EMMANUEL PETIT: Before I joined Arsenal I nearly signed for Spurs... and they paid for my taxi to have talks with Wenger

Published: 02:30 EST, 28 October 2013 | Updated: 06:54 EST, 28 October 2013

Emmanuel Petit is the former Arsenal midfielder who won the Double with the Gunners in 1998. The midfielder also won the World Cup and European Championship with France. Petit went on to play for Barcelona and Chelsea. In this Footballers' Football Column he reveals how he nearly signed for Manchester United and looks ahead to the Capital One Cup clash between his former clubs Arsenal and Chelsea. Make sure you watch the video below...

 

Emmanuel Petit Footballers Football Column

I had been playing in Monaco for 14 years and felt I deserved the chance to go abroad. When I was a kid I was dreaming about English football. I would read cartoons on English football and I knew that one day I would play in England. I had the choice to go to Spain, Italy and Germany but I decided to follow my former Monaco manager Arsene Wenger to Arsenal, and it was a dream come true.

Before I signed for Arsenal, I had been in discussions with Spurs. I held a meeting at Tottenham, but I decided not to tell them my answer because I knew I was seeing Arsenal afterwards.

At the time, I did not know the rivalry between Spurs and the Gunners, and I realised afterwards that I had got in a taxi which had been paid for by Spurs to sign for Arsenal.

Pair of aces: Arsene Wenger signed both Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars for Arsenal in 1997

Forging a bond: Petit played for Monaco under Wenger and followed the manager to north London

It is like Marseille paying for a cab for a player then to sign for Paris Saint-Germain, but it wasn't my intention to hurt anybody.

The fact Arsene wanted me was a key factor in picking Arsenal over Tottenham. I did not feel the motivation at Spurs at the time.

When I went straight to Arsenal I noticed a big difference in terms of speaking and motivation. It was not just because Arsene is French and he was my manager at Monaco - of course that helped - but I met David Dein and he was so gentle with me and I could barely speak English at that time.

He tried to speak with me in French. They tried everything they could to make me happy during our one hour together and I really appreciated that.

What followed was the best year of my life, not just as a sportsman but a human being, too. I'd won the league with Monaco then I arrived at Arsenal and I won the Double, the World Cup with France and then the Charity Shield. My wish is for every single footballer to live what I lived in those 12 months.

My relationship with Patrick Vieira in Arsenal's midfield didn't click straight away. When it was made public that I was signing for Arsenal I remember an interview I did on French radio and Patrick was already here in England and I was still playing for Monaco.

It was a three-way interview and Patrick was talking to me and I did not know him very well at that time but I knew what kind of player he was.

Before he left to Italy and came to England he was playing for Cannes in France and I used to play against him. I remember this tall black guy playing in defence and I thought to myself physically we are both strong.

He is right footed, I am left footed. He is black I am white. He liked to run, and I liked to play the long ball or knock it short. He is tall. I am quite tall, but compared to him I am a bit little, and realised we matched perfectly. It was like a piece of coin.

There are so many favourite memories with Arsenal, but the Double celebration at Highbury was so new to me. We won the French Cup and title with Monaco, but Monaco is not a passionate city for football so it was quite amazing to see so many people following the bus.

Formidable partnership: Petit and Patrick Vieira were key players for France and Arsenal

Those were the days: Vieira and Petit hold the Premier League trophy on an open top bus parade

Influential player: Petit won trophies in his time at Arsenal

The FA Cup final against Newcastle in 1998 and our last game at home against Everton when Tony Adams scored that goal and we won 4-0 was so special. The overriding factor at Arsenal was the team spirit - starting with Ian Wright, there were so many strong personalities.

After three seasons at Arsenal I joined Barcelona, but if I had the power to change the past, I would come back and change the day I said 'yes' to the move. It was bad timing for me to leave Arsenal.

When I first went to Barcelona I realised that football is a passion, but it was more about politics. So after six months I wanted to leave the club. I hated my time over there. Honestly I hated it. I was counting the days - day after day - until I could leave. 

I then had the opportunity to sign for Manchester United because Sir Alex Ferguson came to see me play twice at Barcelona, and I had the chance to play alongside Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Roy Keane but I decided to have a new challenge so I signed for Chelsea.

Missed opportunity? Petit had the chance to join the likes of David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs in the Manchester United midfield

At that time Roman Abramovich wasn't there and Ken Bates wanted to sell the club. They did not have much money to spend in the transfer market. Despite all of that, we had a quality squad and tried to compete but we did not have enough talent especially on the bench. That is why we could fight for only six months of the season.

