Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves reckons Samir Nasri is now more important to the Gunners than Captain Cesc Fabregas, and seems to issue a good argument to back his case.
Groves recently told talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Goldstein:
‘I actually think he’s more important now than Cesc Fabregas for Arsenal’s future.’
‘Samir Nasri was brilliant at the start of the season when him and Jack Wilshere were the two main players. I think he had 10 or 11 goals before Christmas, and then when Cesc Fabregas came back in the team he played him left of the three or right of the three and he wasn’t as influential.’
A very valid point from Perry Groves – Samir Nasri was in fantastic form, and I think because we built the team around Cesc Fabregas, we were blind to see just how well we played without him in the side.
I am aware that a lot of fans (including myself) have felt let down by Nasri in the last couple of weeks due to his comments. However, there is no denying that this season the 23-year-old Frenchman has been in great form, and honestly, I believe he has become a Fabregas type figure at Arsenal.
Groves has a very clear view on what Arsenal should do this summer, and how the club should spend their transfer funds:
‘If Cesc wants to go to Barcelona because he has that calling and he’s not 100 per cent committed, as long as Arsenal get the right money for him, whether it’s £40m or £50m they can then go and buy the centre-half and the combative midfield player they need.’
I have to say that I completely agree with Perry Groves.
In my opinion, the Fabregas saga will only get worse, but maybe we can still salvage the Nasri situation before it gets out of hand.
Is Groves right – Is Nasri now more important to Arsenal than Fabregas?
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Nasri is great no doubt but what cesc did at the age of 19-24, even nasri has not done in his best season.
Yes i think cesc should go cause i dont want a player who wants to play for barca. same with nasri. As long as wenger buys the replacements and strenghtens the team we can still beat the best of the best…talent can only take you soo far…the rest is the will and determination to succeed
I personally think Cesc is a much better player then Nasri. I would be more upset if Fabregas left then Nasri. I know Fabregas is leaving and wish him the best of luck.
Nasri, I hope he stays as he could fill Fabregas’ position but if we goes then so be it.
WE HAVE LOST PLAYERS AND STILL SURVIVED!
lets leave Nasri nd sell cesc bcos if Nasri sign we can still keep him 4anoda few years but on cesc is mind is no more with us,moreso i dont see wat Yaya toure nd co is playing that they are earning more than Nasri….if need bn lets brake the bank nd give him much to stay,is gooner be a better player next season aswell….plsssssssssssssss mr Arsene.
LOL No he is not right, Cesc>>>>>Nasri every day of the week without any hesitation. It sounds to me that Groves wants to have another dig at Cesc over the little argument earlier in the season. I’m sick of ex-players talking to Talksh*t and stirring up unnecessary problems.
Also people question Cesc’s commitment all the time yet he is the player who is the longest at the club along with Clichy while Samir Nasri after performing for 3mths of his 3 yr stint at Arsenal is demanding pay parity with the Captain. Thats one loyal servant right there.
It is simple if Wenger wants his stars to stay he needs to bring in comparable players. Not cheap signings, but quality ones, other wise it will be more of the same next year. Someone, maybe the new owner needs to tell Wenger we will bring in quality a Cahill, a Samab,as we have no depth at the back. They need to sell Bendtner, and find another striker who can finish.
@Gavin ….stop being a fanboy of Cesc and start looking at the bigger picture.
Firstly there is no more loyalty in football. Face it square in the eyes or go home.
Football is a world of money and trophies. Wenger still needs to get the memo on this.
Whilst fans value what Cesc did for the club, the skills he has…these count for nothing if he’s half-arsing it on the pitch and thinking of Barcelona when he should be thinking of scoring goals for Arsenal. Nasri looked way more determined to win.
We’ve spent years trying to build a team around Cesc…has it worked? NO. It destroyed the developement of players. Eduardo didnt leave because of his leg..he left because HE IS NOT A WINGER and was forced to play on the wing because Wenger wanted it to be “The Fabregas Show”. Bendtner had to play on the frikkin wing so we could accomodate Cesc. When Bendtner came on the stage he was a frikkin poacher of note and really had something going. Till we pushed him to the wing. Strikers dont develope on the wing.
