Bentley's not bitter
Last updated: 16th March 2008
Bentley: A good platform at Arsenal
I had to make a career for myself and I needed to play football and I looked to go away.
David Bentley
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No regrets? Not for David Bentley.
He made the decision to leave Arsenal and look for regular football and he is not looking back.
The England and Blackburn midfielder told Goals on Sunday this week that it is still a subject that comes up a lot and while he has huge respect for Arsenal, he says he is happy he has moved on, whichever way it gets reported.
He said: "People always say 'are you bitter?' and there is a lot in the press and every time they ask me questions about Arsenal, you say things and they twist it.
Education
"They gave me a great platform to grow from and I had a great time playing there to be honest. I learnt a lot.
"I would have loved to have played there, what a great club to play for. The fans love watching the football, they play great football and the players you are playing with are at such a high level.
"But I had to make a career for myself and I needed to play football and I looked to go away. Lucky for me it has worked out.
"I'll never know how I would have developed. You make decisions and I went, and I think that has made me the player I am now. Maybe things wouldn't have worked out the same had I stayed. It has made me stronger as a player and it was an easy decision to be honest, to go."
Controversy
Something else that Bentley thinks has been twisted are a comment he made about Theo Walcott's future.
It was reported that Bentley has advised Walcott to follow his example and leave Arsenal but Bentley set the record straight on Goals on Sunday.
"He is a great talent," he said. "I didn't actually say he should leave. If he is not going to be playing regular football over the next few years, it is like any player who is not playing week-in, week-out, sometimes you might have to make decisions to go.
"I think he is being looked after very well and hopefully he can grow. But if he is in the same position in two or three years and not playing he might look to go."
