GETTY Francis Jeffers is currently a youth coach with Everton

Francis Jeffers burst onto the scene at Everton from the youth academy and scored 20 goals for the Toffees in 45 starts. His fine form caught the attention of Arsenal who snapped up the striker in June 2001 for £8million. However, the 36-year-old, who is now back at Everton as an academy coach, has admitted he wishes he had never left his boyhood club for the Gunners.

GETTY Francis Jeffers has admitted he regrets joining Arsenal

“I’ve got to be really honest, looking back on my career I left the club too soon,” Jeffers said. “It [Arsenal] wasn’t the right move for me but it was a difficult time because of the way our football club was then, it wasn’t like it is now. "It was a good move for me and the club at the time but it was definitely too soon and probably the wrong move.

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“I went from being a regular at Everton to going down there and not being able to get into the team. “When you’re sitting at home and think back at how your career’s gone, I feel my head was turned. I was only young. "It was difficult because I felt Arsenal were the best team in the league at the time.

GETTY Francis Jeffers made just 22 Premier League appearances for Arsenal