Gervinho and Chamakh On Verge Of Arsenal Exit
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are close to leaving Arsenal for pastures new.
The Gunners are ready to take a hit of almost £4million on Gervinho just two years after signing him from Lille for £10.8m. He is currently in Italy finalising his move to Serie A side AS Roma.
Chamakh – the other flop in question – is being targeted by the newly promoted Crystal Palace although it is unclear whether Wenger is getting rid of him permanently or just on loan.
“Gervinho is on a good way to Roma and Chamakh is on a good way to Crystal Palace,” Wenger told the press on Sunday.
Rodgers Accuses Arsenal Of ‘Playing Games’
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has criticised Arsenal’s pursuit of Luis Suarez and accused the North London club of ‘playing games’ with their bids for the Uruguayan star.
The Reds boss was visibly irked in his latest interview and suggested that the Gunners’ latest bid of £40million plus £1 showed a lack of respect.
Rodgers, who wants £55m or even more in transfer fees for Suarez, told the press: “I’ve always associated Arsenal as a club with class and so there was a wee bit of a game there. Obviously Arsenal have an interest and they put that interest in with two bids which were nowhere near what the player is worth, and that’s within their right. There is a market in football for players but from us the message is constant – we do not want to sell.”
With no other club interested in Suarez, it is believed that a compromise will be reached before the summer transfer window slams shut, but Rodgers is adamant that the controversial hitman still has a future at Anfield.
He added: “I’m extremely confident Luis will be here next season. The offers have come in, as you would expect for one of the world’s leading strikers.
“But as time goes by, I’m gaining more confidence because I have a chance to be with him on a day-to-day basis and he gets the chance to be around his team-mates. We’re in total control of the situation as a club and that’s how it will remain.”
Arteta Tells Fans to Trust the Club’s Judgement
Mikel Arteta says any signings that Arsenal make this summer will be welcomed by the existing squad and has assured the fans that the club officials are working hard behind the scenes to recruit quality players.
Despite the Gunners’ claims of increased financial clout, the free transfer signing of French youngster Yaya Sanogo remains their only acquisition of the summer. The lack of freshness in their squad has already started to show as they lost 2-1 to Galatasaray in the Emirates Cup final on Sunday just a day after being held to a 2-2 draw by SSC Napoli.
The Gooners expressed their displeasure on both those occasions, booing the players and coach Arsene Wenger off the field. The fans are clearly disappointed by the lack of transfer activity, but Arteta has advised them to trust the management’s judgement.
In an interview with BBC, the Spaniard said: “If the club can target players that are going to improve the team, they are going to be very welcome because that’s what we want – to get a better team, better players and compete to win trophies. But the club is working on that, it is in their hands and I’m sure they are going to do it.”
Wilshere ‘Would Love to’ Play With Suarez
Jack Wilshere has backed Arsenal’s pursuit of Liverpool superstar Luis Suarez and admitted that he would be a very welcome addition to the club’s squad.
The 21-year-old Arsenal midfielder was recently asked if he would like to have Suarez as his teammate, to which he replied: “Any player would love to. He’s a top player and he showed that last season. He brings something different to the team and scores goals.
“He’s a great player, I’d love to see him here. But you never know. I can’t talk about other players. He’s still playing for another team so it’s disrespectful. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks.”
Fabregas Staying Put – Wenger
Former Arsenal captain and current Barcelona bench-warmer Cesc Fabregas will not change clubs this month, according to his erstwhile mentor Arsene Wenger.
The 26-year-old Spaniard had emerged as the primary transfer target for the Gunners’ PL rivals Manchester United, who lodged multiple failed bids for him last month. They were expected to go back in with more improved offers before Barca’s sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta announced that the player is staying.
And now Wenger has also come forward to reveal that Fabregas has decided to give his Barcelona career one more try.
He said: “What I know is that Fabregas will stay one more year at least in Barcelona, that’s the information I have. If that changes, I don’t know, but I have been told that.”
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
