Filed under: Arsenal, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Arsene Wenger believes it would be a mistake if Samir Nasri decided to leave Arsenal. The reason? He would no longer be playing under Arsene Wenger.The France international has just one year left on his current Arsenal contract and knows Manchester United are keen, as are Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
Arsenal are desperate to persuade him to sign a new deal and are adamant they will not sell to United. But in the days of player power can they really be so certain?
"We will do everything to keep Nasri at the club," Wenger was quoted in The Sun. "My wish is that he stays here. "If he looks back he can see that he's come quite a long way with us, and I think there is still a bit to do. It's the club that makes the player's career."
The club makes the player's career? For club read 'Wenger' of course but is the Frenchman really claiming that Nasri would not enjoy life as much at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson?
Where players actually win trophies...
It's a similar situation with Cesc Fabregas of course, although crucially the Arsenal captain is tied down by a far longer contract and would therefore require far more substantial financial leverage, by Barcelona, Real Madrid or whoever, to remove him from the Emirates Stadium.
On Fabregas, Wenger added: "I will be pretty clear about this. For me, Fabregas is with Arsenal for a long time and he will stay with Arsenal."
For the first time since he succeeded George Graham all those years ago, Wenger has come under significant criticism from a substantial section of the Emirates faithful, who have become frustrated at watching rival teams win trophies through bolder spending in the transfer market.
Alisher Usmanov, who despite not being a director owns 30 percent of the club's shareholding, is convinced the board is to blame for that, and criticised them for putting up ticket prices.
He told the News of the World: "If the role of a board member is to oversee a trophyless period, while making significant personal profits and asking fans to pay inflation-busting ticket price increases then, no, I would not want to be on the board.
"If instead it is to try to deliver sustained success, to increase your personal investment in the club, to help develop the commercial position and to ensure the fans have a say in the running of the club then, yes, I think I certainly have something to contribute.
"In terms of doing things differently, let me give you a very clear example. Arsenal has all of its major commercial contracts coming up for renewal in the next couple of years.
"It's no secret that to maximise the value of those you want to have success on the field and be winning trophies. To do that you need to invest now in building a winning team. This is simple commercial logic. Whether it comes to pass, we shall see."
And the Uzbek billionaire also laid into the club's transfer policy.
"There is a widely-held view among most commentators - and one that I agree with - that the club needs to stiffen the defensive spine of the team, with a dominant keeper, strong centre-halves and a powerful defensive midfielder in the mould of Claude Makelele," he said.
"The Premier League is one of the most competitive in the world and whilst we have consistently challenged for honours, the club needs to develop talent and buy top-class players to win the trophies we all crave. This requires greater investment which, I believe, has been lacking thus far.
"What however is not clear is whether the board shares this view. For too long they have seemed happy to sanction second, third and fourth as being acceptable, whilst at the same time they are planning to sell their shares.
"Clearly the first priority for Arsenal must be to hold on to its star players such as Nasri and Fabregas."
Strong words indeed - but though those at the Arsenal helm may take exception to them they are certain to strike a chord with much of the fanbase.
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