The Belarussian paid tribute to former boss Arsene Wenger.

Aliaksandr Hleb has admitted his regret over leaving Arsenal, ahead of Belarus' World Cup qualifier against England on Wednesday.



The 28-year-old left the Emirates in the summer of 2008 to realize what he thought would be a dream move to Barcelona. However, struggled to break into Pep Guardiola's first team, watching mostly from the bench as the Catalan giants claimed the Champions League, Primera Division and Cope del Rey titles last term.



The Belarussian has since moved on and rejoined Stuttgart on loan in search of regular first-team football. Back in London for international duty, the former Gunners favorite admitted he never should have left.



“I regret leaving Arsenal," Hleb lamented, according to The Daily Express.



"I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe. I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.



“No player ever gets worse under Wenger. I developed a better all-round game under him. I became more robust physically.”

Philip Wen, Goal.com

