Filed under: Arsenal, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
The gloves are off. Arsene Wenger is done fudging answers about Cesc Fabregas and whether he is going to Barcelona. He is finished with telling assembled media that his captain will be yet again absent because of a slight muscle strain. This time the Arsenal manager did not hold back.On Friday afternoon, the day he welcomed back old-boy Thierry Henry - who left for Barcelona on the best of terms four years ago - Wenger spelled out in no uncertain terms that Fabregas will not play for the club as long as he remains unfocused and unsettled.
It was not an admission of defeat - far from it. Nor was it a "hands-off" warning to the Catalan club. It was, however, a sign that the Arsenal manager is nearing the end of his tether over the saga which has gone on for over a year. He has gone past the pandering to his captain in a bid to keep him.
His message was plain: if Barcelona pay the £40 million that Arsenal are offering, then Fabregas will go, simple as that. If they don't, then Wenger has told his player he has two choices: either focus on the job at hand or stay away from the first team.
Wenger, speaking at the pre-tournament media conference ahead of the Emirates Cup involving New York Red Bulls, Paris St Germain and Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires, said: "Fabregas will not be involved this weekend [in the Emirates Cup] because at the moment he is not settled.
"He is coming back from an injury and is not settled with us. You know all the speculation which is around his position, that has to be sorted out soon.
"I'm just worried that the player has to be completely focused and committed to our club. And at the moment he's coming back from an injury and we have to sort out that situation. He is the captain of our club and we have to make sure he is really focused on being with us."
Barcelona had revealed earlier this week that they would wait as long as it takes to see if Arsenal blink and trigger a move. But Wenger is refusing to rise to their bait - and claims that unless they pay full-price, the stand-off will stretch on until January at least.
He said: "There is only one deadline, it is on August 31. The other deadline is for us to get everybody focused, the players who are really committed to the club, my energy and my focus goes on them.
"That is what I focus on, I cannot help the other situation, because it does not only depend on me, it depends on the players and on the other clubs."
When asked how the saga may end, Wenger admitted: "I honestly do not know." He is of course hoping to keep his star player at the club, along with Samir Nasri, who is stalling on a new contract.
But he has shown that he too can play hardball with the best of him. And on the evidence of his comments - as well as his demeanour - on Friday afternoon, few would tip him to back down.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/07/30/arsenal-arsene-wenger-barcelona-saga/
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