Freddie Ljungberg is attempting to drag Arsenal out of a swamp of negativity, so perhaps he'd rather not reflect on his time at West Ham when the two sides meet on Monday night.
The Swede spent one dreadful season with the club and there might be a few choice words from the stands for the man who ended up costing the Hammers £500,000-a-game.
It was a glittering playing career for Ljungberg but his post-Arsenal switch was a major blotch on the copybook.
By 2007, he had helped steer the Gunners to three Premier League crowns, a hat-trick of FA Cups and a Champions League final.
His place in Arsenal folklore was set in stone as part of the 'Invincibles' and the winger was even voted as the 11th best player in club history.
But aged 30, he felt the time was right to move on, particularly with many of his contemporaries doing the same.
He said: 'Despite building the new stadium we wanted to stay top in England and do well in Europe.
'For me that didn't really happen. I stayed because I wanted to stay loyal to Arsenal. But when Henry left this summer it felt like the end for me unfortunately. I felt like all the unbeaten players had left. I wanted to be loyal but I felt like it was the right time.'
Ljungberg's reputation preceded him and there was no shortage of offers, but it was Alan Curbishley who persuaded him that West Ham was a club on the rise.
The manager said at the time: 'We spoke to Freddie over the last week and we tried to sell him the club and what we are about.
'He has seen other players come in and push us forward. Freddie brings Champions League experience, being captain of Sweden and that he is versatile but the biggest thing is that there is a hunger there.'
So convinced by Ljungberg's 'hunger' were West Ham that they forked out £85,000-per-week on a three year deal.
Even in today's hugely inflated market, this was hardly pocket change and marked a hefty investment in a player heading towards the twilight of his career.
But the Hammers were all in. On the opening day of the season, they made him captain but his new side slumped to a 2-0 home defeat by Manchester City.
As a leader in the dressing room and marquee signing, much was expected of Ljungberg but the club weren't getting any bang for their buck. It took him seven painful, pressure-filled months to open his account.
The first goal came in a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City, one of only two he'd score that season.
A dire campaign was brought to an end by Steven Taylor, who broke one of Ljungberg's ribs in a collision, but in truth the writing was already on the wall. Chief executive Scott Duxbury had seen enough and wanted his big signing gone but the Swede dug his heels in, initially refusing to budge.
Curbishley told Ljungberg he wouldn't be picked again, but the winger threatened to simply collect his paycheck over the next two years, which would have amounted to £8.84m.
He then remained in Sweden while his team-mates began their pre-season schedule for the new campaign and it was in his homeland that he decided to come to the negotiating table.
In the end, the 25 games and two goals Ljungberg cost West Ham close to £13m for his services.
The 31-year-old, who the year before been the poster boy for a a Calvin Klein underwear campaign, then really kicked back that summer as he pondered his next move.
He sampled life in the fast lane in Los Angeles for a while, reportedly toyed with the idea of becoming a furniture designer and rubbed shoulders with celebrities at New York Fashion Week.
And then there was a string of appearances towards the front pages of newspapers rather than the back, most notably after he sent a bottle of champagne over to Natalie Imbruglia in a Mayfair bar before leaving with the Australian singer at 4am.
In October 2008, Ljungberg signed as one of the Seattle Sounders' designated players, earning £7.6m over two seasons in another hefty payday. He then went on to have brief spells at Celtic, Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan and Mumbai City before hanging up the boots for good.
Those heady days are well behind Ljungberg now and the sterling reputation he's forged as a coach is being tested to the limit as interim Arsenal boss.
Many in the boardroom were hoping he'd convince in the top job enough to earn the role permanently, but after a draw at Norwich and home defeat by Brighton, there are already murmurs of doubt.
Defeat on Monday night would be a body blow for Ljungberg, but there will be plenty at West Ham who might feel they owe him one.
