Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has explained why he allowed Chelsea to sign Cesc Fabregas.

After leaving the Gunner for Barcelona it was expected Cesc would be welcomed back by Wenger and the Gunners. Yet instead, Cesc signed for Jose Mourinho's Chelsea and won the Premier League title for the 2014/15 season.

Wenger explained to the Athletic: "Because it was a general guidance for me to say that 'if you go out here you don't come back'.

"It was a way to retain the players who sometimes wanted to see if the grass was greener somewhere else.

"I did it for Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell, Jens Lehman but it was different. You know with the young players who left I didn't like to do it."

Wenger made the call despite Arsenal having first option on his former captain, who now plays for AS Monaco.