Source: Team_Talk
Wenger 'expects nobody to leave'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refused to give any clear indication over the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri on Friday.[LNB] Fabregas has been omitted from the squad for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League opener at Newcastle while the fitness of Nasri, who is suffering from an illness, is being monitored.[LNB]Wenger last night appeared resigned to losing the duo, with Fabregas on the brink of joining Barcelona and Nasri close to agreeing a transfer to Manchester City.[LNB]But on Friday morning the Frenchman gave a series of non-committal answers when questioned over their departures.[LNB]"I expect nobody to leave the club," he said at the club's training ground, confirming that Fabregas has not gone on strike.[LNB]When asked if therefore they will stay, Wenger responded: "That's a good conclusion from my statement.[LNB]"I believe the best thing for us, one day before the season starts, is not to focus on the possible transfers.[LNB]"I cannot say it will never happen, I cannot say it will happen.[LNB]"At the moment there is no news and if we have any news to give you, I promise you we will do it.[LNB]"What we want today is to focus on the players who play tomorrow and not the players who do not play.[LNB]"The players who can help the club achieve performances are more important than the players who don't.[LNB]"I will decide what is best for the club. The first quality for a player is to have talent, the second is wanting to play where he is.[LNB]"You demand commitment to the club and the desire to achieve things. That is only possible if you really want to do it."[LNB]Fabregas has been agitating for a move to Barcelona, the club he left as a 16-year-old in 2003, for the past two summers but Nasri's desire to leave emerged far more recently.[LNB]The prospect of losing arguably his two best players must be daunting for Wenger, but the 61-year-old insists replacements can be found if necessary.[LNB]"We are all replaceable. All the cemeteries are full of replaceable people," he said.[LNB]"But you do not want to lose big players, we fight to have big players so you do not want to lose them.[LNB]"I'm not disappointed in Cesc's behaviour. My personal feelings are not important. I take nothing personally.[LNB]"I have not been disappointed by Cesc's attitude and not by Samir's attitude. They have both been professional.[LNB]"The transfer speculation is disruptive but not an excuse. We have to deal with that, it is part of our job. People come in and out.[LNB]"We have had speculation every year. I believe it is part of our job and we have to deal with that."[LNB]Wenger denied losing the duo would mean Arsenal are no longer a big club.[LNB]"Manchester United let (Cristiano) Ronaldo go, do you think they are not a big club?"[LNB]He was also adamant he was in no hurry to bring new players in.[LNB]"Do we want to buy? I don't know because at the moment we have too big a squad, we have too many players," he said.[LNB]Wenger expects Arsenal to challenge for the Premier League title, despite the uncertainty that now shrouds the Emirates Stadium.[LNB]"We feel we were very close last year and that we can improve from what we achieved last year. We will be in there, don't worry," he said.[LNB]"Why? Because we are a young team and a young team can only get better."