It was a transition period because everyone knew at the time that Bates was desperate to sell. The opportunity came with Abramovich and that is why the club went into another dimension. With that sort of financial power you can do whatever you want now in football so that is why the club has changed so much. 

I don't regret my three years at Chelsea. The only thing I regret is my final year when I had two big operations and I had to stop playing football.

On top of the world: Petit scored a goal in the World Cup final in 1998 against Brazil

In it goes: Petit beats Cafu and slots the ball past Claudio Taffarel to score the third goal in the World Cup Final

When I had the operation they had to cut my leg in two parts. The rehabilitation was very long and very painful and I don't see the point in playing football if you feel pain. There is no pleasure at all even if you love the game.

The doctor was very honest with me. He said, 'You have 10 per cent chance of playing football at the highest level. You could run no problem at all, but professionally to play football is going to be very difficult.'

Arsenal were there to help me get back on track. I tried and tried, weeks and weeks with Arsenal and Arsene. The club were so kind to open the door to their training facilities for me. Arsene came to me and said if you can reach a certain level physically then I will sign a contract with you. I tried my best to come back but the pain was so bad.

Bad move: Petit said he did not enjoy his time at Barcelona

Regret: Petit says it was more about politics than football at the Nou Camp

I can feel it even now when I walk up the stairs, but I am not complaining any more. I have had a beautiful life.

When you stop playing football It is very difficult to cope with and that is why you see players aged 34, 35 who will try everything they can to push the limits. But you know deep down that the end will come and when it does it feels like death. When you cannot do something you are passionate about, it is like somewhere you are dead.

One or two years after you stop you career it is very difficult, and that is why if I can give any advice to to other players it would be don't wait until the end is coming to prepare your life after football.

Arsenal host Chelsea in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night, but it is more important for the Gunners than the Blues to win the game. It has been eight years without a trophy and they still have in their minds the final against Birmingham in 2011 where they lost 2-1.

Crossing the capital: Petit played over 50 games for Chelsea

The weeks following that defeat were terrible. I could not recognise the Arsenal team - they had lost the plot. They were 100 per cent the favourites to win that trophy and they gave it to Birmingham. Psychologically the fans, the manager and the players were dead.

It is important for Chelsea, too, because when you play for them you have to win every single trophy. It is important for Jose Mourinho because he is a fighter, a competitor and he will want to mark his second spell at Chelsea by winning a trophy as soon as possible. It is a London derby and the winner of the game will have a direct impact on the Premier League and the Champions League.

The next month or so will be interesting to see how Arsenal cope with the big games. Since the beginning of the season they have not played against big opponents except in the Champions League but now they have to play against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United so it will be interesting to see if they can play the same football, with the same passion, desire, happiness, and still score goals and win games.

Making the difference: Petit believes Mesut Ozil can help end Arsenal's trophy drought

The future: Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere are important to Arsenal's development, according to Petit

The most important change for Arsenal this season is the signing of Mesut Ozil. When you look at the beginning of the season, Arsenal were struggling. The players were questioning themselves over the quality of the squad and whether they would go another season without winning a trophy.

But with Ozil, everybody knows how he plays, his quality as a human being and I am sure that has helped with the confidence to bounce back from that opening day defeat against Aston Villa. The fact that he has settled so quickly into the dressing room and on the pitch because he speaks the same football as Arsenal has helped a lot, too.

We all agree that with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey the next generation of British football is talented and very gifted. But can you give the keys of the team to those players? No. That is why Ozil is very important because he is like a big brother to them  - he was the perfect signing.

Up for the cup: Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Petit poses with the Capital One Cup

One of the problems at Arsenal for the last couple of years is that they had the talent, but were too young. Where were the players who could go and say to the others: 'What are you doing? Wake up!' 'You have to come back,' 'Don't do this any more!'

Who was saying that in the dressing room for the last few years? No one! They were all young. And that that is why they needed players like Mathieu Flamini and Ozil.

With Arsenal back at their best and playing flamboyant football, scoring goals and winning games the expectation changes. And it will be a very, very big disappointment if, at the end of the season, Arsenal haven't won a trophy. But if they can avoid injuries they will be big contenders for the Premier League title with Manchester City, Chelsea and even Tottenham. 

Comments (34)

Share what you think

• Newest
• Oldest
• Best rated
• Worst rated

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now