ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP:ARSENAL MANAGER Arsene Wenger has placed a freeze on any contract talks, which he partly blamed for causing them to falter in the title race two seasons ago.
Tomorrow Arsenal travel to Birmingham City for the first time since Eduardo da Silva suffered a horrific leg injury in a 2-2 draw, a result perceived to have derailed their challenge in 2008.
Yet Wenger denied this, citing “heavier ingredients” for the loss of momentum. Alexander Hleb and Matthieu Flamini were contemplating futures they ultimately decided lay away from the Emirates, while Emmanuel Adebayor also prevaricated over staying at the club.
Wenger said: “We did not deal well with that particular incident on the day, with the situation we faced. (But) I do not think on that particular day we lost the championship at Birmingham. There were much heavier ingredients, like some players not completely focused.”
Sol Campbell, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre have deals that require renewing, and Wenger was asked if there was now a freeze on contract talks.
“We focus on the games. We play Birmingham, Barcelona, Wolves, Barcelona and Tottenham. It is a crucial stage for us.”
He said of Campbell, Gallas and Silvestre: “They are all focused because they are at an age where they know they have to deal with that. So that it is not the same as when you have a player of 23 or 24.”
Gallas is unavailable for tomorrow, alongside Arsenal’s long-term absentee Robin van Persie.
On Van Persie’s potential comeback from his ankle injury, Wenger said: “He’s expected to return but don’t expect miracles when a guy has been out for such a long time.
“We are happy to have him back and he is physically, fitness-wise, in a good shape.
“So we have just to get him back to full team fitness.”
Guardian Service
