Arshavin Wants To Be Arsenal No10

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Russian International Andrei Arshavin has revealed that he hopes his transfer to Premier League club Arsenal goes through after Zenit St Petersburg rejected a £10million bid from the Gunners recently for the playmaker.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to ask the board at the North London club to make an improved bid of around £12million for Arshavin as he looks to replace his injured captain Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium.

Premiership rivals Manchester City are on standby to make a move for 27-year-old Arshavin, should Arsenal not be able to agree a fee with Zenit for the Russian schemer. It is believed that any new offer by the Gunners could include add-ons to top it up to nearer the £20million valuation of Arshavin by the Russian side.

However, Arshavin seems to have set his sights on a move to the Gunners and has revealed that he would like to wear the No10 shirt at the Emirates, which is currently occupied by William Gallas, who has been strongly linked with a move away from Arsenal this month.

Arshavin told the Daily Telegraph: “I would prefer my present No.10, but in the team where I hope to move it's not vacant. So I'm ready for any number they are going to offer me."

“In some games last season, we [Zenit] played football which was very similar to that of Arsenal.”

Arsenal To Make Improved £12million Offer For Arshavin?

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Arsenal are ready to make an improved offer for playmaker Andrei Arshavin at Russian club Zenit St Petersburg after Zenit confirmed that they have already turned down a £10million offer by the Gunners to bring the EURO 2008 star to the Emirates Stadium.

A Zenit spokesman has confirmed the bid by Arsenal and and also revealed that the North London club are the only team to have made an official approach for the Russian International. Despite recent reports that Premiership rivals Manchester City are hoping to hijack the deal.

Zenit spokesman Alexei Petrov said: “I can confirm that Zenit did get an official offer from Arsenal about Andrei Arshavin. It was rejected as insufficient.

“They offered about £10 million. No new offers have arrived from them since. At the moment, Arsenal are the only club to have approached us about the player.”

Gunners, manager Arsene Wenger is desperate to land a playmaker to the Premier League club this month due to the injury to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and is ready to go cap in hand to the Arsenal board in order to make an improved £12million offer for Arshavin this week.

Wenger reportedly sees the signing of 27-year-old Arshavin as the key to keeping hold of Fabregas at the Premier League club, who is understood to be the main transfer target for La Liga giants Barcelona in the summer.

Arshavin had been on the verge of joining Arsenal’s bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur last summer, but a fee couldn’t be agreed, with the Russian side understood to have wanted in excess of £20million to allow the schemer to leave for White Hart Lane.

The present financial climate has taken its toll on transfer fees, with Zenit now willing to compromise on the price for their talisman. However, it remains to be seen if £12million will be enough to lure Arshavin to Arsenal, with Zenit understood to still want in the region of £15million for the versatile player.

Arsenal In Hunt For Battaglia?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to step up his efforts to sign Sebastian Battaglia from Argentine Champions Boca Juniors, with an offer for defensive midfielder being mooted, according to The News of the World.

28-year-old Battaglia has been at Boca for the best part of his playing career apart from a disappointing spell at La Liga club Villarreal, who he played for between 2004/2005. The Argentine International came through the youth ranks at the South American side and is the most decorated player in Los Xeneizes history, with 17 professional titles.

Wenger has been keen to add a ball winner to the midfield at the Emirates Stadium after the departure of Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan last summer. The need is now greater at the Premier League club due to the injury to Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas, who is out for the next three-months with knee ligament damage, which has made the Frenchman turn his attention to the highly-rated Argentine.



Battaglia is valued in the region of £4million by Boca, with it remaining to be seen if the Argentine side are willing to let the midfielder leave the Estadio Alberto J Armando for the Premiership.

The Argentine has played nearly 200 league games for Boca during his two spells at the club and was a pivotal figure in the Argentines winning the Apertura in a three-way play-off recently. Battaglia has 8 caps for Argentina and was recently voted Boca’s best player in a poll.

Arsenal, Spurs & City In Hunt For Veloso?

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Sporting Lisbon midfielder Miguel Veloso looks destined for a switch to the Premier League, with Arsenal along with Tottenham Hotspur heavily linked to the Portuguese International last summer.

