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Wenger On Sanchez, Chambers, Campbell, Sanogo & Injuries

By on August 3, 2014

Arsene Wenger has had his say on a number of players after Saturday’s 5-1 win over Benfica in the Emirates Cup.

One of the big talking points after the game was young striker Yaya Sanogo after he netted a sensational four-goal haul. It was certainly an impressive display and the boss feels the 21-year-old has a huge future ahead of him.

He even compared him to Emmanuel Adebayor, saying he has the strength and build of our former striker but also has technical skill. Hopefully now he’s got off the mark the goals will continue to come. I just think he needs to stay fit too as he has a habit of picking up the odd injury.

Another player who impressed was Joel Campbell with the Costa Rican capping off a fine display with a superb volley. It seems he’s left an impression with Arsene as the boss has confirmed the 22-year-old won’t be leaving the club this summer and will stay and fight for a place in the first team.

It looks like the decision to keep hold of Campbell means no new forward will be signed but I’m please he’s staying. He’s got huge potential and if he’s going to make it at Arsenal, let’s just give him the chance now while his confidence is up following a good World Cup.

Alexis Sanchez came on for the final 15 minutes and showed us glimpses of what we can expect from him. The Chilean worked his socks off, scrapped for every ball and almost grabbed an assist. I can’t wait to see more of him. Arsene confirmed he’s still working his way back to full fitness and he’ll play another 45 minutes against Monaco today.

Another summer signing made his debut with Calum Chambers impressing at centre-back. The boss praised the youngsters performance after the game. I though the 1-year-old slotted in seamlessly and looked like he’d been an Arsenal player for years. He looks like another excellent purchase from the club.

Arsene also confirmed that Abou Diaby – who wasn’t in the squad – isn’t injured but wasn’t considered ‘match fit’, while he explained that youngster Gideon Zelalem is also not injured but was simply just unlucky to miss out on the 22-man squad.

Arsene told the clubs website:

on Sanogo’s four goals…

That’s football. It always surprises you.

on Sanogo’s self-belief…

Sanogo was injured for basically two years before he came to us. If you look at his goal scoring record before he got injured, it is quite frightening. For a while when he came back last season, he could not score. You could see when he scored the first goal today, suddenly they came raining. I especially liked the third goal he scored, it was really the goal of a striker of quality. He has a big future here, or course, he is 21. He has something of Adebayor. He is strong, a strong body, similar strengths [to Adebayor], but as well technical skill.

on Sanogo and Cambpell’s potential…

A headache is when they don’t play well. We have some decisions to make when everybody plays well, that’s true. But when everybody plays well that’s what we want. They need to play of course but they need to play here. Sanogo came last year on a free and we worked very hard for six months with him and from January onwards he was slowly getting better. Now that we have worked very hard with him, we want him to stay here.

on Campbell…

Campbell has done very well. I like the way he plays, he’s good on the ball, creative and collectively as well he has a good balance between individual skill and collective attitude – that’s not easy to find.

on whether there has been any offers for Campbell…

No. There is no reason to let him go.

on whether he is available for a loan deal…

No. I want to keep him.

on Alexis…

He is not fit yet, but he has shown through some runs he will be very dangerous. He can play on the flanks and through the middle. [On Sunday] I will certainly play him on the flank for 45 minutes. He is not fit yet, but in one week he should be much better.

on Chambers…

I thought he played very well, was intelligent, good decision-making and calm on the ball, good in the air. He is 19 years old, and what he did is very promising. I told you we will have a core of English players, you have to trust me, I will get you slowly a good national team!

on the injuries…

Diaby was not in the squad, he is just going out to practice, but is not injured. Zelalem has no problem, I could just put 22 on the list.

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