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<\/p>\nFormer Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit announced \u201cI\u2019m leaving\u201d in the middle of his AS Monaco title celebrations.<\/p>\n
The Frenchman is best known for his time in north London, where he formed a formidable central-midfield partnership with compatriot Patrick Vieira. Before flourishing under Arsene Wenger, Petit had just captained Monaco to a Ligue 1 title in the 1996\/97 season.<\/p>\n
But the future World Cup winner would put a major damper on the French side\u2019s success by announcing his decision to leave on live television. Aged 26, Petit was sitting next to Monaco\u2019s then-president Jean-Louis Campora when he boldly declared his dream of playing in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
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He told FourFourTwo: \u201cDuring the celebrations, I was sat next to Campora when the presenter asked him about my future. Campora said, \u2018He still has a contract, next season, he will stay here\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen they passed the microphone to me and I said, \u2018I have big respect for you, Mr Campora, but I disagree. It\u2019s time for me to leave. I\u2019m almost 27 and it\u2019s time to have a different challenge. I have done everything I can with Monaco\u2019.<\/p>\n
Do you think Emmanuel Petit is an Arsenal legend? Let us know in the comments section.<\/u><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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"My first target was to play in England. When I was a kid, I used to read cartoons about English football \u2013 I was dreaming about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Petit, who had spent nine years in the Monaco first team, pursued his dream, though the controversy did not end there. He had visited Tottenham Hotspur\u2019s White Hart Lane ahead of a potential move, before asking for a couple of days to consider their offer.<\/p>\n
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In one of the most brutal transfer U-turns in Premier League history, Spurs booked Petit a taxi to meet with the Arsenal manager without knowing. He made the trip to Mr. Wenger\u2019s house, where he was convinced to join by his former Monaco boss and David Dein in a \u201ctop secret\u201d meeting.<\/p>\n
He decided to join Spurs\u2019 bitter north London rivals and never looked back, winning a Premier League and an FA Cup double in his debut season in England. Petit would sign for another London club in Chelsea four years later, where he called time on his career following a brief spell with Barcelona.<\/p>\n