As an individual player, Cesc is awesome. But his time is over in his head and he needs to go. Nasri is a money grabber…yes..but a money grabber that’s WORTH it. He will bring us trophies because he also loves trophies. We have more of a future with Nasri than with Cesc.
Nasri also made it loud and clear that he wants to see Arsenal sign some decent players before committing. That’s his right because obviously he senses Cesc leaving soon and he wants to play amongst some decent players and not babies or youth development graduates.
Let’s get serious and stop dreaming. The loyal footballer is scarce! So work within the syste we have. Sell Cesc for 40mil…sell Bendtner and Denilson and let go of Rosicky and Almuninia..both who suck us dry with their medical bills. Suddenly an extra 20 000 pounds per week isnt that much!
Nasri has given 3mths in the past 3 years and you think he is determined to win for Arsenal, Is that why he is flirting with United now? Maybe you can tell me where he went hiding after January because I sure didnt see him helping when the chips were down.
Say what you like about Cesc but he has alot more respect for Arsenal FC than Samir Nasri. Even if Cesc is sold the formation will stay the same we will just move an inferior player into the role.And if you think that will win us trophys I feel sorry for you.
And as for Cesc destroying the development of Bendtner and Eduardo, well thats just laughable.
Nasri is not as good as he thinks he is,and he is certainly not an important player to Arsenal.People excuse his poor form in the second half of the Season for varying reasons.I do not share their views,when the ‘Going Got Tough’Nasri didn’t turn up.As far as i am concerned he does not have any Backbone,and he has the heart of a Carraway Seed(to quote Bill Shankly).I have always considered him as the French Hleb.He has been disloyal and disrespectful to our Great Club,sell him to anybody who is foolish enough to buy him,and good riddance to bad rubbish.If anybody else in the squad does not want to sign new contracts,then get rid of them,bring in new players,who have a Spine in their back,not a Yellow Streak.Something Arsenal should get for next season is S.A.F.’s Hairdryer,can you imagine him putting up with his players constantly whinging in the Press.A.W.should treat his Players like the overgrown Schoolboys most of them are,instead of ‘Intelligent Players’.Look where that attitude has got Wegner,habitually let down by Players he has been overly loyal to.The most sucessful Managers are the ones who are ruthlessly tough,it does not matter if their ‘Feelings’are bruised,they are being massively overpayed for ‘P
i think wenger must really try hard to keep both of them at arsenal coz they are now moulded the arsenal way….changing two of ur most influential midfield players can really put u in a big big trouble…i wouldnt comment on wether nasri is more needed as compared to fabregas….but if both of them leave, it would be yet another disappointing season for arsenal…yes bring in younsters but mould them the way ramsey and wilshere are being done….play with seniors, learn from them, but u dont have anything to lose, so give in that raw spirit and young burst!!! i m a die hard arsenal fan…and m really hoping for that trophy drought to end!!! go wenger, surely bring in a strong centerback(preferably samba/mertesacker/cahill), one 20-goal a season striker(benzema/higuain) and one winger to learn new tricks(hazard) and if possible pls bring in Gourcuff as a replacement for cesc who will absolutely leave in a couple of seasons!!!
Footballers are generally over rated. Generally speaking, what is Nasri contribution to Arsenal this season compared to that of Vampersie? We need loyal players like Vampersie and Wilshere in the team. Riberry I think is the answer to Arsenal’s problem. Sell Nasri,brent, Delison and Ebue and get Samba/Cahill, Riberri/Totti(Newcastle) and possibly Hazard. Despite Fabregas injury this season, he has been a fantastic player with some of his killer passes. He has no mate. What we need is additional player to complement him. After this season, the new players and even Ramsey can take his place. We need him now like never before. Can someone tell me Nasri contributed positively more than Wishere who vowed to fight for his place? No player is bigger than the club. Lille manager has already agreed to let one of his player go. All Arsene needs is to break the Bank and do the needful. We lost against Bolton simply because of Nasri. He had 3 different chances and he lost them. Enough is enough.