Freddie: Henry leaving helped decision to quit

Freddie: Henry leaving helped decision to quit

West Ham have completed the signing of Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg.


The Sweden international, 30, had been the Gunners' longest serving player after costing Arsene Wenger's side £3million in 1998 from Halmstads.

Ljungberg joins long time team-mate and star striker Thierry Henry, who signed for Barcelona in June, in leaving the club this summer.

The midfielder played 325 times for Arsenal, scoring 72 goals, but lost his grip on a starting spot last season.

He now joins Julien Faubert, Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy and Richard Wright in moving to Upton Park since the Hammers' dramatic last-day survival last season.

Ljungberg said he left Arsenal because he felt like 'it was the end' for the club as he knew it following Henry's move.

'Two years ago when I signed my last contract we talked a lot about the future and about bringing great players to the club. Despite building the new stadium we wanted to stay top in England and do well in Europe.

'For me that didn't really happen.

'I stayed because I wanted to stay loyal to Arsenal. But when Henry left this summer it felt like the end for me unfortunately.

'I felt like all the unbeaten players (from Arsenal's `invincibles' of 2003/04) had left. I wanted to be loyal but I felt like it was the right time.

But Ljungberg also insisted there were positive reasons behind his decision and insisted he shared owner Eggert Magnusson's vision.

'I'm coming here because I want to build a great team.

'And why I want to join is because of Magnusson. He wants to bring them forward to be top of the country.

'He's willing to go to the transfer market to buy top players and mix them with youth players. West Ham have a great academy.

'He wants to help take the club up and take them to the top in England. It's a big challenge for me.'

Ljungberg claimed it had been a real wrench to leave Arsenal and that manager Arsene Wenger had tried to convince him to stay.

'I've been there for nine years, almost 10 years,' he said.

'It's a big thing for and I feel it in my heart a little bit.

'When I spoke to the boss, he wanted me to stay.

'But at the same time, I feel it had to be something very, very special for me to leave.

'I want to go forward and, with the people I have around me, I think it's going to be really good.'

Hammers boss Alan Curbishley believes Ljungberg was lured after seeing the other moves the club have made in the transfer market this summer.

'We spoke to Freddie over the last week and we tried to sell him the club and what we're about,' Curbishley said.

'He's seen players come in a and push us forward.'

As for Ljungberg's own qualities, Curbishley added: 'He brings a few things, Champions League experience, captain of Sweden, he's versatile.

'There's a hunger there. He wants to come and push West Ham on and be partly responsible for that.

'He's joining another terrific club and that's the way he's got to see it.

'He understands the passion of the club and the passion of the fans and I'm sure he'll be a big hit here.'

Ecclestone not ruling out Arsenal involvement

NUERBURGRING, Germany, July 21 (Reuters) - Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone denied talks with Arsenal about a possible takeover bid on Saturday but said he was always open to offers.

'I don't know too much about that, actually,' the billionaire told Reuters at the European Grand Prix when asked about a report in the Mirror newspaper suggesting he could be interested in the Premier League club.

'It's good if somebody is saying that, because maybe I will be approached and maybe it will be cheap,' added the 76-year-old, who considered buying into Chelsea before the arrival of Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

'I'll buy anything if it's cheap enough,' he said.

'If somebody offers me something that I think is good value, I'll have a go.' Ecclestone confirmed that his daughter Tamara was dating the son of former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, who left the club in April.

Dein, close to manager Arsene Wenger, was the man credited with much of the North London club's success over the past decade and knows Ecclestone socially.

'I talked to David obviously when they chucked him out, which I thought was a bit unnecessary,' said Ecclestone when asked about any discussions with Dein about Arsenal.

Ecclestone, who frequently attends matches at Chelsea, said involvement in Arsenal could be embarrassing.

'Look at what a problem I'd be in with Chelsea if I bought Arsenal,' he said.

Reports in the British media on Friday suggested that American tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns 12.2 percent of the club, was preparing to launch a takeover bid for Arsenal.

The club's refusal to welcome Kroenke's overtures in April prompted the departure of Dein, who was sympathetic to the sale. Dein still has a 14.5 percent stake in the club.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said at the time that he would be 'horrified if the club were to go across the Atlantic.'

Saturday's Mirror suggested that an Ecclestone bid would be more acceptable by keeping the club in British hands.