Wenger Content with Current Crop
Arsene Wenger says that his current group of Arsenal players are good enough to mount a genuine title challenge next season, but the club officials are still working hard behind-the-scenes to add more to his options.
Despite much hoopla and promises to spend big, the Gunners have yet to dip into their pockets this summer. Several of their domestic rivals like Manchester City and Chelsea have already concluded most of their transfer business, but free-transfer signing Yaya Sanogo remains Arsenal’s only new recruit.
With the fans wondering if the club’s interest in high-profile players would ever transform into an actual big-money signing, Wenger has come forward to explain: “We are still working on improving our squad. But we have a base of young players, players who started in the Premier League with us, like Wojciech Szczesny, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“That is why what we do is unique. Look at our competitors, who in the last 10 years has started for them in the Premier League and is still there now? I believe my squad have a special bond and that they are on their way upwards, they are not over the hill, they will get better. I am confident we will be stronger next season.”
Arsenal are the only members of the big four who haven’t changed managers this summer, and Wenger believes it gives his side the edge.
He added: “It gives me a slight advantage because I know my squad well. It will take my rivals some time to know theirs, except Jose Mourinho, who knows some of his from before. But we should focus on our strengths rather than expect any weakness from the others. It is important to have strong start and raise belief. Last season when we lost Robin van Persie we had a sceptical environment around the club. We need the crowd to be behind the team.”
Suarez Not Taking Liverpool to PL for Arbitration
Luis Suarez’s legal advisers have decided against taking Liverpool to the Premier League for arbitration over their refusal to sanction his proposed move to Arsenal.
After the Merseysiders rejected the Gunners’ bid of over £40million for Suarez last week, reports emerged that his reps might involve the PL because they believed the offer had triggered an exit clause in his contract. However, an unnamed Liverpool executive quashed those reports by saying: “We’ve all examined the clause in detail. All it obliges is for us to enter good faith negotiations about Luis’s future. There is absolutely no obligation to sell and that is very clear.“
And it now seems that the controversial Uruguayan has made his peace with the Reds’ ruling as he hasn’t contacted the league’s governing body, which adds more weight to his club’s stance on the subject.
Unless Arsenal up their bid to £50million or above, Suarez’s arrival at the Emirates Stadium doesn’t seem likely.
Marseille Refuse to Let Ayew Go
Marseille forward and rumoured Arsenal FC transfer target Andre Ayew will not be sold this summer, his current club coach Elie Baup has declared.
The 23-year-old Ghanaian, for whom the Gunners failed with an offer of £5million three years ago, is at loggerheads with the L’OM management over sporting issues. He sees himself as a central striker while Baup continues to deploy him out on wings, which is why he wants to leave them for pastures new.
Irked by Ayew’s demands, Baup has now taken a hard stance on the subject, and not only has he announced intention of keeping Ayew but has also refused to guarantee him a central role he so craves.
Responding to a media query regarding Ayew’s immediate future at Marseille, Baup said: “Let me be clear: I am counting on all the players who are here.”
It was suggested that he might at least accommodate the player’s positional demands, but the coach was uncompromising on that point as well. “Who has promised to change our structure? Certainly not me,” he added.
Money Not Everything for Bernard
Atletico Mineiro starlet Bernard says that money isn’t everything for him, and happiness will be a huge factor in his decision to choose his next club.
The newly crowned Copa Libertadores winners have accepted Shakhtar Donetsk’s offer of over £20million for Bernard, but the player’s recent comments suggest he wants to move elsewhere even if it means less wages for him.
In a recent interview, he told Lancenet: “I have given myself time to think, but money isn’t everything in life. I want to be happy and if that means staying in a place earning less money, then that’s what I want. I have made it clear that I want to stay, but the pressure is big from all sides. I have to sleep with this weight. I ask God to guide me somewhere.
“It’s a lot of pressure and speculation. It’s annoying. I have to talk about this every time, this is all I have been thinking about. That affects me on the pitch, but God controls everything and He is seeing what will be my future.”
His comments open up the door slightly for sides such as Porto and Arsenal, who cannot match Shakhtar’s financial clout but are able to offer more attractive sporting projects to the highly-talented youngster.
Gunners Helping Sansom
Arsenal FC have announced that they are helping their former full-back Kenny Sansom, who according to The Sun, has fallen on hard times and is currently homeless and battling multiple addictions.
Sansom, 54, spent eight years of his professional career playing for the Gunners and made 314 league appearances for them. The news of his plight broke out recently, after which an Arsenal representative told the press: “We are aware of Kenny Sansom’s situation and have been providing him with ongoing support and guidance.“
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
