Wiltord admits Wenger strain

Sylvain Wiltord insists he left Arsenal on good terms with manager Arsene Wenger.

The France international ended his four-year stay with the Premiership champions in the summer after allowing his contract to expire.

He ended a protracted search for a new club by recently signing for Lyon but admits he still thinks about his time at Highbury.

Wiltord acknowledged he did not enjoy being deployed in an unfavourable position by Wenger on regular occasions and also revealed his up-and-down relationship with the Arsenal boss.

"For four years, it was a little 'Je t'aime moi non plus' (sometimes we loved each other, sometimes not)," Wiltord told L'Equipe.

"But there has always been mutual respect.

"When he signed me he knew I wanted to play as a forward. He teased me with that.

"He put me in a position I didn't know. I appreciated it, I made efforts.

"We had results but sometimes we had discussions in his office. We told ourselves home truths, that's all. We left with a good relationship."

The 30-year-old also revealed he has no intention of following any of his compatriots into international retirement, after France's Euro 2004 failure.

He added: "I love the French team group and work hard to be part of it. As long as I can run and have fun, I will be present.

"Some boys have decided to stop, perhaps some of them imagine they will be too old in two years.

"Obviously it is not my case. They will have to throw me out! Les Bleus is too nice."