As Arsenal prepare for the opening match of their annual pre-season tournament, the Emirates Cup, tomorrow, we’ve picked the key bits from what the boss, Arsène Wenger, said in his pre-tournament news conference to Arsenal.com.
Team news
“Everybody who came from Asia will be available” was the main message from the Frenchman. However, Mathieu Flamini’s inclusion is still in doubt, with the midfielder still carrying “a little bit of a knock” on his ankle. Danny Welbeck will not feature, still recovering from an injury, and Wenger doesn’t expect the forward to be match-fit for another three weeks.
Alexis Sánchez is still on holiday following his country’s Copa America achievements, and won’t be back until August 3, and David Ospina back the beginning of next week. A packed squad altogether going into the 2-day tournament.
Garde did a fantastic job
Arsène Wenger also took the time to praise the work that former Gunner Remi Garde did during his tenure at Lyon.
The Frenchman was one of Wenger’s first signings at Arsenal, and then went on to form a managerial career. He’s since left the French club, but the boss had this to say on Garde: “He was first in the academy, that’s why he knew these players very well. Lyon benefits now from the quality of his work.
“He did very well, he was there for two years and did a great job. He was first in the academy, that’s why he knew these players very well. Lyon benefits now from the quality of his work.
“It was a job where he was a lot under pressure because in Lyon the demands are very high, but he did very well. Lyon are a very good team, a very young team but a team who made life difficult for PSG last season. It will be a good test for us.”
Lyon have built a great squad in recent years, and it will be interesting to see that in effect tomorrow as they take on the Gunners, especially with Garde’s foundation in place.
Frimpong, Wilshere & more
When asked about the racial abuse of Emmanuel Frimpong: “I haven’t seen it but we had that debate many times. Racial abuse is unacceptable and has to be first punished. You can accept that Frimpong was not happy to get that. I believe that it shows that it’s an endless battle. We think sometimes maybe to quickly that it’s over but it’s not. He’s an outspoken boy. He is not scared to speak his mind but that doesn’t make the racial abuse acceptable.”
Also, Wenger spoke on the coming season for Jack Wilshere, saying: “It is a big season for Jack Wilshere. I hope that he can get a full season without any problems and then it will be a big season for him and for us as well. I personally see him in a creative, offensive position. It can be on the flank, it can be through the middle but for me he’s a creator in the final third.”
The Boss spoke about the beginning of last season, saying: “Of course. Where did it go wrong? It’s quite easy to explain because after the first six games, we were six points behind Chelsea. That was at the start of the season, knowing as well that we had Champions League qualifiers to play and that we had players coming back from the World Cup who were not ready to play.”
Wojciech Szczesny close to Roma move
In a perhaps already-realised announcement, the Arsenal boss confirmed that Arsenal shotstopper Wojciech Szczesny is close to joining AS Roma, describing the situation as: “We are pretty much done, it’s down to paperwork. As long as that’s not over the line, anything can happen”.
The deal appears to be subject to a medical, with a rumoured £1m loan fee, and a suspected buy-out clause at the end of the loan. However, Wenger still insisted upon the Pole’s importance, saying: “I believe he will have a future at Arsenal because I personally rate him highly. I put him in the first team at the age of 20 and he already has huge experience.
“I don’t want that experience he got when he was very young to be wasted and that is why I gave him the opportunity.”
These comments certainly suggest that Wenger still keeps faith in the 25-year old, however, with the ‘keeper’s poor form over the past season, only making FA Cup appearances in 2015, as well as the signing of the experienced Petr Cech, it could be a make or break season for Szczesny.
Goals are needed from all over the pitch
Finally, Wenger commented on how the whole squad has a responsibility to contribute in the goals department next season. Arsenal struck 71 times in last season’s league campaign, with forwards Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sánchez claiming 30 of those. Wenger has challenged his team to balance a strong defensive performance with a fuller, more varied attack, saying: “We have enough goals in the squad. what we want is some more goals from some players who are not really strikers and that was our strength traditionally. Our offensive and creative players scored 10 to 12 goals, that’s what you need.
“Our target is to improve our number of goals but you as well have examples of teams who have scored 90 or 100 goals and have not won the championship. We want to combine good defensive efficiency with 10 more goals. In the second part of last season we only conceded 13 goals in 19 games. So we want to keep that and add a few more goals. I think we can find that from inside, I am convinced of that. If we can find it from outside then we will do it as well.”
A diverse press conference from the boss going into an important pre-season tournament, covering a lot of topics on the Arsenal faithful’s mind. It will be interesting to see how the correlates with the tournament, and later, the season.
