Samir Nasri is a bit like a former school friend. You keep seeing him around, and wondering where his life went wrong, and occasionally he’ll pipe up and talk to you, like nothing has changed, and you’re forced to endure a series of boring  media quotes. Because that definitely happens with former school friends.

So good I decided to leave

The latest soundbite the Frenchman has to offer about Arsenal (since he rang Arsene Wenger begging to come back), is that Arsene Wenger is “the greatest coach I ever worked with” and he did not choose to leave Arsenal because of him. He’s on record as saying he wouldn’t be the player he is today without Wenger’s guidance.

On that note, he then decided to stir things by claiming Stan Kroenke forced his departure to Manchester City:

“Wenger told me that, if Fabregas left, I would stay but Kroenke wanted the money. The coach told me we’ll only take Gervinho, Cesc was already gone, I had only one year left so I decided to leave.”

He added:

“I don’t regret leaving Arsenal. I won the league while Arsenal have difficulty finishing fourth.”

Charming stuff there. On paper, it looks worrying, that Kroenke would put money over possible on-pitch improvement, but it’s worth pointing out that Nasri was refusing to sign a new contract and would have left for free the next summer. Adding that to his poor form at the time, and getting £24 million for him is a masterstroke.

Goodbye Johan

In a rare event for an unwanted Arsenal player going on loan, Johan Djourou has expressed a desire to stay at Hannover 96, the German club he’s playing at until the end of the season. There is no option to buy in his loan deal, but both he and the club are keen for him to make the transfer permanent.

Johan said:

“it would be fantastic if the clubs could agree on a deal.

I have been granted the chance to play here and I am getting better and better and slowly finding my old form.”

Djourou’s issue always was confidence, and not being able to play regularly, though when he did he impressed. So a move for around $4m, the mooted figure, is probably best for him. Chances are we won’t be able to agree anything and he’ll come back, knowing our luck.

HE RETURNS

King of the sideways pass. Master of indecision. Unfairly maligned. Denilson returns to Arsenal this summer, my children. Rejoice.

The Brazilian has spent two seasons at Sao Paolo in his native country, with an attempt to sell him there last summer failing due to a disagreement over a fee. Now it looks like the negotiations are over already, and Sao Paolo aren’t willing to keep him for another year on loan.

So it’s back to London he comes. I imagine he’ll receive the Kyle Bartley treatment: Be added to the first team squad, play a few pre-season games, then be offloaded if he doesn’t impress. In all honesty, he isn’t awful. While not a defensive midfielder as hoped, he’s tidy and would add depth to the midfield, though it’s players like him Arsenal have in abundance.

Chances are he’ll move on, though.

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