Wenger – I don’t regret missing out on Suarez
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that he does not regret missing out on Luis Suarez.
The Gunners activated a clause in the Uruguayan’s contract, which meant that if they paid £40m plus £1, they would be allowed to hold talks with the then-Liverpool striker.
However, the talks did not materialise in 2013 and Suarez instead moved to La Liga giants Barcelona, where he later won a treble and has become arguably the best and most potent centre forward in world football.
As reported by the Independent, Wenger, however, dismissed any talk that he is disappointed by missing out on the Barca man.
Not now.
It happened to me before but not now.
Camaraderie – I believe Suarez gives that to a team.
He did it at Liverpool, he did it playing with Uruguay with [Edinson] Cavani and [Diego] Forlan and did it well. Suarez is the kind of guy who manages to create that spirit in teams. I believe that apart from the individual talent the three [Barcelona forwards, Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar] have, they have a good understanding and cohesion. They have a great solidarity.
I have seen that Cristiano Ronaldo said that Messi passed the ball to Suarez at a penalty last week because he wanted him to be the top goalscorer. When you see someone like Messi give the ball to Suarez when he had the opportunity to score his 300th goal, that means there’s really something in there.
Wenger then claimed that Alexis Sanchez, who was introduced as a substitute in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw against Hull City on Saturday afternoon, would be ready for the visit of his ex-club.
I don’t think he was completely ready to come on [against Hull] but he grows with the game. He has a game based on risk and so when he’s not completely, completely highly tuned in it becomes dangerous. Don’t worry about Tuesday; he’ll be tuned in.
The Gunners face Barcelona on Tuesday evening, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Suarez himself expected to lead the attack for the visitors.