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Petit - I felt I was part of history

Emmanuel Petit says he felt like he was “part of history” when he joined Arsenal and first entered the dressing room at Highbury.

The France international joined the club in 1997, and went on to develop a formidable partnership with Patrick Vieira in the Arsenal midfield.
 

The Gunners won the Double in Petit’s first season, but he admits there was a sense of culture shock when he first arrived in north London.

“It was full of big characters [at Arsenal], crazy people, the culture is completely different to France,” he told Arsenal Player. “We were preparing for games with rap music - everything.

“I can remember Ian Wright trampling through to the Highbury dressing room. I could feel the wood on the seat, with the inscription of players.

“It was like history, you are part of history. You can feel through the dressing room all the people that came [before you]. I loved my time over there.

“We won the Premier League title, and I think that was the first step for Arsene's credibility with the English and as well for us, the French guys.

“We were living under so much pressure, the French players, because we knew that Arsene was French like us so we had to do more and more and more.

“I think all the English players understood that, and they knew from the beginning that we would do everything to win something. That is why winning the FA Cup at Wembley was a dream. That stadium is like the Stade de France when we won the World Cup, it is special.”

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