Nicolas Anelka: I really enjoyed playing with Bergkamp, Gerrard, Drogba… and Shaun Goater

When Raheem Sterling signed for Arsenal on the final day of the transfer window, he became just the second player to represent four of the “big six” Premier League clubs.

Twelve years earlier, that feat was completed for the first time when Nicolas Anelka joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers.

As it happens, both Sterling and Anelka have played for the same “big six” sides in Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea – and two of those will go head-to-head on Sunday in the biggest game of the season to date.

Is Anelka aware he is part of such an exclusive, two-man club?

“Yes, I knew it because my son sent it to me recently,” says Anelka, laughing during an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport.

“I had the opportunity to play for big clubs, the best in England, but while I was playing I didn’t think about that greatness. I enjoyed my day-to-day life, but I didn’t think much of it either. Now, with hindsight, I realise that I had to do a lot of things right to wear those shirts.”

Anelka’s first stint in England was at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, joining them as a 17-year-old from Paris St-Germain in a move that sparked controversy back home.

Anelka established himself as a key player in his second season as Arsenal won the double. Despite more goals following the next season, his relationship with Arsenal fans deteriorated as speculation grew that a move to Real Madrid was on the cards.

The episode became known as “Le Sulk” but, despite the acrimonious exit, the 45-year-old looks back at his time in north London with fondness.

“I have a great affection for that time because Arsenal will always be a special place for me,” Anelka says. “There were several French players in the dressing room back then, we won the Premier League and the FA Cup and it was the start of my career.

“Arsene Wenger had a lot of influence. He gave me my first opportunity to discover another league, another way of doing things and I will always be grateful to him.

“He was a fair manager. After signing my contract, he told me that he was going to make demands on all of us and that the best players would play. That was our first conversation. I liked the way he approached me because he kept his word. Then I took care of my business on the pitch.”

Anelka also cites Kevin Keegan, his manager upon arrival at City in 2002, as a positive influence on him, while reeling off a list of pre-eminent names that he had the pleasure of taking the pitch with at big club after big club.

“I really enjoyed playing with Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen at Liverpool, Shaun Goater at City and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba at Chelsea.”

City was a very different club during Anelka’s time there with the transformational takeover happening three years after his exit.

“When I arrived at City, I could feel the potential the club had,” Anelka explains. “At the time it was behind United, but there was room for growth and a desire to improve.

“There was excitement, but no one imagined Manchester City would become one of the best in the world.”

The Frenchman does hold one record that ties him to the current era, however.

“I remember beating and scoring against our arch-rivals at Maine Road, while the Etihad was being built in parallel.

“We opened the new stadium in a friendly against Barcelona and I scored the first goal in the history of our new home.”

Anelka played for 12 clubs in total, as well as representing France for more than a decade, but never stayed longer than four years at any of them.

For a player of immense potential, there is a lingering feeling he, perhaps, could have achieved more. Despite plenty of trophies, Anelka finished with a total of 157 goals in 508 league games.

“It is difficult to adapt to a club and I moved many times. People who have lived through it understand what I am saying,” he says. “If I had stayed longer at Arsenal, I would have had a different career. But it’s part of the process, part of my life, and I accept it.

“You never know which way your career will take you. I wanted to stay at Liverpool, but I couldn’t. Then, after two years in Manchester I questioned myself and although I was happy at City, we weren’t playing Champions League football and I had to move to play in the top continental competition.

“Later, in Turkey, I realised that the best football was in England and I came back. I don’t reproach myself for anything. I have had many experiences and I enjoyed them all in their own way.”

These days, Anelka splits his time between Dubai and Paris after a foray into coaching and administration in France and Turkey respectively.

He pays close attention to what is happening in the Premier League and, perhaps unsurprisingly given he is a former striker, Erling Haaland tends to catch his eye.

“I heard recently that one of his dreams is to touch the ball five times in one game and score five goals. He has that obsession and I think he can do it. He’s a machine,” Anelka says admiringly.

“In terms of statistics, I think at the end of his career he won’t be far behind Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo’s individual records.”

If Arsenal are to win at the Etihad on Sunday, they will need to keep Haaland quiet – easier said than done given his nine goals in the opening four Premier League games.

Nevertheless, Anelka believes Arsenal can overcome the prowess of Haaland and have the edge in the title race this time around with Mikel Arteta at the helm.

“Since he arrived at Arsenal, the club has returned to its rightful place. He has given it an identity, a personality and a philosophy once again. The transition after Wenger’s departure was complicated, the ideal manager was not going to be found overnight and Mikel, who knows the club inside out, has restored the club’s enthusiasm,” Anelka says.

“Arsenal’s ambition is to always go for more. They look like the Arsenal of yesteryear. They play well, they know how to adapt to the different contexts of each game, they also like to run on the counter-attack. It’s a team that wants to win. You can see it when they press, when they defend together. They look like a family.

“Over the last two seasons, Arsenal have shown they can challenge City for the Premier League. It has been decided by details. It is true that Guardiola has won them, but I believe Arteta has the knowledge and resources to finally lead the club back to the league title two decades later.”

Returning to the fact that Anelka has been both an Arsenal and City man, a dilemma surely awaits him on Sunday. So, who does he want to come out on top?

“I love both clubs equally, so whatever happens on Sunday at the Etihad, I will win.”