Arsenal: 7 former players who ruined their legacy

Samir Nasri – the mercenary

Wenger signed midfielder Samir Nasri from Marseille in the summer of 2008. He was a talented player for Arsenal, but he had the uncanny ability to irritate those around him. He spent three seasons in north London but went on to be a perfect example of the saying “don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. “Be careful what you wish for” fits, too.

Nasri will forever be known as a mercenary to Arsenal fans for choosing the oil money of Manchester City over loyalty to the Gunners. After signing a £24m deal to join the suddenly wealthy Manchester side he poured gasoline onto the fire when he said,

"“The City supporters are really passionate, and it reminds me of Marseille. Arsenal have good fans but they are not that passionate since they moved from Highbury to the Emirates.”"

With this statement, he chose to insult the fans that had once adored him and there was no turning back for the Frenchman.

Eventually, the shoe was on the other foot when Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City and had no need for Nasri. The Frenchman moved on and since has played in Spain, Turkey, and Holland along with a brief stint back in the Premier League with West Ham. In 2018 he was hit with doping charges and was banned from the sport for six months.

Proving that he doesn’t know when to shut his mouth, Nasri did an interview with Goal in 2016 where he said:

"“Manchester City were a better team – that’s why I went there. It was my ambition, not because of the money. Whether you’re a fan or not, people should understand that if a bigger company calls you, if you’re ambitious, you’re going to go there.”"

In this same interview, he went on to play the victim when he explained that he didn’t understand the anger that was directed towards him by Arsenal supporters

“I became a little hateful because I was like ‘Come on, why are they doing this? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Sorry, Samir, yes you did. You decided to become a mercenary.