Adel Taarabt Opens Up About Arsenal Transfer Regret

Adel Taarabt shares his Arsenal regret, admitting that rejecting the Gunners early in his career may have cost him a different path in football.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Adel Taarabt has stirred the football world with a candid admission: he regret not signing for Arsenal instead of Spurs during the early stages of his career. In a recent interview with talkSPORT, the Moroccan playmaker opened up about a pivotal decision that shaped his trajectory in English football.

Taarabt joined Tottenham in 2007, lured by then-director of football Damien Comolli, who had previously been at Arsenal. At the time, Arsenal—under Arsène Wenger—boasted a strong French-speaking contingent, which Taarabt now believes would have suited him better both culturally and professionally.

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“Tottenham is a good club,” Taarabt said, “but at that time I had offers to go to Arsenal and it was a more French club with Arsène Wenger and a lot of French players. I should’ve gone to Arsenal, but suddenly Comolli] was at Tottenham and he brought me there”.

Despite his undeniable talent, Taarabt struggled to break into the first team at Spurs, making just 15 appearances without scoring or assisting. The dressing room, filled with dominant personalities like Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, proved a tough environment for the young midfielder.

His fortunes changed at Queens Park Rangers, where he dazzled fans with his flair and creativity, especially during the 2010–11 season when he led the club to Premier League promotion. Former QPR manager Neil Warnock, who joined the talkSPORT interview, praised Taarabt’s impact despite acknowledging his challenging temperament.

Taarabt’s revelation has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. Would his career have flourished under Wenger’s guidance at Arsenal? Could he have become a mainstay in a team known for nurturing technical talent?

While we’ll never know for sure, Taarabt’s honesty offers a rare glimpse into the crossroads that define a footballer’s journey—and the lingering “what ifs” that come with it.