Nasri: I left Arsenal to win titles

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Nasri, who left Arsenal to join City in 2011, won the first major trophy of his career after the Citizens emerged victorious in the Premier League last season, with the 25-year-old contributing his fair share in the club's domestic success by scoring five goals and providing nine assists.

The France international, who made 125 appearances for the Gunners, has long been criticised for turning his back on his former club manager Arsene Wenger, with many insinuating that the 2010 French Player of the Year left to join City in order to get a substantial pay raise.

However, Nasri insists he joined City because he felt that the Citizens had a much higher chance of achieving glory than the Gunners, and claims he has no regret at having made the move despite finding first-team opportunities hard to come by.

"It was a good challenge for me to come here and win titles because that is what I was missing at Arsenal," Nasri was quoted as saying by the Sun.

"Everything was great at Arsenal but I wanted titles.

"So I went to City because I wanted to make history and be part of history and that's what we did. It was 44 years after their last one and I'm very happy."

Nasri also expressed his confidence that his side could still catch up with arch-rivals Manchester United, who are currently seven points clear at the top of the table.

"If you have a strong squad, if you have quality and you still want to win, you don't think about someone else," Nasri added.

"You have to be hungrier for the title, to retain any title. We are."

With the Citizens set to take on the Gunners on Sunday, Nasri gave his support to under-fire manager Wenger, claiming that the veteran tactician was one of the best in the business and crediting the 63-year-old for helping him grow as a player.

"If I'm here today it's because of him [Wenger]," Nasri declared.

"I'll never forget what he did for me.

"I owe him a lot. He gave me confidence not just as a player but as a man as well.

"That is why I really respect him and really like him because he cared about the men, not just about the players.

"For some managers they want you to be on the pitch and that is it.

"For him he wants to talk to you, to know a little more about you to give you the confidence, it was like a second love for me.

"I played fantastic football for three years and I learned how to play at a high level with a lot of Champions League and I was always in the race for the title.

"And I played with great players, a great manager and it was a great experience."

Nasri has made 12 appearances for City in the Premier League this season.