Arsenal FC The Pride Of London

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger refuses outright to negotiate with Barcelona over the sale of Cesc Fabregas.

When speculation first began at the start of the summer, Arsenal released a stern statement saying their captain was not for sale. Ahead of the Emirates Cup, Wenger confirmed he talked to his captain over the summer but would not elaborate further. However the manager’s position remained crystal clear.

“We do not negotiate,” he said at Friday’s press conference. “If I want to buy your house and you don't want to sell, you don't negotiate with me, that's completely normal.

"I have spoken to him directly [over the summer]. But I believe it's important that meetings between me and the players remain secret. I never come out with the words I exchange with my players.”

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger wants Cesc Fabregas to put the summer’s speculation behind him and show he is a “champion”.

The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a return to Barcelona throughout the close season. In May, Arsenal put out a strongly-worded statement spelling out their desire to keep their captain. Wenger has backed up that sentiment in numerous press conferences since then.

With Fabregas close to a return after the rigours of a wonderful World Cup, the manager was looking for the 23-year-old to concentrate on Club matters once again.

“It's an inevitable question and inevitable answer,” said Wenger at Friday’s press conference for the Emirates Cup.

“I always said Cesc Fabregas will be our captain next year and that we want to keep him. Despite all the speculation last season and the whole summer, nothing has changed.

"There's a great attitude and spirit inside the squad and Cesc Fabregas can help us achieve these targets. He's now at a good age, 23-years-old, and he has just won the World Cup. I believe he will grow in authority again for next season. The biggest achievement for him now is to help us win the title.

"I have known players who want to leave and then after they don't want to leave any more. There are all kinds of situations but I believe what happens after is that when a player stays it is about how much he focused on playing football.

"It is always in the interests of the player to perform. If he is a champion, he goes on the football pitch and wants to be the best he can. All the rest is a poor excuse for a football player.”

By Nick Teale
 
Arsène Wenger has described the Premier League's new 'home-grown' rule as "a disastrous decision for football and for the players."
 
The manager is concerned that players and clubs could both suffer as a result of the new laws. He is worried that smaller clubs may have to spend above their means, and that some players may be left without a team.
 
The rule states that clubs must register a 25-man squad with a maximum of 17 'non-home-grown' players. Any player under the age of 21 does not need to be registered.*
 
But Wenger does not believe it is a good idea.
 
"I am not a big fan of it," he told a press conference at Emirates Stadium on Friday. "It puts first of all many players without clubs, that is the first mathematical consequence of it.

"Secondly it puts the clubs in a weak position most of the time on the transfer market.
 
"When you have already 25 [players in your squad], when you buy a player you know you have 26 and now you have to get rid of one. So you have to integrate in the transfer market when you buy a player how much as well it costs to get rid of a player.
 
"You are not sure after you will be capable to buy the player, so I believe it is a disastrous decision for football and for the players and I was quite amazed that the union accepted that. I believe as well for the clubs it is a very bad decision.
 
"The big clubs have 25 top players anyway and you will not stop that by these kind of decisions. When you have already employed a player and he has to go to a smaller club there are only two solutions; the smaller club pays above their potential or the big club takes a part of the salary. In both cases it is not satisfying."

By Chris Harris
 
Arsenal will be without four front-line midfielders for the Emirates Cup.

Cesc Fabregas has yet to return to training after winning the World Cup while Abou Diaby, Denilson and Alex Song are all carrying slight knocks.
 
The injured trio should all return for next weekend’s final pre-season friendly at Legia Warsaw while Fabregas and fellow World Cup finalist Robin van Persie will be back from holiday by then.
 
However Nicklas Bendtner’s groin problem will take weeks rather than days to mend.
 
“We have injuries and players who are not back yet from the World Cup,” said Wenger at his pre-tournament press conference on Friday.
 
“The injuries we have are not heavy ones. I believe Diaby, Song and Denilson will not be ready for Saturday’s game [against AC Milan] but they should be ready for next weekend.

"Bendtner is out anyway from the start of the season. We think [he will be back in] two to three weeks."

By Chris Harris
 
Arsène Wenger believes his squad is at "the start of a cycle" and will make a natural improvement again this season.
 
The Arsenal manager fielded a volley of questions about potential signings at his press conference on Friday and probably expected nothing less.
 
But Wenger was quick to remind reporters that he chose a different method to team-building a few years back and, as a result of his investment in youth, he expects his players to make a step forward in 2010/11 irrespective of his transfer dealings.
 
"We have to remind ourselves that we decided to go with a very young team three or four years ago and we have developed this team," said Wenger.
 
"I believe that two years ago we were quite far [away from the top of the table] but last year in April we were two points away from the top. Normally we should be closer again because that development is part of a young team.
 
"I know that in England when you do not win the championship it's always about buying but what is important is that we improve individually and as a team because we are a very young team.
 
"We are not a team that is at the end of a cycle, we are at the start of a cycle. So our future will be decided not by who we buy or need but as well by how much we improve."