Gael Clichy has risked the wrath of Arsenal fans by declaring he left the club for Manchester City because he was tired of missing out on silverware.
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Clichy says he could have penned a new deal at Emirates Stadium but could not face the prospect of more seasons like the 2010-11 campaign.
Arsenal have now not won a trophy since 2005, with a string of disappointments turning last term into one of the most disappointing seasons under Arsene Wenger's stewardship. Now Clichy believes he has found a club who can deliver the success he craves.
Speaking on the club's pre-season tour to the United States, he said: "After spending eight years with Arsenal it would have been easy to sign a new contract to stay there because they're a fantastic club that will always be challenging for trophies.
"But it got to a point for me where I didn't want to just challenge for the titles only to be disappointed in the final weeks of the season. I wanted to play for a club that would win them. I joined City because I felt that this was a club ready to win important trophies over the next few years.
"When Sheikh Mansour first took over here there was a lot of scepticism in the game and I was one of the sceptics.
"But for me, last season proved City are now one of the top clubs in the game. I have been at City only a week but I look around and see a squad that is strong.''
Clichy's comments come just a day after Wenger accused City boss Roberto Mancini of a lack of respect over his public pursuit of Samir Nasri, who the Italian wants to add to his squad in the next fortnight.