22-year-old Veloso had reportedly been close to signing for Spurs at the end of last summer, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger also keen to add the holding midfielder to his squad at the Emirates Stadium. Although no move to the Premiership materialised in the summer, Veloso is understood to have fallen out with Sporting coach Paulo Bento, which has fuelled speculation that the midfielder will leave the Leoes.

This will also interest Manchester City, who are eager to add an anchorman to the midfield at the Eastlands and could see Veloso as a better option than West Ham United’s Scott Parker. Arsenal’s need for Veloso has also become greater due to the injury to captain Cesc Fabregas, who will be on the sidelines at the North London club for three-months, with a knee ligament injury.

Spurs are also believed to want to shore up the midfield at White Hart Lane so that manager Harry Redknapp can play Luka Modric in the middle and give the Croatian schemer more licence to get forward. Veloso is also left-footed, which make the Sporting player even more appealing as Redknapp also looks to add balance to the midfield.



Veloso has come through the youth ranks at Sporting and has made over 50 league appearances since making his debut in 2006 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, with the Portuguese side valuing the midfielder at anywhere up to £20million.

AC Milan, Newcastle United, Juventus, Everton and Manchester United have all been linked with Veloso in the past, with it remaining to be seen if the talented young midfielder will indeed end up in the Premier League.

Spurs Weigh Up £8million Offer For Former Arsenal & Newcastle Target?

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Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly weighing up an £8million offer for former Arsenal target Gokhan Inler at Serie A side Udinese, with Spurs manager Harry Redknapp keen to add a defensive midfielder to the squad at White Hart lane this month.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed recently that Inler had been a target for the Premier League club last summer, but insisted that Inler was no longer on his radar and that Arsenal would not be reigniting their interest in bringing the Swiss International to the Emirates Stadium.



24-year-old Inler has been at Udinese since joining from FC Zurich in 2007 and has made 43 appearances for the Italian side during his time at the Stadio Friuli. Inler also has 23 caps for Switzerland since making his debut in 2006 and was one of their stars at EURO 2008 last summer.

Redknapp is understood to be willing to offer £8million for Inler as the former Portsmouth boss searches for an out-and-out defensive midfielder to play alongside playmaker Luka Modric in the centre of the Tottenham midfield.

Inler had also been linked with Spurs’ Premiership rivals Newcastle United last summer, but like Arsenal the Magpies interest in the Swiss player seems to have cooled, leaving the path clear for Tottenham to make their move.

Arsenal To Offer Bendtner In Part Exchange For Villa & Spurs Target?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be forced into offering striker Nicklas Bendtner (below) to West Ham United in part exchange for defender Matthew Upson if the Frenchman wants to bring the former Gunner back to the North London club, with Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa also reportedly interested in the England International.

29-year-old Upson has been widely tipped to leave Upton Park this month along with Welsh International Craig Bellamy, who is a target for Spurs and Manchester City. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola is understood to have identified Bendtner as a possible replacement for Bellamy, with a player plus cash deal being mooted.

Bendtner aged 20, has also been linked with a move to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the transfer window, with it remaining to be seen if the Danish International is prepared to move to East London in order to allow Upson to return to the club he left for Birmingham City in 2003.

Despite reports that West Ham have to sell in the transfer window, Zola is determined not to let any of his key players leave the Premiership club on the cheap, with the Irons valuing Upson in the region of £15million. This would mean Wenger, having to find somewhere in the region of £9million to make the deal go through, with Arsenal valuing Bendtner at around £6million.

However, with Spurs and Villa still interested in Upson it remains to be seen if the England defender wishes to go back to the club, where he made only 35 appearances in six-years at his first spell at the Gunners, with Wenger in charge.

More Injury Woe For Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre will be ruled out for three weeks after picking up a thigh injury, while Kolo Toure could also be facing a stint on the sidelines.

31-year-old Silvestre had to be withdrawn after half-an-hour in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the third round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Wenger expects the French International to be missing for the rest of January, with Silvestre certain to miss the Premier League clashes with Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Everton. Silvestre joins captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines at the North London club.

