Arsenal FC

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Wenger explains Upson exit

23 Oct 2009 - 15:56:59

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted to some regrets that England central defender Matthew Upson left the club due to a lack of first-team opportunities.

The 30-year-old has gone on to impress for Birmingham City and current club West Ham United, becoming a regular in the national team set-up.

Wenger commented ahead of the clash with the Hammers this weekend: "I knew when he left that he would make a big career, but at that moment when Matthew was here, he was impatient.

"That I could understand as well, because I bought him at Luton and after a few years he didn't play here.

"I didn't stop him going because I knew he had qualities to play in the Premiership, but he had players in front of him that stopped him.

"I knew he would make it. He had Premiership quality and had the potential to be international quality.

"He is there now because he is at the right age for a central defender and for a few years now he has not been stopped by injury, which was his problem for a while.

"Yes, he was always in my mind. But of course this is not the best moment to talk about that because he is a player at West Ham.

"Three, four, five years ago yes, but now he is settled and has a good career where he is."