Nacho Monreal bid farewell to Arsenal over the weekend, but Unai Emery had one final request for the left-back prior to him joining Real Sociedad.
After starting each of the Gunners' opening three games of the new Premier League season, talk of the Spaniard leaving the Emirates Stadium intensified after the 3-1 loss away at Liverpool.
Emery confirmed there had been interest from the La Liga outfit and the 33-year-old departed 24 hours before the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Monreal has since revealed that Emery had asked him to feature against the Lilywhites.
A request which the left-back passed up on, explaining it as the "sensible thing" to do.
"This year has been different, the parties were more open and in my head was the possibility for several weeks of playing here," Monreal said during his unveiling, as per Noticias de Navarra.
Explaining why he opted against playing in the north London derby for one final time, Monreal said it was "the most sensible thing was not to do it to avoid any unforeseen event.
"The staff of the Real is young and I am a veteran but I am clear that I do not only come to teach young people, because despite the age I am competitive and I feel very well physically.
"I come to help in everything from within the field and continue playing games with ambition."
Despite not featuring against, Monreal did have an Instagram message for his former teammates ahead of the derby which ended 2-2.
"31st January, 2013. Malaga. I wake up, check my phone and have two calls from Santi Cazorla. I call him and he asks me if I want to play for Arsenal. 10 hours later I was an Arsenal player," he said.
"Sometimes football is simple.
"Different country, city, language, football style, team mates, where it's not the best conditions for a shy person as me, but I knew I have to be there!!
"Almost seven years later it's time to say goodbye, it hasn't been an easy decision, but thinking of my family and my future it feels that it is the right decision..
"I would like to say thank you to all my team mates, staff, and all the people who work for Arsenal and especially to the fans for all the respect and love they have always shown me.
"I'll always remember you. THANKS.
"P.S Now it's time to win the north London derby."
