Former Arsenal striker, Marouane Chamakh, has slated the club manager, Arsene Wenger, for not treating him with respect during his time at the north London club.
The 32-year-old joined the Gunners as the hottest striker in the French Ligue 1 in 2010, having helped Bordeaux win the French title in 2009.
Chamakh spent about 3 years at Arsenal and was thrown on the scrapheap making just 40 appearances and scoring only eight goals.
The now Cardiff City striker, has frowned at the treatment he received at The Emirates in an interview with France’s RMC Sport, slamming Wenger’s “lack of respect” as he was tossed aside for Netherland’s Robin van Persie.
Chamakh noted that he had no problem playing second fiddle to the Dutchman but he feels he was treated very badly with empty promises.
He said, “When I started, it went really well.
“I took advantage of Van Persie’s injuries, which cleared my path. I played for six months, I scored goals, I contributed.
“In January, Robin came back from injury and overnight I found myself on the bench without any explanation.
“Obviously I’m a little bit annoyed with [Wenger], because I think I deserved more playing time than he gave and promised me.
“The year passed and at the start of the next season, he told me that the tactical system would perhaps change and that I would maybe start with Robin.
“It was only promises. There was nothing at the end of them.
“That year, Robin was incredible, he was player of the year. I couldn’t say anything, and I wasn’t going to go and see [Wenger] and tell him that I should be playing instead. Robin was a lot better than me.
“For the ambitions I had, I think it was a little bit of a lack of respect. I had started well, and overnight he forgot about me just like that.
“He asked me to be patient, told me that Robin wouldn’t play more than 10 matches in a row, that he would get injured, but it lasted the whole year. There came a time when I had to make a decision and I left the club.”
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