I Had To Leave Chelsea - Diarra

New Arsenal signing Lassana Diarra says he joined the Gunners because he could not force his way past the big names in Chelsea’s midfield.

Frenchman Lassana Diarra, 22, completed a £5 million move to Arsenal from Chelsea just 10 minutes before the transfer window closed on Friday.

And he admitted: “I needed to play and get more time on the pitch and I don’t think it would be possible at Chelsea. That’s the main reason why I left.

“At Chelsea, we had Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele and Michael Essien in midfield.
“I know it will be tough to make it at Arsenal as well.
"I have no guarantee from Arsene Wenger I will play all the time but I am sure that it will be OK.
“I know I will play big matches in the league and even in the Champions League.”

Diarra would have been out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer. He had already turned down possible moves to Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, Newcastle United and AS Monaco.

He added: “I knew for some time Mr Wenger was interested in me.
"He watched me with Chelsea and the France national team. They were my first choice and my first priority.
“I also spoke to William Gallas, a former Chelsea player who left in the same way last season.”