Former Arsenal man Kristoffer Olsson has said he has no regrets over his failed stint with the Gunners ten years ago.
Having arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2011 from FK Norrköping Under-19’s for £315,000, the Swede, 26, succeeded in pushing through to the first team a year later but ultimately was unable to make his mark thereafter.
Olsson only made one appearance for the senior team during his time in north London.
And speaking to Le Soir via SportsWitness, the now-Anderlecht player said his time at Arsenal was an experience that probably came too early for him.
(Image: via REUTERS)
“Nowadays, when I see 16-year-olds, I realise that it’s very early to make the big jump,” he said.
“But at that time, I felt strong enough to do it.
“My family didn’t push me at all, but they supported me and let me live my dream.
“When Arsenal calls you, it’s hard to resist,” he continued. “For three years, I was in a host family who took care of me, but I was far away from my family. I only played one game in the end.”
But despite making the move too young, Olsson says that he does not look back with regret during his time there.
“Looking back, I think I was too impatient. At 19, you always want more. Maybe I would have broken through if I had stayed.
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“But I have no regrets. I have improved as a footballer to the point of being a starter for Sweden. And humanly speaking, I have left my comfort zone.”
Arsenal let Olsson leave on loan to Denmark’s FC Midtjylland in 2014 and then the move was made a permanent one later the same year.
After staying with the Danish Superliga club, he moved to Allsvenskan club AIK three more years later. He then joined FC Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League. This summer, he signed a four-year contract to join his current side Anderlecht.