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ALEX HLEB is still moping about his decision to leave Arsenal a year ago.
The Belarus midfielder was part of Barcelona's Treble-winning squad last season but spent most of his time warming the bench.
He has since returned to former club Stuttgart and groaned: "Of course I regret leaving Arsenal.
"I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe, a team which was always in the top four in the Premier League and were Champions League contenders."
The 28-year-old is also missing the positive influence of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
He admitted: "I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.
"I developed a better all-round game under him and I became more robust physically, learnt to look up more and play better passes and improved greatly as a team player. No player ever gets worse under Wenger.
"I still look out for Arsenal each week and I hope they can do well this time. I think they will be in the top four again and could even push for the title if they don't have the terrible injuries of last season.
"People forget the long unbeaten run they had after Christmas last season, which was a good sign for this season."
Hleb added: "For me, leaving Arsenal was not a good move. A footballer only exists when he takes to the field and makes a proper contribution to the team.
"Even though I was part of a Barca squad that was almost unstoppable, it was hard not to feel detached from all the happiness and celebration at the end.
"Barca were my dream club as a kid, but I couldn't continue with them if the chance to play was not coming. I'm 28 and who knows how much time I have left in the game?
"I needed to move on and the chance to go back to a place that I feel happy in was the best solution."
The Belarus midfielder was part of Barcelona's Treble-winning squad last season but spent most of his time warming the bench.
He has since returned to former club Stuttgart and groaned: "Of course I regret leaving Arsenal.
"I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe, a team which was always in the top four in the Premier League and were Champions League contenders."
The 28-year-old is also missing the positive influence of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
He admitted: "I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.
"I developed a better all-round game under him and I became more robust physically, learnt to look up more and play better passes and improved greatly as a team player. No player ever gets worse under Wenger.
"I still look out for Arsenal each week and I hope they can do well this time. I think they will be in the top four again and could even push for the title if they don't have the terrible injuries of last season.
"People forget the long unbeaten run they had after Christmas last season, which was a good sign for this season."
Hleb added: "For me, leaving Arsenal was not a good move. A footballer only exists when he takes to the field and makes a proper contribution to the team.
"Even though I was part of a Barca squad that was almost unstoppable, it was hard not to feel detached from all the happiness and celebration at the end.
"Barca were my dream club as a kid, but I couldn't continue with them if the chance to play was not coming. I'm 28 and who knows how much time I have left in the game?
"I needed to move on and the chance to go back to a place that I feel happy in was the best solution."
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