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AN ARSENAL flop admitted he looks back at his failed spell with the Gunners with "a lot of regrets" as he never fulfilled his potential.

The North Londoners ruled the Premier League in the early 2000s along with then bitter rivals Manchester United.

Francis Jeffers, Arsenal player, in action.
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Arsenal flop Francis Jeffers has 'a lot of regrets' from his time at HighburyCredit: Getty Images - Getty
Arsenal's Francis Jeffers and Thierry Henry celebrating a goal.
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Jeffers went out partying and didn't work hard enough during Arsenal trainingCredit: AP:Associated Press

That was when legendary manager Arsene Wenger decided to bring one of the Prem's most exciting strikers over to Highbury in 2001.

That was none other than Francis Jeffers, who shone bright with his beloved Everton the previous four years, a period that saw him register a total of 18 goals and one assist in 55 appearances.

However, Jeffers never lived up to his star billing as he only managed eight goals and three assists in 39 appearances during his three-year stint with Arsenal, who loaned him back to the Toffees in 2003.

The former striker conceded that he didn't work hard enough in training and would instead go out partying.

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The ex-England international downed tools as he thought he wouldn't play anyway, with the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord and Nwankwo Kanu ahead of him in the pecking order.

That is why Wenger gave him a "fair crack of the whip", which he insists was very well-deserved as it put him back in his place.

Nevertheless, the ex-Charlton ace is adamant he didn't "throw it all away" as he realised a lot of dreams throughout his career.

Jeffers told back in 2014: "I was out partying, living life, tossing it off in training because I always thought I wouldn’t play Saturday anyway.

"Now, I look back with a lot of regrets. That is where I should have been putting it in more. Wenger gave me a fair crack of the whip.

"I haven’t got a bad word to say about him. He tells you how it is, one of the only managers I played for who did.

I slide tackled Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry on my Arsenal trial - I couldn't believe manager's reaction

“He said there were things going on in my head that shouldn’t have been and that it was an important time in my career. I am not saying I threw it all away, because I had a decent career.

“I fulfilled a lot of ambitions but I always say it, I know how much ability I had.

"I’m not soft. I know how good a player I was. One England cap wasn’t enough.”

Jeffers believes his career could have been different - if he hadn't left Goodison Park so soon after breaking into the first XI.

ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saliba will be having nightmares about Isak as Lewis-Skelly is only Gunners star to show up

ARSENAL were humbled by Newcastle at St James' Park as the Magpies beat them 2-0 to secure a spot in the League Cup final.

The North Londoners knew they needed to take an early advantage if they were to overturn the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.

But Jacob Murphy was on hand to put the Magpies a goal ahead after Alexander Isak's shot rebounded off of the post and out to him.

Shortly after the break, Anthony Gordon doubled the lead to all but confirm a second League Cup final in three years for Eddie Howe.

Here's how SunSport's Gary Stonehouse rated the Gunners.

David Raya - 5

Stitched Declan Rice right up for the second goal.

And that absolutely killed this as a contest for his side.

Jurrien Timber - 6

Tried to get forward and support the attack early but soon found himself dropping deeper to avoid being caught on the counter.

Tough night for the Dutchman up against Gordon in front of the red-hot home crowd.

William Saliba - 4

Let frustration get the better of him when he got himself booked for grabbing Anthony Gordon’s shirt.

And the winger almost embarrassed him again at the start of the second period when he caught the defender sleeping, nicked the ball from him, but could only shoot wide.

The usually assured star will be having nightmares of Gordon and Isak.

Gabriel Magalhaes - 6

Another who struggled to contain Toon’s two pacey attacking threats but did fair slightly better than his usually formidable partner.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 7

Another assured performance from the full-back in a raucous atmosphere.

Could not be faulted for any of the goals and showed flashes off his potential despite the humbling.

Martin Odegaard - 6

Everything Arsenal did try came through the skipper.

Although he loses a mark as things could have been a very different story if he had finished his first half effort had hit the inside rather than outside of the post.

Thomas Partey - 6

Plenty of running about but very little to show or product for his efforts.

Declan Rice - 6

Looked to take a knock late in the first half and continued to struggle on after the restart.

Was hung out to dry by his goalie for the second goal and he did keep pushing until the very end.

But it was a disappointing night for the England star and his partner Partey as they came up short against Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.

Gabriel Martinelli - 5

Struggled to get past big Dan Burn during his brief time on the pitch.

And his night was brought to an abrupt end when he limped off before the break.

Kai Havertz - 4

Outmuscled, outbattled and outthought but Svan Botman and Fabian Schar.

Produced zilch on an evening when he and his team-mates lacked creativity and ideas.

Leandro Trossard - 5

Many will have been fancying him to cause some problems for the 34-year-old Kieran Trippier but the veteran had him in his pocket all night.

Arteta had seen enough by the hour mark and opted to let Raheem Sterling have a go instead.

Subs used

Ethan Nwaneri (37 mins for Martinelli) - 6

Desperately tried to inject some pace and threat into the faltering Arsenal attack but the task proved too much for the young Gunn.

He should have plenty more big occasions to look forward to though in his career.

Mikel Merino (70 mins for Odegaard) - 5

The game was already done and dusted when he entered the fray for battle.

Some nice touches, but like those before him, he couldn’t produce anything for the visitors.

Raheem Sterling (61 mins for Trossard) - 4

Got half an hour to try and get at Trippier but, just like Trossard before him, he was not given an ounce of joy.

Riccardo Calafiori (78 mins for Timber) - 4

Was brought on simply to get some minutes in his legs.

Jorginho (78 mins for Partey) - 4

See above. Little chance to make an impact with the game well and truly over.

He told : "I’ve got to be really honest, looking back on my career I left [Everton] too soon.

“[Arsenal] wasn’t the right move for me but it was a difficult time because of the way our Football Club was then, it wasn’t like it is now.

"It was a good move for me and the Club at the time but it was definitely too soon and probably the wrong move.

“I went from being a regular at Everton to going down there and not being able to get into the team.

“I feel my head was turned. I was only young. It was difficult because I felt Arsenal were the best team in the league at the time.

"I’d just watched them play Liverpool in the FA Cup final and absolutely battered them but came out losing the game."

Jeffers went into coaching following his retirement, taking charge of the Toffees' under-18 team in 2018.

He has since held roles with Ipswich Town and Oldham Athletic, before joining Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia alongside Liverpool great Robbie Fowler.

Sacked after four months in the job, Jeffers has not ruled out coaching in Saudi again.

He told TribalFootball: "From a football and lifestyle point of view I loved it there and I'd go back any time.

"We won six games, drew twice and were sitting pretty near the top of the league and then all of a sudden it came to an end.

Read More on The Sun

"I think there was a little bit of a breakdown with the director of football. I always thought it was important that the director of football is able to work with the manager and it should be a two-way relationship.

"Without going into too much detail, I don't quite feel that was the case there."

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