5 days ago
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David Bentley admits he should have remained an Arsenal player but left because he didn't trust in Arsene Wenger's plan for him.
Bentley became a Gunner at 13, and although he started life as a striker, he progressively moved backwards into midfield. He signed his first pro deal at 16 in 2001 and made his first-team debut under Wenger two years later.
After a loan spell with Norwich City, Bentley's future with Arsenal seemed bleak. In the summer of 2005, he submitted a transfer request and moved permanently to Blackburn Rovers in January 2006 after spending time with them on loan.
Though Bentley starred for Blackburn and eventually earned a £15million move to Arsenal's bitter rivals Tottenham in 2008, where his career would stagnate, he admits he probably should have remained with the Gunners longer but simply didn't trust in Wenger.
"When we were playing, you were under much more pressure than players are nowadays. Much more pressure," began Bentley, appearing on the Undr The Cosh podcast.
"Because, if you found yourself out the team, you were criticised more than you are now. Now, you're a squad player. Just having a rest, not in the squad today.
"[I left Arsenal because] I wanted to play. I signed a five-year deal and left after six months! Wenger was like, 'No, do this.' He had a plan, didn't he? But I couldn't see that plan. Didn't trust it.
"Potentially, I could have stayed; I should have stayed. Remember, I saw the young lads come through, Cesc. I made my debut with Fabregas - my full debut.
"Absolutely unbelievable performance from him. We beat Wolves 5-1 at Highbury. He dominated the game at 15 years old. I was only like 17. Eighteen months older, or two years older than him."
Alas, Bentley decided to leave Highbury in 2006, and while he seems to regret the departure now, he made an immediate impact at Blackburn, scoring a hat-trick against Manchester United in his first match for them after signing permanently.
Bentley aided in Blackburn's UEFA Cup tilt that year and was voted as the club's Player of the Year by fans in 2007, having been linked with a lucrative switch to the Red Devils.
A transfer did come in 2008, when Tottenham snapped him up. Again, he stunningly got off the mark, scoring his first league goal for Spurs in a 4-4 draw against former club Arsenal, which was a spectacular 43-yard volley.
The midfielder struggled to find form at Tottenham, however, and embarked on a series of unsuccessful loan moves while with the club, including being shipped out to Russian side FC Rostov.
Bentley also spent time with Birmingham City and West Ham and returned to Blackburn in 2013. He was released by Spurs in June of that year, and 12 months later, at the age of 29, he hung up his boots after failing to find a new club.
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