Ex-Arsenal midfielder takes swipe at Gunners

Published: 10:40 AM July 6, 2010

Updated: 1:29 PM October 14, 2020

Former Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has claimed he didn t fit in at the Emirates.The 20-year-old Spaniard, who came through the youth system at Barcelona, has returned to his homeland with boyhood club Atletico Madrid after just six league outings in

Former Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has claimed he didn't "fit in" at the Emirates.

The 20-year-old Spaniard, who came through the youth system at Barcelona, has returned to his homeland with boyhood club Atletico Madrid after just six league outings in north London.

His last goal came in a substitute appearance during the 2-0 win at Bolton in January.

He told AS: "I'm an Atletico fan and I feel enormously proud to be here.

"Atletico are a big club and so are Arsenal, but there were some circumstances there, particularly on the sporting side, which I wasn't happy with and I couldn't fit in.

"I made (Arsene) Wenger aware of that and as soon as I knew Atletico were interested, I didn't think twice.