Nasri insists he can play in a 4-4-2
Add comment May 28th, 2008
Samir Nasri started for France last night in their friendly against Ecuador, and by all accounts gave an impressive performance. Although he has spent much of his time playing in a 4-2-3-1 for Marseille, throughout the ninety minutes yesterday he was deployed both on the left and right flank, from where he drifted into the centre: I suspect that he is where we will see him when he completes his move to Arsenal. Nasri says the position presents few problems for him:
“I ran, it was good. In 4-4-2 that’s how it goes. Playing on the flanks with two attacks allows you freedom to roam. The coach does not ask us to stick to the touchline, we have a lot of liberty in our movements. I can even come and get the ball in the centre.”
Sounds like he won’t have a problem slotting into our system.
The same was not always true of Alex Hleb, who seems set to become the subject of a transfer tug of war between Barcelona and Real Madrid. That can only be a good thing with us, and might push his price up to the €20m mark.
Those are probably the very same clubs we’re trying to keep away from Cesc Fabregas in opening negotiations on a new deal. Hopefully we can sort something out without Cesc’s new agent, Darren Dein, creating a problem.
Oh, and we have signed someone. A physio. Could that be anything to do with Gary Lewin’s possible departure for a full-time role with England, as a few papers have suggested? Wait and see, I guess.
Tomorrow, I debunk the rumour that we might sign Lillian Thuram. Come back for that, it’ll be fun.