After leaving Arsenal for Sunderland in a GBP 400,000 deal, veteran defender Steve Bould has given praise to manager Arsène Wenger and concerned comments about former teammate Nicolas Anelka.

"Arsène Wenger has been top class," Bould says to Soccernet. "He said that if someone came in for me, he would let me go if that's what I wanted. It's a chance of regular first-team football. But it was Arsene's fitness regime which has probably extended my career by two years, maybe more."

About Anelka, Bould adds: "I wish he was staying at Arsenal because he is a great player. I believe another two years under Arsène Wenger would have done him big favours. It's all about money, though. Football is big business and who can knock him for what he is going to earn?".