However, Wenger also revealed that Gael Clichy should be back in time to face the Trotters at the Emirates on Saturday, but is concerned about Toure, who has an inflamed groin.

“It is a thigh problem," Wenger said about Silvestre.

“(He will be out for) three weeks, 21 days.

“I have to look at it but at the moment with the injuries we are a little bit short everywhere.

“I hope Kolo [Toure] will not be out for a very long time because he has an inflamed groin.

“On the left-hand side we are a bit short but Gael Clichy should be back for next week.”

N'Zogbia Wants Arsenal Move

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Newcastle United midfielder Charles N'Zogbia has stated once again that he wishes to leave St James’ Park in January, with the Frenchman expressing a desire to stay in the Premier League and admitting that Arsenal would be his preferred destination.

22-year-old N’Zogbia is reportedly a target for Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, with Premiership rivals Aston Villa along with Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain also linked with a move for the French Under-21 International.

N’Zogbia has become disillusioned with events at the North East club in recent months and is desperate for a move away from the Toon in order to win trophies and realise his ambition of playing for the senior French side. N’Zogbia, who joined Newcastle as an 18-year-old from the Le Havre youth side four-years ago has also claimed that the Magpies are willing to let him leave St James’ Park, should the right offer come along.

“I am used to English Football, so my priority is to stay here,” N'Zogbia told Le 10 Sport.

“France? I don't know it very well! But I think about it. I don't have any contact with French clubs, or any other clubs.

“I ask myself questions about my future. At Newcastle for three years we are playing in the bottom of the league. I want to win titles, and I have set myself high objectives, like being in the French team.

“I told Newcastle in case of possible transfer, I will do anything to leave this winter. If the club receives a nice offer, they will try to transfer me."

“Arsenal is the club that makes me dream the most in the Premier League.

“Lyon is a very, very good club. PSG is currently in a very good period.

“If I could have to be transferred there, I would have no regret. It would be a good choice.

“But Anyway, I am at Newcastle so far. I give my best for that club, which gave me my start in professional football.”

Adebayor Still Wanted By Barca

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Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is still a transfer target for La Liga giants Barcelona next summer, with David Villa at Valencia and Lyon’s Karim Benzema also on the Catalan clubs potential list of recruits for the Nou Camp next season, according to Sport.

24-year-old Adebayor had been on the verge of joining Barca during the summer in a £30million deal, with Serie A side AC Milan also interested in the Togolese International. However, a move to either the Blaugrana or the Rossoneri failed to materialise and the former Monaco striker agreed to sign a new deal at the Emirates Stadium, which is believed to be worth around £80,000-a-week to Adebayor.

Adebayor has struggled with niggling injuries this season for the Gunners, but has still scored 8 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions for the Premier League side, 7 of which have come in the Premiership.

A move for Adebayor by Barcelona could be easier and probably cheaper than any attempt to land Villa or Benzema, but the Togolese hit-man would still cost in excess of £25million, with it unknown if Gunners boss Arsene Wenger would be willing to let the forward leave the North London club.

Another factor, which could affect any move by the Spanish side for Adebayor is Togo’s involvement in the African Cup of Nations next year, with Togo on course to qualify for the tournament. Barca, are already going to lose Cameroon International Samuel Eto’o for a month to the tournament next year and are unlikely to want to have two key players in the same position missing for so long.

Arsenal Chief Reveals There Will Be No Major Spending In January

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Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has revealed that the Gunners will not be spending lots of money in the transfer window, which will worry manager Arsene Wenger, who is eager to bring some new faces to the Emirates Stadium in January to get the Premier League clubs faltering season back on track.

Wenger has captain Cesc Fabregas out with a long-term injury along with Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky, who has played no part in the North London clubs season to date. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor has failed to find the form of last season and Eduardo is still weeks away from a return to action to the Arsenal first team from a broken leg.

For the first time since Wenger took over at Arsenal in 1996, Arsenal had been expected to be a player in the January transfer market due to injuries and the form of the side. However, Hill-Wood has declared that even though there is money it won’t be spent on players this month. Instead the Gunners chairman has insisted that Wenger give some of the young talent at the Premiership side a chance.

