Poom explains Watford
motivation
Mart Poom says he opted to join Watford from Arsenal to give him
the chance of regular first-team football and secure his place in
the Estonia team.
Estonian international goalkeeper Mart Poom, 35, joined relegated
Watford for an undisclosed fee earlier this month.
"I had one year left on my Arsenal contract," Poom told BBC
Sport.
"But I was effectively third-choice goalkeeper and I was wasn't
getting enough playing time. I still have ambitions to play
regularly."
Poom, who has won 112 caps, joined the Gunners from Sunderland in
August 2005, initially on loan but on a permanent basis from
January 2006.
Poom replaces Ben Foster, who was on loan at Watford from
Manchester United.
The 35-year-old goalkeeper made just two first-team appearances for
Arsenal, his Premiership debut for the club being in the last game
of the season against Portsmouth.
But the Estonian coach Jelle Goes was unhappy Poom's first-team
opportunities were so limited.
Poom said: "It's strange because I've played more international
games for Estonia than I have for Arsenal.
"I haven't played regularly for a club for three seasons, because
in my last year at Sunderland I had injury problems after having
three operations.
"I want to test myself and I want to play for as long as possible.
I haven't set a date on when I'm going to stop playing.
"I've missed a lot of football over the last few years due to
injury and I'm still hungry to play and to improve as a
goalkeeper."
Despite playing just two games for Arsenal, Poom has no regrets
over joining the Gunners.
"I'm still proud to be the first Estonian to have been part of such
a big club.
"I want to thank Arsene Wenger for taking a chance on me after the
injury problems I had at Sunderland.
"I really enjoyed myself, apart from obviously not playing more
games."
