Arsene Wenger has poured fuel on the fire of two transfer rumours after revealing both Mathieu Flamini and Wojciech Szczesny are set to miss this weekend’s Emirates Cup.
Flamini, linked with a move to Galatasaray, and Szczesny, tipped for a loan spell at Roma, both featured for the club on the recent trip to Singapore.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of this weekend’s matches with Lyon and Wolfsburg, Wenger revealed that his French midfielder had a knock while the Polish keeper ‘might not be available’.
It’s possible both players are indeed sidelined due to injuries, but that’s unlikely to stop the gossip. The boss was at pains to state that Szczesny still has a future at the club.
“He will have a future here because I rate him highly,” he said. “He already has huge experience.”
One player who is definitely still struggling with fitness is Danny Welbeck. The England international remains sidelined by the same bone bruising that saw him miss the tail end of last season and is yet to return to first team training.
“He is supposed to start to go outside and run again this weekend and if that is positive in the next three weeks he will be available,” noted Wenger.
“He will be short for the start of the season in two weeks, but three weeks should be all right.”
11 days ago Wenger noted that Welbeck was due back in two weeks so things may well still be on track. However, it is concerning that he’s not played competitive football since the 0-0 draw with Chelsea back in April.
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UPDATE – Wenger has confirmed that Szczesny’s loan move should be completed soon.
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Delicious. Guessing this means that the club have a replacement for Flamini lined up.
Think Arteta is the replacement…
great we can watch him get ravaged every time we play anyone decent. His performance against dortmund away was frankly embarrassing.
Bit concerning what’s happening with Welbeck. At the time it didn’t seem long term at all.
IF we do end up signing a striker this window though, what would happen to Welbeck and his development? One of the main reasons he came to Arsenal was playing time, and preferably up front. If a striker comes in it would seem he would play even less. Curious to see how this develops (if obviously we get a striker).
I’m curious about this as well. At the start of the summer, I thought Wenger wouldn’t buy a forward unless Walcott left, and that he wouldn’t buy a central striker at all, as I didn’t expect him to be this ruthless with Welbeck. Now though, it seems as if we’re in for a central striker regardless of people leaving. To be honest, I could see an incoming transfer of a world class centre forward resulting in Welbeck being loaned out. He needs playing time to work on his end product, and that’s hard to get if you’re third/fourth choice.
Wonder what Lord Harris of Peckham has to say about all this.
I will speak to you shortly after lunch.
Genius
“bluerb bluerb bluerb bluerb £200 million… bluerb bluerb bluerb NEW STRIKER…. and then of course I bluerb bluerb bluerb bluerb bluerb bluerb aHA hah… but then I was of course very, very drunk.”
Excellent quote, and your avatar even looks a bit like Lord Pecker.
Don’t see another DM coming in even if Flamini leaves. Coquelin will Arsene’s main man and Arteta the second choice if the former gets injured! Also a little exposure for Bielik in cup matches. The only position he will be looking to strengthen, if he has to, is centre forward. This is
Don’t see another DM coming in even if Flamini leaves. Coquelin will Arsene’s main man and Arteta the second choice if the former gets injured! Also a little exposure for Bielik in cup matches. The only position he will be looking to strengthen, if he has to, is centre forward, which will be a mark of confirmation that Walcott is leaving!
Walcott leaving?
Petr
Bellerin/debuchy – per – kozz – monreal/gibbs
Coq, Cazorla
Ozil
Walcott – Giroud – Alexis
Sub: Ox, Welbeck, Wilshere, Ramsey , Gabriel & Ospina
IF all are fit.
I heard you the first time Tom.
Apologies. The first comment was incomplete. I accidentally pressed enter before it was complete. I tried stopping the comment from getting posted. I realised the incomplete comment was posted only after I entered the complete text. Apologies again, if I wasted your 10 seconds.
Id say the main accelerant was the selfie outside the colosseum.
Well, Wenger pretty much confirmed Scz’s loan move but didn’t say anything about Flamini’s.
A bit weird I think if both are close to moves
The bit about Scez and Flaming is just further confirmation for what we all believed anyways. Like Gooner, the news on Welbeck is distressing. I believe his lingering lack of fitness underscores the desperate need for another striker to complement Giroud. Worries me tbh.
Sigh, I have a feeling that this is going to be it for Welbeck
Wish them well
Flam and Turkey club.
With Diaby gone someone has to keep the medical team busy so step or hobble forward danny
Excellent. Have to say, on paper, we’re looking really good. Making all the right moves. Frankly, don’t understand the panic among some section of the fans about not signing anyone. Where is that new signing going to play anyway?
Gnabry and Akpom are youngsters who have potential. They need space. Rosicky and Arteta for mentorship and experience. Brilliant!
What would happen to Welbeck if we signed a new striker?
How about compete with the new guy and try to be better.
The team is more important than any individual, doesn’t matter if he’s your favorite
Fuck it, let’s spend that 200 on Ronaldo. Alexis needs competition on the wings.