Lauren admits to Arsenal blues

Lauren: Plenty of fond memories from Mallorca

Arsenal midfielder Lauren has admitted he intends to return to Spain - but not before his time at Highbury is finished.

The Cameroon international figured 21 times for the Gunners last season following his £7m move from Real Mallorca last summer.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a particularly successful two-year spell at the Balearic club, helping them to the Uefa Cup final in 1999.

"I do not rule out returning to Spain, you can never rule that out," he said.

It is always a joy for me to return to Mallorca, I have a lot of friends here and I miss them

  Lauren

"At the moment I am fine here, I have four years of contract and I want to fulfil them, but it is my desire and my wife's to return to Spain one day."

But, despite the problems adopting to life, personally and professionally, in England, the 24-year-old said his first season in English football has been "positive".

"I have had to adapt to the style of play, with a lot of contact, I have gained experience and that is important for the future," he added.

"It is very competitive and spectacular, it is also quite hard.

"The atmosphere before and after games is unlike any other country, slightly more so than in Spain."

Nostalgia

But Lauren, who moved to Spain at the age of four, says he has many fond memories from his time in Mallorca.

"It is always a joy for me to return to Mallorca, I have a lot of friends there and I miss them," he said.

"The negative side (in England) is the loneliness. My wife and I feel a bit lonely there because of the friends we left in Palma."