'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed that they would no longer be considered a ‘big club’ and ambitious enough if they lost Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri this summer. Both the Spanish captain and the French dynamo have been linked with moves to Barcelona and Man United this summer respectively.
Wenger said that Arsenal would fail to attract big names if they let their star payers leave so easily, and hence reiterated the club’s desire to hold on to both Cesc and Nasri. Speaking to The Mirror, he said-
“Imagine the worst situation – we lose Fabregas and Nasri – you cannot convince people you are ambitious after that.
“And even if you lose Nasri, to find the same quality player, you have to spend again the same amount of money. Because you cannot say, you lose the player and you do not replace him.”
Wenger stressed on giving out a positive message to other clubs and their fans regarding their ambition and status. He said that Arsenal had worked very hard for the development of both Cesc and Nasri, and losing either of them at this important juncture of their career would represent a major blow. He said-
“I believe for us it is important the message we give out. For example, you talk about Fabregas leaving, Nasri leaving.
“If you give that message out, you cannot pretend you are a big club, because a big club first of all holds onto its big players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they just cannot come in and take away from you.
“We worked very hard with these players for years to develop them, and now it’s a time for us to keep them together.”
Barcelona president Sandro Rossell claimed that Cesc was ‘worth less’ this year because of the wear and tear he suffered last season with niggling injuries, plus enduring another trophyless campaign with the Gunners. Wenger said this was being disrespectful to the 23 year old, and sympathised with the conundrum he faced between playing for two clubs he loved. He said that both clubs existed in his heart, but was convinced that leading the current Arsenal team to success would be the biggest achievement of Cesc’s career if it transpired. He said-
“That is disrespectful to Cesc,”
“For us, it’s not a question of money. It is a question of Cesc wanting to be with us. And I think he is torn because he loves the club deeply.
“We will fight until the last second to keep him.
“I think Cesc has always been torn between his love for Arsenal, that I feel is really genuine, and, as well – and what you can understand – the desire to play for the biggest team in the world. I think both exist in his head.
“I am confident, because I hope he will see that there will be no greater achievement for him in his life than to lead this team to success and that it will not be the right period for him to leave.”
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can hold out for the summer and go into next season with their star players intact. Stay tuned for more in this regard.
