For Arsenal, this season has been and may still be about shirt changes: with players leaving the club like Chris Smalling, selling Gael Clichhy sold to Manchester City for a £7 million, and with struggle to retain players like Fabregas and Nasri.
The Gunners’ earlier bang was letting their defender, Chris Smalling sign a new deal with Old Trafford. The 21-year-old who left Fulham to join Arsenal in the summer of 2010 is now going to be tied with Old Trafford till the end of 2015-16.
Earlier this summer, Barcelona offered a £27 million to buy in Fabregas which was rejected by Arsene Wenger. Samir Nasri, on the other hand, still has a 12-months time in his contract left and Wenger believes that both the players are an integral part of the team and will do anything to retain both.
The club’s official website, www.aresenal.com quoted Wenger saying “Our position is always the same, we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him”. Talking about Nasri, he said “Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him.”
Arsenal’s bid to let go of Fabregas amounted to £40 million, a price that Barcelona are not bold about handing over.
The Gunners are now training for a tour to the East, with games in Malaysia and China. Fabregas, however, due to his hamstring problem will not be part of the tour. He will practice back at home. His place will be taken by Ryo Miyaichi, the 18-year old Japanese that Wenger calls ‘quality’. There will be a lot of inquisitiveness to see him play at the tour and his performance will be crucial to his coming games.
Arsene Wenger believes that even with the club having no shortage of funds, they will only trade or sell players with quality and not otherwise. “Everybody needs the same players for the same positions. We are at the top level and therefore need exceptional quality to strengthen our side”, he said.
The team was disappointed as Arsenal was very close to winning the last season; however they are ready to work harder this time round.
Arsene Wenger may still buy in one or two more players as he is ever-more determined to make things right this season saying “Let’s hope we can bring in one or two more additions of top quality.”
Looks like the Gunners are ready to set fire this season.
Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, English Premier League, EPL, Fabregas, Gunners, Nasri