Players leaving Arsenal for greater riches elsewhere is not uncommon.
During the Emirates era, fans have had to watch on helplessly as some of the best talents Arsenal have seen bid farewell to north London for usually nominal fees, to pursue silverware at pastures new.
It never stops hurting. Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Emmanual Adebayor are just a handful in recent times.
One of the names that is unlikely to crop up on that list, however, is Alex Hleb.
🆕 Our next guest on our 'In Lockdown' podcast is Alex Hleb!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 27, 2020
Join us as he talks about:
■ His friendship with Fabregas, Flamini and Rosicky
■ Losing the Champions League final
■ His regret at his decision to leave to join Barca
■ And much, much more!
📻 Listen today! 👇
Someone who only spent three seasons in north London after moving from VfB Stuttgart in 2005, a glance at his statistics during his time with Arsenal won’t produce the most inspiring numbers: in 130 games he scored just ten goals, assisting a further 18.
Fielded often on the right side of midfield in a 4-4-2 system, he nevertheless proved himself to be a committed, hard-working forward who made up one part of a fluid, and ultimately enjoyable to watch, Arsenal side.
In a midfield of Cesc Fabregas with Tomas Rosicky down the left side, that 2006/07 campaign would ultimately end up with Arsenal finishing 21 points off Manchester United, there was a weak Champions League exit, an FA Cup loss to Blackburn and then the bitterly disappointing League Cup final loss to Chelsea.
Not all the time, granted, but that trio played some wonderful football. I remember hosting some sides at the Emirates, or even travelling to away grounds, and feeling legitimately sorry for the opposition. When on song, Hleb and Rosicky either side of midfield were unplayable.
That next season we should have won the league. No doubt about it. That infamous draw with Birmingham was followed by a run of one win and seven, and we blew it.
Up until that point, Hleb and Rosicky were magnificent. In the form of arguably both of their respective lives. At this point no other side in England could argue against Arsenal playing the best football in the country, and some of the best in Europe. You’d have paid the admission price to just see those two glide across the pitch.
But Barcelona came calling, and Hleb couldn’t resist.
"“Why I left, I don’t understand. Barca, of course, were the best team at the time and everybody wants something to try but really I was 100 per cent happy at Arsenal.“I cried when I talked to Arsene. We talked in the holiday before I left and he told me he wanted to keep me and I was important. I cried. I didn’t know what to do in that moment."
After signing a four-year deal that cost Barça £15m in the end, Hleb played 36 games in his debut season, assisting three goals – the next three campaigns were all spent out on loan.
It’s not the first time he’s regretted leaving Arsenal. The grass is always greener. At least he admits the error of his ways.
One of those ‘what if?’ moments.
Would he have excelled and become a world beater? Unlikely, yet we can still fondly remember the days of him and Rosicky linking up with Fabregas and ripping the likes of Reading to shreds. Good times, those were.