Forget Fabregas speculation, Wenger tells Gunners

Arsene Wenger has told his Arsenal stars to ignore the transfer speculation swirling around the club and concentrate on giving their all during a month that will define their season.

Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas, who returns from three months out injured against Manchester City on Saturday, is widely expected to attract big-money bids from both Barcelona and Real Madrid this summer.

And the Spanish midfielder’s decision on his future could affect Arsenal’s chances of holding on to other top assets, such as Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor.

Wenger is well aware of all the speculation and is determined to ensure it does not prove a distraction as he prepares for crucial matches in the league, Champions League and FA Cup.

“Our success depends on how well we focus on short-term and how intelligent we are to rule out all the long-term speculation,” the Arsenal manager said.

“We have answered that question (on Fabregas) for five years now. What is important is that a player like Cesc can come back into the squad and help us be successful.

“What is important for us is not who stays in July or who goes, it is how much we focus on the next game. It is how well we deal with that kind of thing inside the club; that is more important than what people say.

“Any distraction would be a weakness from our side and a wrong excuse. We do not want that. We cannot influence what people say, or write or think. We can influence how much success we can achieve together.”

Adebayor is ready to return to action following a hamstring problem but van Persie, Eduardo, Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri are set to sit out the City clash as a result of minor injuries or, in Nasri’s case, illness.

Arsenal will have a point to prove against Mark Hughes’s side: the Gunners have not lost in over 16 Premier League matches since they went down 3-0 at Eastlands in late November.

“We have put ourselves in a very strong position because of the hard work we have done now,” Wenger said. “But it is the final part of the season where every single game becomes massively important, nearly a decider.

“We have to do as well as we can, and after you can accept every verdict.”