TO some Arsenal fans, his words will seem like sour grapes from a
player who couldn't get the contract he wanted at the Emirates
Stadium.
To most, however, Freddie Ljungberg's assessment of the Gunners'
trouble will ring chillingly true going into the new season.
Yes, the 30-year-old midfielder, West Ham's latest signing, was a
victim of boss Arsene Wenger's policy of refusing to offer long
deals to men who reach his age.
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But Ljungberg - Arsenal's longest-serving player until yesterday -
appears to have summed up the increasing fears of Gunners fans that
the glory days have long gone in the red half of north
London.
Thierry Henry's departure to Barcelona last month was the biggest
in an amazing line of stellar talent to have quit since Arsenal's
'Invincibles' last won the title in their incredible, unbeaten
season of 2003.
These days, for all Wenger's hype, they look decidedly lightweight
compared to Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
It is an issue over which defender William Gallas has already
confronted his gaffer.
In fact, many Arsenal fans fear they should be looking over their
shoulders at Tottenham, who are ready to edge them out of the
fourth Champions League spot to which the Gunners scrambled last
season.
"It was a difficult decision but when Thierry Henry left, it felt
like the end," said Ljungberg.
"It's all a bit sad. All the players from the undefeated team have
left. Now me. I stayed as I wanted to be loyal, but I felt it was
the right time to go.
"I'm not getting involved in the business of how Arsenal want to
handle their affairs but I felt that we had let a lot of players
go.
"Then when Henry left as well, I thought maybe it was time for me
to do some thing different, something challenging.
"I have always stayed loyal, even when some big clubs have tried to
buy me. Of course it was hard to leave. I had been at Arsenal for
nine, almost 10 years.
"When I started playing football, I stayed at one club until I went
to Arsenal. So West Ham is my first club other than that and, of
course, it is a big thing for me.
"But at the same time I am happy. I want to go forward and with the
people I have around me now I think it will be really good.
"I had great years at Arsenal and won almost everything. Not the
Champions League unfortunately. We were so close, but I look back
with great memories."
The Sweden skipper joined Arsenal for £3m from Halmstads in 1998
and scored 72 goals in 325 games but injury restricted him to 26
games last term.
Now he reckons Eggert Magnusson's Upton Park millions could
threaten Arsenal's status.
He said: "We have a chairman here who is willing to make this club
very big.
"It's already big - but I am talking about being at the top of the
table."