Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has lamented the star departures at the Emirates in the early 2010s, saying the Gunners would have won the Premier League had the team not been broken up.
Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2003-04 and the team put together a streak of 10 seasons finishing either third or fourth between 2005 and 2015.
Wilshere believes a number of departures undermined his team's chase for Premier League glory, specifically citing the loss of Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.
Van Persie's transfer to Manchester United in 2012 was particularly difficult to swallow for Wilshere, who said he was "devastated" to see the Dutchman join one of his side's biggest rivals.
"I was devastated," Wilshere told the BBC's 606 Savage Social podcast. "He had just scored 30 goals the season before. He was our captain.
"It felt like we were just about to challenge [for the title] again and all of a sudden he left to go to our biggest rivals. It was difficult to take.
"I was there when Fabregas left, Nasri left, big players. If we had kept that team together I think we would have gone on to win the Premier League - and who knows from there?"
After spending 10 seasons with Arsenal, Wilshere left the club in 2018 to join up with West Ham.
The midfielder struggled with injuries in north London and following the exit of longtime manager Arsene Wenger, his replacement Unai Emery admitted that Wilshere wouldn't be part of his first-choice lineup.
"I sat down with my family and my wife. Arsene had announced he was leaving, and it felt like the right time to move on," Wilshere continued.
"I had done it before [joining Bournemouth on loan]. I knew there was life outside of Arsenal. I just thought it was the right time to move on. Times were changing at Arsenal.
"I spoke with the new manager who said: 'You can stay but you are not in my starting XI.'
"Arsene knew what I could do and trusted me. I knew if I got fit, I would play and I didn't get that vibe off Emery. It was tough."
Auguerooooooo
0
Those people went out of Arsenal and won trophies. Van Persie won EPL with ManU Fabregas with Chelsea Nasri with ManCity and other many trophies. People leave Arsenal to win trophies and why shouldn't they?
Nobody is going to remember this stuff after 50 years they will just see that Arsenal don't have trophies and Chelsea does
Lauceikpuz
0
that is why the rich teams use money to dismantle the team
BenGud
0
I hated cesc fabregas and van pasie the worst was nasiri the Judas Iscariot. I don’t have respect for them.
Fabregas, Van Persie and Nasri all three left us at a difficult time without thinking of the fan base. They toiled with our love at that time.
RichardCfC
0
I hated cesc fabregas and van pasie the worst was nasiri the Judas Iscariot. I don’t have respect for them.
Dude u should hate stan kronke not the players, he is the cheap one that doesn't care about the club...
RichardCfC
0
From the club that won trophies from corrupt money ... And were a average mid table team for decades
Loool dude if chelsea and city went from mid table teams to top teams then arsenal went the other way around thanks to your greedy owners... Blame ur owners, a football club will succeed on the long run when proper money is invested in ot
RichardCfC
0
the invention of the two oil clubs, Chelsea and City, has done the most damage to Arsenal if you think about it. Chelsea lured Cole away from Arsenal and got the edge over them, brilliant move from chelsea and catastrofic for Arsenal, and then repeated it with Fabregas, wow. City did the same with Nasri and Adabayor. united took the piss with Persie and Sanchez and now we're left with an jaded Arsenal with sever confidence issues, beated to a plump. and it looks like it can take a loong time for them to recover.
Looool, arsenal did not resist the sale of all the players you mentioned... Both chelsea and city presented better projects and money of course for the players, arsenal have themselves to blame...
Jotciks
0
the invention of the two oil clubs, Chelsea and City, has done the most damage to Arsenal if you think about it. Chelsea lured Cole away from Arsenal and got the edge over them, brilliant move from chelsea and catastrofic for Arsenal, and then repeated it with Fabregas, wow. City did the same with Nasri and Adabayor. united took the piss with Persie and Sanchez and now we're left with an jaded Arsenal with sever confidence issues, beated to a plump. and it looks like it can take a loong time for them to recover.
Jotciks
1
Ashley cole, alex sanchez, adabayor. damn Arsenal gets no loyalty from their starplayers 😲 Its like they got cursed when they lured Sol Campel away from spurs. Karma is real.
Woybimpsuy
0
phloyd
2
if only those greedy owners ,,,let them stay in the club but that seemed difficult to do
NATAS666
5
Wilshere is different class as a man to those 3...,, Without injuries he was would have been different class as a player as well.. shame..,
NATAS666
0
Those people went out of Arsenal and won trophies. Van Persie won EPL with ManU Fabregas with Chelsea Nasri with ManCity and other many trophies. People leave Arsenal to win trophies and why shouldn't they?
From the club that won trophies from corrupt money ... And were a average mid table team for decades
DylanUg
0
Why did he come in the first place. He other clubs that could win trophies before he joined Arsenal. The board and Kroenke are the worst set of them all.
He joined because of our history and he knew he would play champions league and other European competitions
DylanUg
0
aubameyang is 30, he has 0 trophies, he deserves to retire with a trophy atleast. if he says he wants to move he deserves it
if we paid enough why do our players leave for Barcelona recently song came out saying he went to Barcelona to become a millionaire, if we paid enough he would have stayed at arsenal saka is running out of contract soon but what are they doing nothing about it, If we had the money, they would cash him and silence him,
FootballGuru
0
I do agreed with you bro
👍
Auguerooooooo
1
Those people went out of Arsenal and won trophies. Van Persie won EPL with ManU Fabregas with Chelsea Nasri with ManCity and other many trophies. People leave Arsenal to win trophies and why shouldn't they?
