Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra admits he quit Chelsea after learning he would not be considered for the first team early on by Jose Mourinho.

He said: "Let's say that the coach (Jose Mourinho) decided that I would not play until September 1. If I hadn't left, I would have been part of the group like everybody and I would had to fight like the previous years.

"I play some matches last year on my second season. The coach knows me and let's say that I proved a little more than two years ago. So if I had stayed, I would have played a little less but not enough to my view, that is the reason why I left."