Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: Nasri is Gunners asset
Nasri is set for his first appearance of the season against Liverpool in Wednesday's Carling Cup clash at Emirates Stadium having recovered from a fractured leg suffered during the Gunners' summer training camp in Austria.[LNB]With Czech international Tomas Rosicky and England's Theo Walcott both struggling for fitness, the return of Nasri comes as a welcome boost for Wenger, whose side moved up to third place in the Premier League following Sunday's 2-2 draw at West Ham.[LNB]"We had great expectations for him this season, but unfortunately he got injured in the first day of the training camp and we haven't seen him since," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.[LNB]"But what is good for him is he is fresh, he has prepared well and he can be an important asset in the coming weeks."[LNB]Wenger believes the versatile 22-year-old, signed from Marseille in July 2008, can easily slot into the Gunners' new system, which sees captain Cesc Fabregas at the heart of a fluid 4-3-3 formation.[LNB]"Basically, I can play him where he is needed," said Wenger, who is set to mix up his team selection once again for tomorrow night's match.[LNB]"I would say more in the defensive role, but because he can dribble he can play on the flanks.[LNB]"Nasri has pace and he can play in a role that is half a winger, a dropped winger who will come in sometimes, can go wide, so of course it has to be balanced maybe with a striker on the other side sometimes."[LNB]Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is another looking to sharpen up his match fitness after coming back from knee surgery with the reserves last week.[LNB]Wenger accepts it is now something of a selection poser as to just who should be his regular number one, with young Italian Vito Mannone having filled in and then retained his place following illness to Manuel Almunia.[LNB]"It is a delicate choice but I will make a decision I think is right," said Wenger.[LNB]"I kept Vito in because we won the games, it is as simple as that."[LNB]While neither side will be at full strength tomorrow, Wenger knows Liverpool will be boosted by Sunday's victory over Manchester United, which went some way to lift the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.[LNB]"You would say for them, with the environment they were in, it was vital," Wenger said.[LNB]"I must say on the day they deserved to win because they dominated this game and they came out of it with a deserved victory."[LNB]Wenger endured his own share of criticism during a difficult spell last season and sympathises with Benitez.[LNB]"It is not always easy but I believe in this job you need to resist the stress and the pressure," he said.[LNB]"You cannot dream to go for a career in this job without coming into these kind of situations, so it is an absolute necessity to go through this kind of period and survive."[LNB][LNB]
