Wenger: Arsenal still Fab thanks to Ozil and Sanchez
ARSENE WENGER says it would have been illogical to sign Cesc Fabregas last summer — and he has no regrets that he instead spent £35million on Alexis Sanchez.
Fabregas returns to the Emirates today for the first time since his move to Barcelona in 2011.
Wenger turned down the chance to sign the player last summer. Even though Arsenal had negotiated a clause which allowed them the first option to bid for Fabregas, Wenger declined to use it.
And the Arsenal manager has explained that he had no need to sign his former captain, who instead joined today’s opponents and prospective champions Chelsea, because he has the likes of Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
Wenger said: ‘There would be congestion. We don’t only have Sanchez and Ozil but also Jack Wilshere in this position, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey; all offensive players. When you have to spend £35m to £40m and on top of that for a position where you already have players, you have to question what is the logic?
‘When a big player goes from your club, everyone says you have to buy another one with the same qualities. But once he has gone and you have brought another one with the same qualities and then he wants to come back, it is not obvious to spend so much money on a position that is exactly the same. Where does Cesc play today? Behind the striker. Where does Ozil play? Behind the striker.’
And though Arsenal have proved second best this season, Wenger says that the burgeoning partnership between Ozil and Sanchez means he is entirely content with the manner in which he has spent his money.
‘What you want when you invest so much money is to get paid back. When I bought Sanchez I thought he can play on the right, on the left, through the middle,’ said Wenger.
‘Secondly, I wanted someone who has a fighting spirit in the Premier League, to adapt, and to give something to the team on that front. That was needed — someone to say, “Come on, I’m ready for a fight”.
‘Thirdly, a guy who has a good combination of running in behind and who can dribble as well. On all of that, I was not disappointed. I was extremely happy.
‘People questioned Ozil. Many people speak now about Sanchez but in the first part of the season Ozil wasn’t there.
‘In the second part of the season, Ozil has blossomed and is getting to where you want him to be: a player that is the centre of our game and who makes other people play. The real players are those who make the best of the qualities of their partners — Ozil is one like that.’
Wenger also cited the improvement in Olivier Giroud’s game as a reason for optimism at the club. The Frenchman has scored 18 goals in 30 games, with seven coming in Arsenal’s recent run of nine consecutive wins.
Giroud has revealed that the Arsenal coaches told him earlier in the season to be less sentimental, like his Chelsea opponent today, Diego Costa, and Wenger agrees he has risen to the challenge.
‘Olivier has a fantastic body strength,’ said Wenger.
‘Sometimes he became really aggressive when he was challenged and you do not want him to be. I prefer the word commitment to aggressive; he is completely committed.
‘Sometimes he needed to be challenged really physically to become really that animal he can be. But on the other hand, Olivier has improved tremendously technically.
‘You take some pictures of Olivier when he arrived and today he is a different player. If he can combine both … let’s not forget this guy weighs 92 kilos (14 stone). When he walks on your feet, he feels it. He gets knocks and sometimes that is why I rest him as well. He has the kind of game which is linked with his back to goal, so he gets hit a lot. Sometimes that game demands as well more commitment and toughness.
‘What I admire in Olivier is his mental strength as well. When a guy plays at the age of 20 in Division Three in France and gets up again into the national team, there is some mental strength there. ‘It is not easy. We have a few like that. Laurent Koscielny was similar.
‘They have gone through the lower levels and had to look up there and to dream, “If I could get there”, and they make it. Once they get there, they stay there.’