He ended up joining Cardiff City on a free transfer this week and now, former Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has hit out over a lack of opportunities with the Gunners, report IBTimes.
Spending two-and-a-half years at Emirates Stadium following a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010, the Moroccan enjoyed a fast start to his Gunners career but things quickly soured.
Essentially a back-up option to Robin van Persie at the time, Chamakh is critical of Arsene Wenger for his treatment following the Dutchman’s return from injury in 2011.
Speaking to the London Evening Standard, Chamakh claimed: “In January [2011], Robin returned from injury and overnight, I landed on the bench without justification.
Scoring 10 times in his first 21 appearances for the Gunners, Chamakh appeared to be the perfect deputy for the injured Robin van Persie but Wenger snubbing the striker thereafter clearly altered the Moroccan’s mindset.
Only appearing 11 times for the Gunners in 2011/12, mostly in cameo appearances from the bench, the 6 ft 1 in striker spent time on loan at West Ham United in 2013 before joining Crystal Palace on a one-year deal in August of that year.