Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his captain Cesc Fabregas may not leave for Barcelona soon but his hardworking centre-back, William Gallas will exit the London club for greener pastures after spending four seasons at the Emirates Stadium.
In an interview by a Kenyan sports commentator posted in the Standard Feverpitch conducted from his hotel lobby in South Africa where he is covering the World Cup for French TV, Wenger also revealed that the club will buy a new goalkeeper after the World Cup.
Wenger with Fabregas | The professor and his star pupil When asked whether Fabregas will leave Arsenal, Wenger replied: “I do not see him leaving soon.”
So, who is likely to leave? “Gallas could be on his way out but we will still wait and see.”
Asked whether he will bring in a new goalkeeper, one of the weakest links in last season’s trophy hunting squad, Wenger said: “Manuel Almunia is a talented goalkeeper. In training, he is superb; the only problem is that he gets nervous in big matches, thereby making silly mistakes. After the World Cup, we will be making an announcement on goalkeeping.”
Wenger, who asked to be referred as “Arsene, not Sir, because I’m a professor, not a Sir,” during the interview, said South Africa has done a great job and exceeded expectations as the World Cup hosts.
“The people are so passionate about the game, stadiums are full, the infrastructure is fantastic and the general organisation is marvellous.”
Wenger admits that there was a problem between the French national team manager and the players, something that affected the team spirit on and off the pitch.
As for England, they had a good manager, but the squad lacked teamwork.
“The team was not united, with the captaincy changing hands so many times before the World Cup. They also never had a plan B.
“It was clearly evident the same team that started went on to play all the matches, apart from just one change in attack. You need to have players for different situations and challenges."
Wenger also thought leaving Theo Walcott out of the England squad was a mistake on the part of coach Fabio Capello.
“Yes, it was a big mistake. Walcott is a player who can change a game upside down in the second half in your favour. He has speed and can cause a lot of problems for the opponents.”
The long-serving Arsenal manager, who has been wowed by Germany young midfielder Mesut Oezil and Mexican Giovanni Dos Santos during this World Cup, believes the Gunners will win a trophy in the coming season.
“This could be the season that we start getting trophies. Another invincible team is coming, if not this season.”
And to follow in the footsteps of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, who is currently holidaying in Kenya, Wenger said he will one day go for a holiday with his family to Kenya, a country more known for producing athletes, though a few footballers are hitting the international stage.
“Yes [I will go to Kenya]. With my family for holiday. Yes, [I know Kenya]. They have very good athletes and recently a Kenyan player [MacDonald Mariga] was signed by Inter and played in the Champions League."
And a final message for Kenyan Arsenal fans? “Keep on supporting Arsenal, another invincible team is on the way.”
