Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Nasri: Chamakh won't flop at Arsenal

Samir Nasri, is excited at the prospect of playing alongside Marouane Chamakh next season.

The 22-year-old Frenchman believes the 26-year-old forward whose club [Bordeaux] went into the winter break eight points ahead of their nearest Ligue 1 rival, but who are now trailing leaders Marseille by nine points coming into week 33 of the French League has what it takes to become an instant hit at Arsenal.

Nasri said: "It would be a great signing for us. He is a player that I really like.

"Chamakh plays for the team, gives everything and works very hard.

"He has a big potential and would fit perfectly in our team," the Gunner asserted.

Nasri, also lashed out at critics who have made it a point of duty to contest whatever decision taken by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. He stated in unequivocal terms, that their contribution to the success of the club is been relegated to the background by a large number of soccer unbelievers who are fed up with Wenger's experimental method: "It is amazing. The work we do is not getting the credit it deserves because we are not winning silverware," he told Arsenal's official magazine.

"It is unfair because I think we have more merit as a club than those who have built their teams with millions of pounds whereas Arsenal have brought in young footballers, who have come here to play a certain kind of football and who have developed."

After last week's charade at the DW Stadium against Wigan Athletic, Arsene Wenger said his crop of young players were not mature enough to handle the rigours associated with the Barclays Premier League, but Nasri thinks otherwise: "This season has proved that we have learnt so much," he declared.

"I am hoping that our squad will stay unchanged because we are really good and with a year more experience, we can achieve some great things next season."

Nasri blamed our misfortune at the injuries that have plagued the team this term and believes it is an achievement to be where we are inspite of the many drawbacks the team has faced: "Injuries happen and it is part of football, but I think if we had not had those injuries, we would be top of the Premier League and still in the Champions League," the Frenchman enthused.

"Apart from Arsenal, I do not know a team playing without five of its key players in the quarter final of the Champions League like we did against Barcelona and to be in such a high position in the League," he concluded.