Showing posts with label Samir Nasri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samir Nasri. Show all posts

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

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.”

Monday, 24 November 2008

Wenger Reveals Double Injury Blow For Arsenal

Arsenal have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday, with Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby both out after picking up injuries in training.

Gunners, midfielder Diaby has an abdominal strain, while French International Nasri has a knee injury and both will now join a growing list of injured players at the Emirates Stadium. With Kolo Toure (calf), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Emmanuel Eboue (knee), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) Bacary Sagana (ankle), Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) and Eduardo (broken leg) already unavailable to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

However, Wenger is able to welcome back Cesc Fabregas, who missed the Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday through suspension. Wenger has also revealed that William Gallas will be back in the squad after being dropped for the City game after comments made to the press last week.

“We have lost two but gained two,” said Wenger.

“Fabregas is back from suspension and William Gallas is back too. But they are the only two. We have lost Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby for tomorrow. Diaby has an abdominal strain and Samir Nasri has an inflammation in his knee again.”

Wenger is expected to promote some of his Carling Cup kids for the game with Kiev, with Jay Simpson and Fran Merida likely to be in the squad for the European tie.