Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has hit back at Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after his French compatriot called his decision to join the South Coast side a 'panicked' one.

France international Diarra swapped Emirates Stadium for Fratton Park in the January transfer window as he sought regular action, making Pompey his third club in the space of four months after joining The Gunners from Chelsea in August.

According to Wenger the 23-year-old's choice was hasty as the Arsenal boss claims he would have given the one-time Le Havre man a chance of a run in the team, had he been patient.

"I really can't understand why Mr Wenger is choosing to make such a fuss over me again," Diarra said in the News of the World.

"Why does he not move on? He speaks about me more than when I was there. It's a very strange one."

Diarra continued: "Perhaps to lose one French international midfielder may be regarded as misfortune. To lose two looks like carelessness.

"Do you really think I would leave a side like Chelsea to join Arsenal if certain promises were not made? I did not panic but wanted to play as promised.

"Portsmouth winning the FA Cup has more than justified my decision to make the move from Arsenal back in January."