Departed loan star Steve Sidwell had to go to Reading, according to former Arsenal colleague Graham Barrett.

The Albion striker said: "The way Siddy was playing there were always going to be teams interested in him.

"He was in the same position as me. There was an offer on the table from Arsenal and he had to weigh everything up.

"He was brilliant while he was here and I think everybody can appreciate he had to make the move."