BenGud
4
I hated cesc fabregas and van pasie the worst was nasiri the Judas Iscariot. I don’t have respect for them.
mudacdnrsz
1
Now everyone sees who's to blame the greedy owners only thinking about doing business i.s.o. winning titles. Arsene Wenger is the best coach i've seen in the EPL i have much respect for this man. Why do you think when fans wanted Wenger out the owners kept him because they knew he was the best in developing young players and make them world class to be sold in a year or two and he did it over and over again and still be in top 4 to play CL for 19 consecutive years. And of course it was difficult to compete like that.
I do agreed with you bro
mudacdnrsz
2
That's quite true but when players were more matured they decided to leave or rather other clubs pulling factor
Gunners4ever❤
1
We just kept selling our best players, Henry, Vieira and Bergkamp in 2006, Van Persie, Fabregas and Nasri in 2011. Giroud and Sanchez in 2017. Now it looks like Auba might leave too. Selling our best players is now way to win anything and we've paid the price for that over the last 15 years. We have to finally learn from the past and hold onto Aubameyang. COYG❤️
Selling Aubameyang and using the money we got from it to strengthen our full backs, Central defence and midfield would prove to be a blessing in disguise.. Aubameyang isn't bigger than Arsenal, but I want him to stay just like other Arsenal fans although I think our problem positions are behind the attack.. I could prove to be right..
Azmatvffvc
1
yes like man city man utd and now liverpool
Lumbotuy
1
aubameyang is 30, he has 0 trophies, he deserves to retire with a trophy atleast. if he says he wants to move he deserves it
Why did he come in the first place. He other clubs that could win trophies before he joined Arsenal. The board and Kroenke are the worst set of them all.
Lumbotuy
0
yes
You are right!
FootballGuru
3
Now everyone sees who's to blame the greedy owners only thinking about doing business i.s.o. winning titles. Arsene Wenger is the best coach i've seen in the EPL i have much respect for this man. Why do you think when fans wanted Wenger out the owners kept him because they knew he was the best in developing young players and make them world class to be sold in a year or two and he did it over and over again and still be in top 4 to play CL for 19 consecutive years. And of course it was difficult to compete like that.
FaithEvans
2
aubameyang is 30, he has 0 trophies, he deserves to retire with a trophy atleast. if he says he wants to move he deserves it
These kinda comments baffles me, it wasn't like we're winning trebles every year when he decided to join, in fact, he and Lacazette joined the club when we're out of UCL, Özil signed a new deal when we more than doubled his wages, Alexis Sanchez cried about UCL and trophies, he joined United and Inter, over City, tell me, which of them is more likely to win multiple trophies every year? they're not in the UCL, they're not going to win anything for the foreseeable future but they pay him £500k a week, so he's not complaining anymore!... it's all a money play and if we pay enough, almost anyone would join and stay
eamonmolony
2
We just kept selling our best players, Henry, Vieira and Bergkamp in 2006, Van Persie, Fabregas and Nasri in 2011. Giroud and Sanchez in 2017. Now it looks like Auba might leave too. Selling our best players is now way to win anything and we've paid the price for that over the last 15 years. We have to finally learn from the past and hold onto Aubameyang. COYG❤️
KainosJr
1
I feel for Jack. So much does happen in football and truly it's not just about a player but also his teammates and their side of story. They were indeed going to challenge for the tittle that season. I guess we'll never know
zuebknrsz
6
The two culprits are Cesc Fabregas and Van Persie. They are most valued by Arsene Wenger. They have been groomed and nurtured by Wenger in their early years. They are the most unfaithful Arsenal players in the club history.
Jinaipruz
0
agree on this. All the good players were either sold or made to leave to recover costs of the new stadium. Hope we see the Arsenal what it deserves to be.
Feydkrstu Arsenal finished 2nd .., behind Leicester city. fact check
31Ronin
1
yes
Foedekotu
6
Wilshire is 200% right.
DylanUg
6
aubameyang is 30, he has 0 trophies, he deserves to retire with a trophy atleast. if he says he wants to move he deserves it
DylanUg
0
they all leave coz they don't win anything.......what's the purpose of having a business yet to getting losses year in year out
liverpoolhiest
0
agreed
Feydkrstu
0
agree on this. All the good players were either sold or made to leave to recover costs of the new stadium. Hope we see the Arsenal what it deserves to be.
three players he mentioned became pl winners after leaving arsenal and arsenal never finished in top two since their last epl win
Mocmnop
1
Totally agree with players leaving the remaining team loses confidence in the club
rosbcdmnsz
1
I do agree
EricMagnetic
1
ha! good one
Hacdlmoruy
2
its the owner fault sanchez nasri sagna van persie hleb song fabregas and now aubo its their fault everyone want to leave personally when i see myself in a club that isn't buying anyone or spending so little and only cares about income i would've left also
dee_59
5
agree on this. All the good players were either sold or made to leave to recover costs of the new stadium. Hope we see the Arsenal what it deserves to be.