Ismael Bennacer opens up on his decision to leave Arsenal

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Arsenal once had high hopes for Ismael Bennacer, but they ended up having to let him go in the summer of 2017.

The Gunners signed Bennacer from Arles in France, and he showed promise in the Gunners ranks. Arsene Wenger gave him his Arsenal debut in 2015, in a 3-0 League Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

That was the only game Bennacer ever played for Arsenal. After a spell at Tours in 2017, Bennacer was sold to Empoli in 2017.

The Algerian international starred in Italy, earning himself a big move to AC Milan. He is continuing to thrive in Serie A, and Arsenal’s decision may come back to haunt them.

Arsenal received just £900,000 for Bennacer three years ago. Now, Foot Mercato claim that Manchester City are in talks to bring Bennacer back to England.

The fee involved would dwarf the figure Arsenal received. All clubs have these sort of deals in their past, but Arsenal fans will surely be frustrated with this one.

Now, Bennacer has commented on his decision to leave the club. Speaking to Gazzetta Dello Sport, as translated by Football Italia, the 22-year-old has admitted that he felt he was played out of position against Wednesday and wondered what was going on.

Bennacer added that he has no regrets about joining Arsenal because he was able to learn from the likes of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, but he had to leave for a club who ‘really wanted’ him.

“I arrived in England in July 2015, then stayed in a hotel for the first two months because I didn’t want to live with a family I didn’t know,” said Bennacer. “I was 17 years old and couldn’t live on my own, so my sister came to live with me, then the girl I’d been dating since school who in England would go on to become my wife. Finally, in September, I got some time on the pitch, but I was thrown on after two other injuries against Sheffield, played wide left in a trident attack, which I had never done before. I felt incredible pressure and wasn’t sure what was going on.”

“I never played again after that, but I have no regrets, as I still got to train with important players like Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla. I had four years left on the Arsenal contract, but I had to be at a club where they really wanted me. I didn’t know Empoli, but I accepted a move down from the Premier League to Serie B because they were the club who wanted me the most. I did the same when deciding on Milan – I chose them for their history too, but also because it was the best project for me,” he added.