Arsenal manager's plan forced me to leave the club - I'd only just signed a five-year deal

This ex-Arsenal star admits his manager made him leave the club not long after he put pen to paper on a new five-year contract

David Bentley left Arsenal after deciding he didn't trust Arsene Wenger's plans. This decision came soon after he signed a new five-year contract.

Arsenal have enjoyed lapping up the credit for their title win last season with Mikel Arteta becoming the first manager since 2004 to secure a league triumph. In the wake of their win, they've welcomed Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis to the club so far, whilst being linked to a host of other big names.

The last Gunners boss whose team were crowned champions before Arteta? Wenger. But, for all the Frenchman's accolades, Bentley didn't trust his vision. So, not long after he signed a new extension, the midfielder requested a transfer - something he now regrets.

Bentley signed his first professional contract in 2001 and made his senior Arsenal debut under Wenger two years later. But a loan switch to Norwich City saw Bentley return to north London with a transfer on his mind, handing in a request once his temporary deal ended.

He moved to Blackburn Rovers in January 2006 and eventually joined Spurs two years later for a fee of £15million. But Bentley admitted on the Undr The Cosh podcast that he should've remained longer with the Gunners, but lacked conviction in Wenger's vision.

The former Gunner explained: "When we were playing, you were under much more pressure than players are nowadays. Much more pressure. Because, if you found yourself out the team, you were criticised more than you are now. Now, you're a squad player. Just having a rest, not in the squad today.

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"[I left Arsenal because] I wanted to play. I signed a five-year deal and left after six months! Wenger was like, 'No, do this.' He had a plan, didn't he? But I couldn't see that plan. Didn't trust it.

"Potentially, I could have stayed; I should have stayed. Remember, I saw the young lads come through, Cesc. I made my debut with Fabregas - my full debut.

"Absolutely unbelievable performance from him. We beat Wolves 5-1 at Highbury. He dominated the game at 15 years old. I was only like 17. Eighteen months older, or two years older than him."

Bentley enjoyed the peak of his career at Blackburn, winning the club's player of the year award in his first full season and attracting interest from Manchester United in the process. However, he opted for the Lilywhites and moved to the other end of north London in 2008.

There, his finest moment came against his former club where he scored a 43-yard screamer in an entertaining 4-4 draw with Arsenal. But Bentley's career didn't kick on from this moment and he found himself out on loan from Spurs a total of four times.

He had spells at Birmingham City, West Ham, FC Rostov and a return to Blackburn, before hanging up his boots at just 29 following his release by Tottenham.