Source: Team_Talk
Nasri: Gunners deserve more credit
Samir Nasri feels it is "annoying" Arsenal will not get the credit they deserve following another season without silverware.[LNB] The France international believes Arsene Wenger's policy of not just simply trying to buy the title should be applauded.[LNB]The Gunners threw away any chance of hauling themselves back into the championship race after allowing Wigan to recover from 2-0 down to win during a dramatic final 10 minutes at DW Stadium on Sunday.[LNB]The post-mortem into another campaign which promised so much yet again failed to deliver a trophy to Emirates Stadium has already begun - with Arsenal legend Ian Wright claiming Wenger's side "needs some major surgery" if they are to emulate the achievements of his former teams.[LNB]However, Nasri, 22, maintains the Gunners are heading in the right direction under Wenger, who has yet to commit to a new deal past the end of next season.[LNB]"It is annoying. The work we do is not getting the credit it deserves because we are not winning silverware," Nasri told the May edition of the official Arsenal magazine.[LNB]"It is unfair because I think we have more merit as a club than those who have built their teams with millions of pounds whereas Arsenal have brought in young footballers, who have come here to play a certain kind of football and who have developed."[LNB]Nasri added: "This season has proved that we have everything to compete and we have learnt so much.[LNB]"I am hoping that our squad will stay unchanged because we are really good and with a year more experience, we can achieve some great things next season."[LNB]Wenger saw his options limited at various stages of the campaign by injuries to key men like Robin van Persie, captain Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott.[LNB]Nasri - who himself recovered form after suffering a broken leg during pre-season - believes things would have been different if Arsenal had been able to send out their first choice XI on a consistent basis.[LNB]"Injuries happen and it is part of football, but I think if we had not had those injuries, we would be top of the Premier League and still in the Champions League," said the French midfielder.[LNB]"Apart from Arsenal, I do not know a team playing without five of its best players in the quarter-final of the Champions League like we did against Barcelona and to be in such a high position in the league.[LNB]"Our injuries are always serious. They are not small muscular problems, and that gives more credit to our season."[LNB]Wenger certainly has some thinking do on how he looks to take the team forwards next season.[LNB]Most notably in defence, given veterans Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre are all out of contract.[LNB]Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh, though, looks set to finally arrive on a free from Bordeaux.[LNB]Nasri believes the 26-year-old would prove a good acquisition.[LNB]"It would be a great signing for us. He is a player that I really like," said Nasri,[LNB]"Chamakh plays for the team, gives everything and works very hard.[LNB]"He has big potential and would fit perfectly in our team."[LNB]Arsenal are no doubt preparing for another summer of speculation over whether captain Fabregas will remain at the club, the Spain international currently battling to be fit from a cracked bone in his leg in time for the World Cup.[LNB]The 22-year-old's father has also found himself drawn into the saga, with Francesc Fabregas senior denying reports he had a meeting with Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano.[LNB]Arsenal's goalkeeping position would also appear to be up for grabs, given both Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski - who endured another birthday to forget as his glaring error gifted Wigan an equaliser - have each been prone to more than the odd mistake which proved so costly.[LNB]Almunia missed Sunday's match because of a wrist injury, but is expected to be back between the posts for the visit of top-four hopefuls Manchester City this weekend.
