ Arsenal. Your place is not guaranteed.

    From Silver N, on Thu 13 Aug 5:45PM

  8. come back then hleb in january although u are on loan

    From loonatik91, on Thu 13 Aug 4:31PM

  9. gentleman, mr hleb. u really are.

    From afiq a, on Thu 13 Aug 3:46PM

  10. But you know what, I respect him, he admit he was wrong­ and it takes a lot to be a man and say so. I don't­ think Adebayor, Toure or Flamini will admit it. Wish­ you well HLEB. At least you still have Arsenal in your­ heart.

    From Dale, on Thu 13 Aug 2:47PM

  11. It's a big pitty that fans favourite at one club is­ a laughing stuff at another club.
    Wow!!! ONE MAN FOOD­ IS ANOTHER MAN POISON. That's life for you man, but­ you have take it with good faith. Good luck man

    From helotism_free, on Thu 13 Aug 2:38PM

  12. Top man for his admission. Thank you for the­ contributions you made at Arsenal. Wenger does get the­ best out of players.

    From Demus, on Thu 13 Aug 12:27PM

  13. Hleb, winner of top prize for stating the bleeding­ obvious

    From XS, on Thu 13 Aug 11:09AM

  14. U were loved at Arsenal, and I knew this would­ happen....just like with Flamini. You can't leave­ Arsenal and become better without Wenger. But kudos foe­ being honest.

    From Mimi, on Thu 13 Aug 10:24AM

  15. another overmars

    From johnsack27, on Thu 13 Aug 9:45AM

  16. yes Alex you were silly very very silly to listen to­ your agent and bank balance as opposed to your­ footballing needs you thought you were a great deal­ better a player then you were cos you played in a well­ oiled team that makes lots of players look much better­ than they are.
    And many come to regret leaving Arsenal­ I wish you well but I dont think we need you back

    From Alex F, on Thu 13 Aug 9:25AM

  17. now if this was flamini id say get him back Wenger but­ i dont miss hleb one bit!!!

    From owain.pierce, on Thu 13 Aug 9:12AM

  18. is a pity uncle HLEB, PLEASE asene wenger consider­ mister HLEB . TO ERR IS HLEB TO FORGIVE IS ARSENE­ WENGER.

    From Ifeanyi, on Thu 13 Aug 8:59AM

  19. Alex Hleb hope you and Owen can advice players like­ Ronaldo and Alonso etc who thinks leaving a club where­ they are performing quite well to another strange one­ does not pay.While we wish Alonso good luck,we hope he­ doesnt fall in the same soup as you guys.

    From Michael, on Thu 13 Aug 8:59AM

  20. Hleb made a mistake. A huge mistake and a worst mistake­ !!!

    From sinabatu, on Thu 13 Aug 7:49AM
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