Hill-Wood said: “One has got to look ahead - in the future there is probably not going to be much more money coming in. We have got money, but I am not sure we are going to spend it. We've got to continue to run the business in a sensible way.

“It may sound boring, but we are not going to rush out and spend fortunes on people who won't help us achieve anything better than where we are at the moment.

“Arsene has a lot of young, talented players at the club and I think he will probably give a chance to one or two of them.”

Wenger: Eduardo Not Ready For FA Cup Return

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Croatian International striker Eduardo is not ready to return to action for the Gunners in their FA Cup third round clash with Championship side Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

25-year-old Eduardo made his comeback after breaking his leg in February for the Premier League club in a reserve match against Portsmouth last month. The Brazilian-born forward played 45 minutes of the clash before being taken off at halftime as a precaution with a slight hamstring problem.

However, Wenger has insisted that Eduardo will be back playing for Arsenal by the end of January and that the former Dinamo Zagreb player is keen for a return to action at the Emirates Stadium as soon as the striker regains full fitness.

Wenger said: “Eduardo will not come back yet. It is still a bit early because he has to get his fitness back.

“He is fantastically keen and a dream to work with but when you have been out for nine months it takes some time to come back to your best form.”

It is thought that Wenger will utilise his squad against Plymouth on Saturday, with the Frenchman likely to play his fringe players against a side that is 15th in the Championship.

Arshavin On Verge Of £18million Arsenal Move

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Russian International Andrei Arshavin is on the verge of joining Premier League club Arsenal in an £18million deal, with the Gunners set to beat local rivals Tottenham Hotspur along with Liverpool to the signature of the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker.

27-year-old Arshavin had been on the brink of a move to Spurs in the summer, but this didn’t materialise due to the two clubs not being able to agree on a fee for EURO 2008 star. Now according to Italian paper Tuttosport, Arshavin is set to become an Arsenal player, with a five-year deal in place and a fee of £18million agreed with Zenit to allow the Russian to leave for the Emirates Stadium.

Arshavin’s agent Dennis Lachter has backed up these claims by revealing that Arshavin’s transfer to the Premiership will be confirmed in a few days and that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had tried to sign the player in the summer.

“Andrei is rated by Wenger who wanted him to sign [for Arsenal] last summer. This transfer would please everyone but we must wait a few days for confirmation,” said Lachter.

Wenger is in desperate need of a playmaker at the North London club, with Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas ruled out for four-months through injury and now appears to be on a verge of a signing that the Frenchman hopes can get the Gunners faltering Premier League season back on track.

Arsenal Weigh Up £10million Offer For Diakhate?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is understood to be weighing up a £10million offer for Dynamo Kiev defender Pape Diakhate, should Gunners defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure leave the Emirates Stadium in January, according to The Sun.

24-year-old Senegal International Diakhate is also believed to be a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City and Portsmouth, with the central-defender having attracted the interest of Juventus, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the past, while at Ligue 1 side Nancy.



Gallas’ future is unclear at the Premiership club after criticising his team-mates at the North London recently and being stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal by Wenger. With Toure also keen to leave the Gunners after reportedly also having a bust-up with former Chelsea defender Gallas.

This has led Wenger to sound out Diakhate as a possible replacement at the Emirates after the defender impressed the Frenchman with his displays in the Champions League for Kiev this season. However, Wenger is sure to face competition from Man City boss Mark Hughes, who is desperate to shore up a shaky defence at the Eastlands, while Pompey could also have a say in where Diakhate may end up, should the defender decide to leave the Ukrainian club.

Hull, Arsenal, Blackburn & Everton On Alert As Ajax Bid For Elia Is Rejected

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Premier League clubs Arsenal, Hull City, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, will be on alert today after Eredivisie club FC Twente revealed that they have rejected a bid from Dutch rivals Ajax for winger Eljero Elia.

21-year-old Elia has attracted strong interest from the Premiership, but Ajax, are the first club to make a firm offer for the Dutch International. However, with so many clubs interested in the talented Dutchman, Twente chairman Joop Munsterman has revealed the bid by Ajax to lure Elia to the Amsterdam Arena, which he has confirmed was rejected out of hand and even went as far as to call the offer an “insult”.

