Cesc Fabregas will play no part in this weekend’s Emirates Cup with Arsene Wenger admitting at a press conference this afternoon that the Spaniard is “unsettled”. The Gunners skipper has been out of action this pre-season with a hamstring injury but Wenger’s comments are perhaps the biggest hint yet that Fabregas’ future may lie away from Arsenal. Speaking ahead of the weekend’s Emirates Cup, Wenger said:
Fabregas will not feature in the Emirates Cup. He is not settled, with his injury and his situation. That has to be sorted out soon. Cesc is torn between two loves. I can understand that but we want to be certain about his commitment.
The comments further fuel the idea that Fabregas may finally be ready to return to Barcelona and with Nicklas Bendtner also looking likely to join Gael Clichy through the Emirates exit door, the Arsenal boss should have a considerable warchest to re-invest in his first-team squad. Wenger did, however, seem much more optimistic on the future of Samir Nasri, for the upcoming season at least, saying:
“My wish is that Nasri stays. I’m convinced he is going to stay at Arsenal.”
If this scenario pans out, Fantasy managers will be looking to Nasri as the midfielder most likely for Arsenal next season. Priced at 9.5 to Cesc’s 12.0, Nasri would see plenty cash left over in your Fantasy budget and with Wenger also confirming Abou Diaby will be out for around ten weeks, Gunners midfield options are short on the ground. Aaron Ramsey comes into the equation, perhaps, and priced at 6.5 the Welshman would be Fantasy gold if he takes over the role as chief creator next term.
That’s a situation that seems unlikely, though; if Arsenal lose their captain, Wenger will surely move to boost the ranks in light of such a blow. The Gunners boss admitted he’s in the market for players ahead of the new season’s kick-off a fortnight tomorrow:
There is only one deadline, it is on August 31.The other deadline is for us to get everybody focused, the players who are really committed to the club, my energy and my focus goes on them. That is what I focus on, I cannot help the other situation, because it does not only depend on me. It depends on the players and on the other clubs.
A move for Valencia’s Juan Mata has been mooted for some time and over the last twenty-four hours, the Spanish club, intriguingly, have secured the services of Sergio Canales on loan from Real Madrid for the upcoming season. While Canales could certainly play alongside Mata in La Liga in 2011/12, speculation is rife that the move pre-empts the player’s move to the Emirates over the next few weeks.
