Serial Champions League qualifiers Arsenal failed to offer French winger Europa League action
Samir Nasri has hit back at critics of his mega-money move to Man City by blasting Arsenal for failing to provide the Europa League football he craved.
Nasri - who was criticised by Arsenal fans and labelled a mercenary when he left for Man City in the summer - feels vindicated following the 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich that helped Man City finish ten points above Villarreal to qualify for the Europa League's last 32.
"I can't wait to hear the Europa League anthem as we line up on the pitch on a Thursday night," said the winger. "The hairs will be standing up on the back of my neck as I hear that tune. How does it go again?"
Nasri was part of an Arsenal side that visited Barcelona in the Champions League last season, but admits it was difficult watching new club City visit the likes of FC Politehnica Timisoara.
"If I ever wanted to play Europa League football I had to leave Arsenal," claimed Nasri. "It's been over a decade since Arsene Wenger last guided his team into Europe's second-tier competition and Arsenal again failed to land a Europa League spot last year. To make matters worse, we had to watch Spurs grab the last place. Even Fulham got in via the flippin' fair play league - at that point I knew it was time to say au revoir.
"There were moments this season when I wondered if I had done the right thing moving to City, when it looked as if we were in danger of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League and Arsenal were on course for the Europa, but now I can look forward to possibly playing Stoke."
Nasri is chomping at the bit to face the Europa League's finest. "There are no easy names in the Europa League," he said. "Whether it's FC Metalist Kharkiv, FC Vaslui or Vorskla Poltava, I can't pronounce any of them. At least I might get a game, though."
DISCLAIMER: This story is less credible than qualifying for one tournament by being knocked out of another.
Nasri - who was criticised by Arsenal fans and labelled a mercenary when he left for Man City in the summer - feels vindicated following the 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich that helped Man City finish ten points above Villarreal to qualify for the Europa League's last 32.
"I can't wait to hear the Europa League anthem as we line up on the pitch on a Thursday night," said the winger. "The hairs will be standing up on the back of my neck as I hear that tune. How does it go again?"
Nasri was part of an Arsenal side that visited Barcelona in the Champions League last season, but admits it was difficult watching new club City visit the likes of FC Politehnica Timisoara.
"If I ever wanted to play Europa League football I had to leave Arsenal," claimed Nasri. "It's been over a decade since Arsene Wenger last guided his team into Europe's second-tier competition and Arsenal again failed to land a Europa League spot last year. To make matters worse, we had to watch Spurs grab the last place. Even Fulham got in via the flippin' fair play league - at that point I knew it was time to say au revoir.
"There were moments this season when I wondered if I had done the right thing moving to City, when it looked as if we were in danger of qualifying for the next round of the Champions League and Arsenal were on course for the Europa, but now I can look forward to possibly playing Stoke."
Nasri is chomping at the bit to face the Europa League's finest. "There are no easy names in the Europa League," he said. "Whether it's FC Metalist Kharkiv, FC Vaslui or Vorskla Poltava, I can't pronounce any of them. At least I might get a game, though."
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They think it's Europa... it is now! How Samir Nasri might look if he won European football's premier second tier competition |
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