DAVID Bentley today insisted he's enjoying life again after he took the decision to quit Arsenal for Blackburn Rovers.

Bentley brought the curtain down on his Highbury career last month after finally giving up on his dream of breaking into Arsene Wenger's star-studded first team.

But the 22-year-old midfielder has not looked back in anger since then, even after watching Arsenal record one of the finest victories in their recent history when they beat Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

"I have no regrets that I wasn't there. I don't look at it like that," said Bentley, referring to the Gunners' famous Champions League victory.

"I am a Blackburn player now and I have not looked back since coming here.

"The difference is I have stability in my life now. I spent last year, and some of this year, on loan and it is not easy.

"Signing a contract has given me security and I am enjoying my life again. It is very difficult to enjoy yourself (when there's so much uncertainty).

"People presume you have such a good life being a footballer but there is a lot of pressure on you.

"When I went to Norwich last season, there was pressure on me because they were my first games in the Premiership and people were expecting me to go straight in and perform.

"But I was not enjoying my football at the time. Now, though, I am relaxed, I've started playing football and enjoying it.

"I feel like I am an actual player at this club, not an outsider looking in."

Bentley was full of admiration for the way his former team-mates outclassed Real Madrid in their own stadium, particularly considering Arsene Wenger fielded such a youthful side.

But he reckons the Gunners will face a different test altogether at Ewood tomorrow when they meet a Blackburn side that still harbours ambitions of securing a top four finish.

"We will go out there and play our own way," said Bentley, who joined Rovers from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee during the January transfer window.

"It is the way we play anyway. We will go out there and enjoy ourselves and, hopefully, get a result.

"I thought they played really well on Tuesday. Arsenal did to Real Madrid what people have been doing to them."