Kristoffer Olsson, once of Arsenal, has admitted he was ‘too impatient’ as a youngster when he joined the club.
The midfielder arrived at Arsenal in 2011 as a youngster, signing with their under 18 side from IFK Norrköping U19’s in a £315,000 deal.
He worked his way up at the Emirates over the next year, moving into their first team in 2012 but struggling to establish himself at the club in the coming years.
He would make just one appearance for the senior team, despite being a regular for the Under 23’s and the U19 side in Europe.
His career has since been a winding one, with moves to AIK and Krasnodar before he joined RSC Anderlecht this summer.
He now admits he was a little too impatient to make it.
“Nowadays, when I see 16-year-olds, I realise that it’s very early to make the big jump. But at that time, I felt strong enough to do it,” he told Le Soir.
“My family didn’t push me at all, but they supported me and let me live my dream.
“When Arsenal calls you, it’s hard to resist. For three years, I was in a host family who took care of me, but I was far away from my family. In the end, I only played one game there.
“Looking back, I think I was too impatient. At 19, you always want more. Maybe I would have broken through if I had stayed.
“But I have no regrets. I have improved as a footballer to the point of being a starter for Sweden. And humanly speaking, I have left my comfort zone.”