“Ajax have made an offer for Eljero [Elia], but we're not even considering it,” Munsterman told TC/Tubantia.

“Ajax's offer was an insult for a player of Elia's level.”



The Tigers along with the Toffees and Blackburn are believed to have watched Elia in former England manager Steve McClaren’s Twente side that played Manchester City in the UEFA Cup recently at the Eastlands Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is understood to have been at the European clash to run the rule over Elia personally.

Elia, who joined Twente from ADO Den Haag in 2007 had attracted attention from La Liga side Valencia in the summer, but opted against a move to the Mestalla and revealed a desire to ply his trade in England one day.

McClaren has used Elia on the wing this season, but the player can play as a secondary striker and has scored 7 goals in 45 appearances for the Reds. Elia still has more than two-years to run on his present deal at the Grolsh Veste, but it is understood that Twente will not stand in the players way should a decent offer and the Premier League beckon in January.

Arsenal To Try Again For EURO 2008 Star?

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to make a fresh approach for Swiss International Gokhan Inler at Serie A side Udinese, when the transfer window reopens next month, with the Gunners reportedly ready to meet the £8million clause in the defensive midfielder’s contract that would allow Inler to leave for the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger is keen to add some steel to the midfield at the North London club, having seen Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto depart the Premiership club in the summer for AC Milan and Panathinaikos respectively, which has left a huge hole in the Arsenal midfield this season.



Inler has been at Udinese since joining from Swiss side FC Zurich in 2007 and is an established member of the Bianconeri side, which finished 7th in the Scudetto last season and qualified for the UEFA Cup. The midfielder has made 43 appearances in Serie A for Udinese and has three years to run on his present deal at the Italian side

24-year-old Inler was the subject of an offer from the Premier League club in the summer, but was not keen on a move to England from Udinese. With it remaining to be seen if Inler will be ready to leave the Stadio Friuli in January, should Arsenal decide to make the £8million offer needed to lure Inler to the Emirates.

Wenger: Babel Is A Diver

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With Arsenal due to face Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium for the first time since the Merseyside club knocked the Gunners out of the Champions League last season. Manager Arsene Wenger has accused Dutch International Ryan Babel of diving to earn the penalty that ultimately put the Reds through.

Arsenal were on the verge of making it through to the semi-finals after Emmanuel Adebayor equalised to make it 2-2 at Anfield on the night, which would have been enough to send the North London club into the last four on away goals.

However, Babel went down in the area just seconds later, with a penalty being given, which Liverpool scored and eventually won 4-2 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Now ahead of their crunch Premiership clash, Wenger is insisting that the Dutch winger dived and that perhaps it was the catalyst that ended Arsenal’s season.

“Perhaps our season died after we played Liverpool in those three games…yes,” said Wenger.

“At home in the Champions League, we had a penalty that was not given. But at Anfield a penalty was given — and that was the result of a dive.

“I can say that because Kolo did not touch him. Overall, we had bad luck and then more bad luck. But it’s part of the quality of the team to deal with that situation and not to allow that to happen.”

However, Wenger has claimed not to be annoyed by Babel, with the Frenchman even conceding that his own players have dived on occasion, with the Gunners boss, who is in favour of seeing video technology introduced once again raising the issue of video assistance for referees.

“It’s difficult to say you are annoyed about diving, because it can sometimes happen with your own players that they dive,” Wenger added.

“It is down to the players and the referee to get it sorted out, maybe with video assistance.

“They are talking about having a referee behind the goal now and that might help. But I am not convinced. Diving has improved, even though I can show you video replays from some 20 years ago when you had some good divers.

“I don’t feel any pain about it now. In football everyone can become crazy, as it never happens how you want it to.”

Wenger Wants To Deliver Champions League To Arsenal

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With Christmas almost upon us Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping he can deliver his own gift to the Gunners, with the Frenchman hoping he can deliver the Champions League to the Premiership club, come next May.

Wenger has won 3 Premier League titles and 4 FA Cups during his 12-years at Arsenal, but Europe’s biggest prize has eluded both the North London club and Wenger throughout their respective histories. The closest either has been to getting their hands on the trophy was in 2006, when Arsenal lost 2-1 to La Liga giants Barcelona in the final, with the Blaugrana coming from behind to beat the 10-man Gunners.

