Arsene Wenger admits he made "wrong decision" by not re-signing former Arsenal star

The legendary Arsenal manager has revealed he had a strict policy of not bringing players back to the club, in order to make those looking for an exit, think twice

Arsene Wenger has admitted the decision to not re-sign Nicolas Anelka for Arsenal may have been the wrong one.

The Frenchman was signed by Wenger at the start of his career, developing into one of the most exciting attacking talents in Europe.

In his final season for the club, he netted 17 Premier League goals, earning him the PFA Young Player of the Year Award.

However, the man ironically nicknamed ‘Le Sulk’ moved to Real Madrid in 1999, before playing for PSG, Liverpool, Man City, Fenerbache and Bolton.

Nicolas Anelka during his time at Arsenal (Image: EMPICS Sport)

It was then in 2008, when Anelka became available once again. Following an impressive spell with Bolton, a number of the top clubs were interested in signing him, but Wenger opted against bringing him back to North London.

He would ultimately join local rivals Chelsea, scoring 38 Premier League goals for Blues, as well as winning the Golden Boot in 2009.

(Image: Getty Images for Laureus)

Wenger has revealed that he had a policy of not signing players again, if they had left previously.

This also stood for the likes of Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas, but the former Gunners boss has claimed Anelka could have still offered them a lot.

Asked if it was the wrong decision, Wenger told the Tuesday Club Podcast: “Maybe it was!”

Anelka went on to win the Golden Boot with Chelsea (Image: Getty Images)

"He wanted to come back. Maybe it was a mistake, I wanted to give the signal to the players that once you left the club there is no way back.

"I felt that they would then have a hesitation to leave. I didn’t give them the feeling of ‘ok I go somewhere else, I try it and if it doesn’t work I come back’.

"That’s why I didn’t do it and overall maybe I should have done it.

"Nicolas still scored in 125 games overall in the Premier League I think, something like that, so he could have helped us.”