Gael Clichy has revealed to talkSPORT that a large number of former Arsenal players left for Manchester City because they felt the club could no longer contest trophies.
The former France international was one of several high-profile names who left the Gunners to move to Manchester.
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Clichy left Arsenal for Manchester City in 2011
Kolo Touré, Emmanuel Adebayor, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri decided to move to Etihad, while Robin van Persie sensationally left in 2012 with one year remaining on his contract to join Manchester United.
Clichy, who left in 2011, won two Premier League titles with Manchester City and also worked with Pep Guardiola for a season before moving to Turkey.
The mass exodus marked the end of a period of dominance by Arsenal, who lifted the title in 2004 as ‘invincible’.
Failing to retain their best players, consequently, meant that they failed to attract several high-caliber targets either, with players like Luis Suárez in 2013 and N’Golo Kante in 2016 turning the club down.
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The left-back won the Premier League in 2004
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But the night of the Champions League became less and less frequent in North London
And Clichy revealed in Darren Bent’s Boot Room how much mentality there was at Arsenal compared to City, and how he and his teammates left feeling like the Gunners were falling behind.
He said: “From the first moment, from the coach, from the players, from the people in the office to the fans, you realize that the expectations are so high.
“It is so demanding that you cannot stop. You often hear managers say that the year after winning the title or winning a cup, it’s a tough season.
“The players are in that frame of mind where you feel like you’ve done something great and it takes time to get back into the new season.
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A host of prominent Arsenal players joined City, including Sagna and Nasri
“Pep does not allow this; He is ruthless and it shows in the times he changes teams if a player does not give him what he wants, he is not afraid to put it aside.
“Obviously it’s easier when you have two players worth £ 50 million in each position, you can do it.
“It doesn’t surprise me what they have been doing inside and out. The communication, the investment, the new training ground, all of this is a great package that simply tells you this club is leaving.
“That’s why all the players of my time left Arsenal, because we felt that City was going in a different direction.
“When you play you want results, you want to win. Then you go to the place where you can have cutlery.
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Arsenal are currently languishing on the wrong side of the table having won just once this season, a win against Norwich on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta is under increasing pressure for results and the club faces another season without European football.
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