WE’RE GUNNER BE UP FOR IT
Nando’s crocked
contract issue as “ideal” on Sunday, said: “Pre-season tours are a necessary evil for clubs. “That’s part of the modern game and we adapt physically to it. “We travel in good conditions. Why don’t I put a stop to it? Because I’m sensible. And because I respect we sign big contracts with our sponsors and we adapt. “It shouldn’t be used as an excuse for any bad result. We travel like everyone and we have no disadvantage because Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United – everyone does it. We are on even ground with everybody. “We had a very good record as long as we didn’t travel. We always won our first games. Since we travelled we struggled a bit more. “We are in the same line as every other team. Everybody travels. Look at the international games in Asia or in the States, it’s the big teams that play against each other. “Only the smaller clubs have the luxury to prepare at home.” Arsenal face Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday with Sanchez, Shkodran Mustafi, Kieran Gibbs, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere all set to miss out. They then kick off their league campaign at home to Leicester just five days later. Wenger said: “I’m sure we will have done the needed work. Last year we went into the season with some players having a deficit in minutes played. “We had only two or three players who had the number of games after the European Championship. We have more players ready to go into the competition. “We have had tougher games as well so we should be ready.” I’M KEEN: Arsene Wenger is upbeat ® SWANSEA striker Fernando Llorente will miss the start of the Premier League season with a broken arm.
The Spanish ace, 32, suffered the fracture in a cycling accident while he was on holiday during the summer break and is set to miss the opening two games.
The Welsh club start their season at Southampton on August 12 before hosting Manchester United the following weekend.
Boss Paul Clement said: “Fernando’s rehabilitating individually – he has not joined in training yet.
“But assuming all goes well, we anticipate that happening in 10 days.
“I think it is unlikely he will be involved in the first couple of games but his return will not be long after that.
“The most important thing is that we get the arm right.
“You don’t want him to refracture it and then end up with Fernando needing surgery because a six-week injury can then become a six-month injury.”
Spain international Llorente was Swansea’s top scorer last season with 15 goals following his £5m move from Sevilla.