Marouane Chamakh has blasted Arsene Wenger for the manager’s treatment of him when he was at Arsenal. The striker spent three years at the Emirates and scored a total of 14 goals for the club (via Squawka).
It’s not often that a former player criticises Arsene Wenger but Marouane Chamakh has done just that. The striker signed for Cardiff City earlier in the week and has now hit out at the Gunners boss for his treatment of the player back when he was at the club.
Chamakh joined the North London side in 2010 after an impressive couple of seasons for Bordeaux. He started quite well for the Gunners. Chamakh scored seven Premier League goals before November was finished. Those just happened to be the only seven goals he scored in the league that season.
He suffered an injury which lost him his place in the team and into the New Year, Robin Van Persie really started to flourish. The Dutch striker scored his first goal of the season on New Years’ Day and proceeded to get a total of 17 in the league before the season was finished. Chamakh was a bit part player after that and has now criticised Arsene Wenger for his handling of the situation.
“It is clear that I am a little annoyed at him because I think I deserved more playing time than what I was given.” Chamakh told French media outlet RMC.
“As the year began, at the start of the season, he told me that we might change formation and I would maybe be able to play up front with Robin.
“They were nothing but promises… nothing happened. For the aims that I had, I think it was a little bit a lack of respect. I started well and then the next day he shades me out like that.”
Chamakh did start very well for the club and that is something which is usually forgotten. He won the club a lot of points in those opening months and was a little unfortunate to lose his place in the starting line-up. However, Van Persie’s form effectively made Chamakh a backup option for the club and it would have been very unusual for Wenger to change the formation of a side which was playing well.