Nasri is yet to recapture his Arsenal form for Manchester City
Arsenal's Samir Nasri (L) celebrates with teammate Cesc Fabregas after scoring a goal during their English Premier League soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in London April 20, 2011. REUTERS

Samir Nasri has endeavoured to explain his acrimonious departure from Arsenal in the summer by explaining that he joined Manchester City in order to win the Premier League title.

Nasri left Arsenal shortly after Cesc Fabregas moved to Barcelona, but the Frenchman admits the Gunners' decision to leave had no bearing on his future at the Emirates because he knew the Spaniard was "leaving the year before".

The former Arsenal star was heavily booed on his recent return to the Emirates during Manchester City's Carling Cup victory over Arsene Wenger's, yet he believes his decision should be respected because it illustrates his desire to major honours.

Although Nasri has been widely derided by Arsenal fans since moving to Manchester City, the 24-year-old claims Arsene Wenger and the Gunners' fans played a huge role in his career in England.

"I wanted to improve as a player and win trophies." The former Arsenal midfielder told FourFourTwo Magazine.

"This wasn't about Arsenal or Arsene Wenger - who was like a second father to me - or the fans, who were fantastic.

"More than anything I want to win the title with Manchester City so that everyone who had an opinion on why I moved here in the first place will maybe think again before they speak."

When asked if Fabregas' exit from Arsenal had a bearing on his future, Nasri said: "No, I'd already decided. We knew Cesc was leaving the year before."

Nasri believes Manchester City have much greater depth in their squad than Arsenal and that was in evidence last season, when Wenger's side fell away at the turn of the year.

"Arsenal had a lot of injuries last season and that made it hard to be consistent because the squad didn't have as much depth as we do at Manchester City."

Nasri left Arsenal in the summer in order to join their Premier League rivals in a £25 million deal. The Frenchman had refused to sign a contract extension and was in the final year of his commitment to the Gunners.

The January issue of FourFourTwo Magazine is now available.