Nasri leads French influx but Aquilani snubs Arsenal

Premiership

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Arsenal were close to making their first summer signing yesterday, the Marseilles midfielder Samir Nasri. The 20-year-old was reported to be in London for a medical and ready to agree terms on a four-year deal worth €15m (£12m) to the French side. Nasri, who can play on either wing, joined Marseilles as a nine-year-old and made his league debut during the 2004-2005 season.

Last season he won the French first division's young player of the year crown and was voted Marseilles' player of the year by fans. The signing of Nasri could be the first of three French arrivals in the Gunners squad, with PSG midfielder Clément Chantôme and Under-17 international Francis Coquelin also reported to be on Wenger's summer shopping list.

One player, though, who will not be going to Emirates Stadium or anywhere else is Roma's Alberto Aquilani. The 23-year-old insists speculation linking him with a transfer away from the Serie A side is wide of the mark.

"I can only say that I am flattered," he said. "I have a deal with Roma until 2010. According to speculation I have already gone to two of the three mentioned sides. I am part of Roma and the other sides do not matter. Talk of a move makes no sense."

Manuel Almunia, meanwhile, insists "there can be no excuses" if Arsenal fail to last the entire course in the title race next season. As the Gunners were looking to the future with the pursuit of Nasri, both rivals Manchester United and Chelsea were going head-to-head in last night's Champions League final in Moscow.

Although Arsène Wenger's young side finished only four points off eventual Premier League winners United, losing just three games in total, their challenge effectively came to an end in mid-April following a run of four straight draws and defeats at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford.

That spell of inconsistent form – which also saw European hopes extinguished by Liverpool – meant successive victories in the final four games counted for little other than to restore wounded pride.

However, goalkeeper Almunia maintains Arsenal must learn from the mistakes which saw their lead at the top of the table quickly eroded and also ended ambitions of reaching tonight's European Cup final in Moscow.

"The season may not have ended very well for us, but this was the year to push us for better things," Almunia said. "Next season there can be no excuses not to fight for the Premier League until the end of the season.

"We need to be at the top for the whole season, not only at the beginning or the middle – and that is in all competitions as well."

Despite the disappointment of ending the campaign empty-handed, Almunia can take credit for making the Arsenal keeper's jersey his own ahead of veteran German Jens Lehmann.

However, the 31-year-old – signed from Celta Vigo in 2004 – is not taking his place as No 1 for granted. "I do not look too far ahead, just to the next game," said Almunia. "If you expect to play many games you can twist your ankle, your wrist in training, and everything is finished. All of your expectations are gone."

Despite his consistent displays for the Gunners, as yet Almunia has not earned international recognition ahead of Euro 2008. With Spain captain Iker Casillas of Real Madrid and Liverpool's Jose Reina ahead of him in the current pecking order, the Arsenal 'keeper does not expect to have to rearrange his plans for a well-earned summer break.

"Many people say I deserve to be in the squad, but at the moment there are many good goalkeepers in Spain. The coach is not worried about goalkeepers," said Almunia, who could eventually qualify for the England national team through residency. "Now I will look forward to my holidays with my wife, and will enjoy the Euros watching on TV while having a nice dinner."