ANELKA'S ARSENAL REGRET

Anelka left The Gunners in the summer of 1999 in a wave of controversy to join Spanish giants Real Madrid, and became burdened with the reputation of a bad boy.

But the 22-year-old now wants to shrug off that tag and look to the future.

"I've grown up with criticism and been labelled a bad boy, but all I want to do is play football to the best of my ability," he told the Sunday Mirror.

"It is easy to look back on Arsenal with a great deal of happiness because I had a very understanding coach who played to my natural strengths.

"And perhaps, when I look back on the past few years, it would have been easier to have stayed and continued the progress I'd made with Arsene Wenger.

"I can go over things in my head, but so many things were said, so many things left unsaid. But the relationship with Arsenal became difficult and just pushed me through the door.

"At the time I was accused of all sorts of things, a great deal that wasn't true. But that is in the past, and it's a past I'd rather leave behind than talk about."

Anelka has returned for a second stab at The Premiership with Liverpool, and he opened his Reds' account against Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday.

The former Highbury star is at Anfield on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move from Paris Saint Germain.

He admits he is not yet back to peak fitness, but will soon be able to prove to the Liverpool faithful that he will be a hit on Merseyside.

"I am very happy to be back in England and working with people who have as much faith in my ability as I have.

"I feel a bit rusty because I haven't played regularly, but once my full fitness returns I believe the Liverpool fans will see the real Nicolas Anelka."