Source: Team_Talk
Wenger won't rush World Cup pair
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he will not rush Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie back into Premier League action too soon.[LNB] Fabregas missed the season-opening 1-1 draw at Liverpool due to illness, despite having played for Spain in Mexico only a few days before, while Holland striker Van Persie came on for the final 15 minutes at Anfield, where a last-minute own goal by Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina handed the Gunners a point.[LNB]"To have a good season you need a good preparation so we want to especially build up Cesc and Van Persie well," said Wenger.[LNB]"They came back on August 5 and you need three to four weeks preparation if you want to do well in the Premier League."[LNB]Wenger attempted to add experienced France international defender Sebastien Squillaci - provided a deal can be struck with Sevilla for the £6.5million-rated centre-back - to his squad as he prepares for the visit of new boys Blackpool, with a number of players set to return from injury.[LNB]Alex Song, Denilson and Johan Djourou are expected back in the squad, but Emmanuel Frimpong followed Samir Nasri - out for up to a month after minor knee surgery - into the Arsenal treatment room after it was confirmed the 18-year-old could miss the rest of the season with knee ligament damage.[LNB]Wenger, though, is still not about to rush Fabregas and Van Persie into action.[LNB]"All are available - at different levels (of fitness)," the manager told Arsenal TV Online.[LNB]"I need to make up my mind who I integrate in the squad, but there is no major problem for anybody really.[LNB]"Denilson has not played since April 14 and did not play one minute of a game (in pre-season). He still needs to work.[LNB]"All the others are quite available - at least to be on the bench, but at the same time we do not want to rush it."[LNB]Striker Nicklas Bendtner (groin) is still not yet available, while Laurent Koscielny is suspended after his late sending off at Anfield.[LNB]Koscielny, a summer recruit from Lorient, could be joined by another defensive reinforcement in Squillaci, who requested to miss Sevilla's midweek Champions League play-off against Braga to avoid being cup-tied.[LNB]Sevilla are believed to want around £6.5million for the 30-year-old defender, who was part of Les Bleus' World Cup squad, but it would appear the Gunners have not yet matched that valuation.[LNB]"The player asked not to play because of the offer from such a big team, but, for the moment, we believe the offer is insufficient and Squillaci is still a Sevilla player," said Sevilla sporting director Ramon Rodriguez.[LNB]Another stumbling block to completing any deal is likely to be the length of contract, with Arsenal usually only offering one-year contracts to senior players.[LNB]Arsenal are also said to be keen to sign an experienced goalkeeper and have been linked with both Mark Schwarzer and Shay Given.[LNB]Meanwhile, left-back Armand Traore looks set to be leaving for Benfica after falling behind England international Kieran Gibbs in the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.
