The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is determined to keep Samir Nasri at the Emirates for next season, whether the French International signs a new contract or not!

He said yesterday when he arrived in Malaysia (with Nasri) for the clubs pre-season tour. “I expect Samir Nasri to stay,”

“There is always speculation, but he is committed to the club right now.”

”Will he be at the club next season? I say yes. The second part of the question – will he sign a new contract? I hope yes, but I am not the only one to decide.”

But today he is even more certain that he will allow Nasri to run down his contract rather than sell him this summer. “Samir’s situation is clear – he stays,”


He was then asked if was happy to lose the £20m by letting him go for free next summer and he replied: “You are the same people who reproach me for not spending money and now you reproach me for wanting to spend it. It is in the interests of the club.

“Even if you lose Nasri, to find the same quality player, you have to spend again the same amount of money.”

But surely if you spend £20m on a replacement, then at least you have a player you can sell-on in a few years. If you keep Nasri, you have nothing to sell……