Arsenal legend: English football scared me
Former Arsenal midfielder Robért Píres has described his early days in English football as a 'shock', after joining the club from French club Marseille.
Píres went on to become a crucial part of Arsène Wenger's side that won the double in 2002 and went a whole season unbeaten in 2004, but admits it took him time to settle.
The Frenchman started his first game for the club on the bench away at Sunderland, and admits he already felt homesick for France before half-time, after witnessing the physical nature of the English game.
Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, he said: "Let me tell you a story about my first game at Arsenal. It was away to Sunderland and Arsène Wenger said to me, 'I'm going to put you on the bench and you'll be able to see how they play football in England'.
"I can tell you that after 20-25 minutes I wanted to return to France because I could tell how difficult it was going to be here, that's how it all started for me.
"It was his way of saying, 'Look, if you want to succeed in English football it's going to be very, very hard'. He was right. That day at Sunderland was a real shock for me in terms of the way the sides got stuck into each other."
Píres is happy, however, that he stayed at Arsenal and went on to enjoy what he believes were the best years of his career.
He added: "[Wenger] had confidence in me, picked me and I adapted to the style of play, there's no question that I had the best years of my career here, at Arsenal."
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I can tell you that after 20-25 minutes I wanted to return to France because I could tell how difficult it was going to be here, that's how it all started for me.
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