Chamakh: I have nothing to prove to Arsenal

Marouane Chamakh insists he has “nothing to prove to Arsenal” as he returns to his former side for the first time with Crystal Palace.

The Morocco international departed the Emirates Stadium in the close-season, having slipped out of Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans.

After arriving at Arsenal on a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010, Chamakh made 44 appearances in his debut season, scoring 11 times.

However, he made a total of just 23 outings in the following two seasons, but insists revenge will not be on his mind when he travels back to the Emirates for Sunday’s clash.

“They’re a team I always followed, a team I’ve loved,” Chamakh told The Observer.

“But that page has turned. Now it’s important to feel wanted, and to show what I can do.

“But I have nothing to prove to Arsenal. Nothing at all.”

Chamakh has missed out on Arsenal’s title fight this term, but is happy in a relegation dog-fight under Tony Pulis as it means he can play in the Premier League.

He added: “At my previous clubs the objectives have been at the other end of the table, or scoring goals in the Champions League, so all this is very different but I wanted to stay in England.

“It was always the league I loved, one I’d wanted to experience, and it was one I only really had a brief taste of at Arsenal.

“It wasn’t that I had something to prove, but there was plenty I still wanted to do. Palace offered me a chance.”