I love the guy but he's been injured basically his whole career.
He wasn't too bad until after his first season at Arsenal. He'd literally played 30-40 games for a few season in a row.
Seriously? Why not? He was not of the required level and has done nothing since leaving to make him pined after.
Not saying he should have stayed forever, maybe another year or two.
If you look at that summers transfer dealings out, letting him go at that time, when Nani, Chicarito, Rio, Evra, Giggs, Fletch, Vidic etc had all just left.
Him and Chicarito were replaced with Falcao, who did nothing. While he went and played 30+ games for Arsenal.
It was a terrible transfer window.