Former Arsenal star reveals his greatest Wenger regret

Former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou has reflected on his experience and regret from playing under Arsene Wenger.

Failing to win a trophy under Arsene Wenger is Johan Djourou’s biggest regret as an Arsenal player.

The former defender made 144 appearances for the Gunners during an 11-year spell between 2003 and 2014. He also played for Hamburg and Birmingham City before retiring this month after a brief spell in Denmark.

=445. Johan DJOUROU

Defender – 18.01.87 – SUI (76/2)

Prem Clubs:
Arsenal (04-14), Birmingham City (07-08)

Euros Debut:
11/06/2016 (Albania vs. SWITZERLAND, W 1-0)

Euro Finals:
Switzerland (2008 & 2016)

Euro Apps: 4
Euro Goals: 0 pic.twitter.com/xw3AN0M3kD

— Premier League Players (@premlgeplayers) July 8, 2021

But Djourou is best known for his spell at Arsenal, having come through the club’s youth system into the first-team squad under the club’s legendary manager Wenger.

“We are all playing for something and the fact I didn’t win a title would be the main regret,” the ex-Switzerland international told talkSPORT.

“But, having said that, when you look back and think what you’ve learnt and how you’ve grown during that journey, this for me is irreplaceable.

“The boss [Wenger] had a big impact on myself and not just on the pitch, but outside. When I had the Euros or big competitions like that, I always spoke to him before and I had some texts with him two years ago.

“He is a father figure on a lot of levels. But I think that’s only how you can succeed and that’s why he has been in the game for so long because he had such a great psychological approach to the players and we all felt loved and respected.”

Since retiring this July, Djourou now works on his podcast and runs a football school in Switzerland named the ‘Djourou Elite Camp’.