Now Arsenal must negotiate a passage through the last 16, where they meet Serie A side Roma, after the draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Wenger however, is determined to go one step further than 2006 and deliver Arsenal the perfect albeit late Christmas gift next May.

“I want to give that [the Champions League] to my club because not only have I not won it, but the Club have not won it,” said Wenger.

“We were very close in 2006 and lost one game in the whole season in the Champions League which was the Final. We were down to 10 men after 10 minutes [in that game], so we know we can do it.

“It is frustrating but you don’t just turn up and win it because if you see the names who are in the competition, they are all of the top level. They have top investment and it will always be difficult.

“But I believe we have achieved something – a remarkable consistency. In the last six years only four teams in Europe have been in the final 16 and we are one of the four. We have been remarkably consistent.”

Arsenal To Offer £3million For Future "World's Best" Keeper?

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Arsenal are set to make a £3million offer for Dutch International goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger keen to bring in the highly-rated Vitesse Arnhem player to the Emirates Stadium in January, according to The Mirror.

22-year-old Velthuizen is highly thought of in Dutch football, with the young keeper also on the radar of Valencia and Serie A Champions Inter Milan. Wenger has been following the progress of Velthuizen since last season, with the keeper’s performances for Vitesse earning him a call up to the senior Dutch squad earlier this year.



Wenger faces the possibility of losing Arsenal’s No2 keeper Lukas Fabianski, who is said to be frustrated at his lack of opportunities in the Premier League for Arsenal and is a target for Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain.

It is now understood that Arsenal are ready to make an offer for Velthuizen and steal a march on the Nerazzurri and Los Che in order to bring the young Dutchman to the Premiership. Velthuizen is seen by Wenger as a keeper that can provide serious competition for Manuel Almunia at the Emirates, with Velthuizen open to the move and laying claim to wanting to be the world’s best.

Velthuizen said: “I don't just want to be a top keeper, I want to be the world's best.”

Arsenal Striker Suffers Injury Setback

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Croatian International Eduardo, who made his comeback for Arsenal in a reserve game against Portsmouth on Tuesday, will have to wait a little longer on the sidelines at the Emirates Stadium. After being taken off at half-time in the clash against Pompey with a hamstring strain.

25-year-old Eduardo finally made his return in a Gunners shirt after nearly 300 days out following the horror tackle by Birmingham City player Martin Taylor, which left the Brazilian-born striker with a dislocated ankle and a broken fibula.

Now after a lengthy spell out Eduardo is set for more treatment after being taken off in his comeback as a precaution. However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be pleased that the hamstring strain is not too serious, with Eduardo revealing that he only expects the injury to delay his comeback by a further two weeks.

Eduardo said: “At the moment I am better and I feel very happy. I came off at half-time because I felt something in my hamstring but I think I will be all right in two weeks.

“The situation with my injury was very hard for me but I have to forget everything bad in my life.”

Wenger: Gallas Is Not Right Mentally

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that defender William Gallas has still to find the stability in his mind after being stripped of the Gunners captaincy following an outburst in the media.

31-year-old Gallas, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates stadium in January, has become a cause of concern for Wenger. The Frenchman believes that while the former Chelsea player has regained some form for the Premier League club of late, Gallas has still to get things right mentally.

Wenger said: “On the human level, what happened with William was the most difficult thing I have had to handle in my career because I have a lot of esteem for him.

“He was caught in a media storm, a witch-hunt that isolated him to the point where it became a handicap for the team. He has refound the stability in his game but I am not convinced that, in his mind, he has refound his stability and his joie de vivre.”

Wenger also went on to reveal his disappointment at summer signing Samir Nasri from Marseille, who Wenger feels has had far too many injuries since his £12.7million switch.

Wenger added: “I thought Nasri had the qualities to be, say, a mixture between (Robert) Pires and (Alexander) Hleb. The dribbling of Hleb and the passing, vision and finishing of, Pires.

“His contribution? He has had too many injuries, far too many. It’s perhaps down to the fact he played sooner than I would have liked without being sufficiently ready for the Premier League.”