Wenger won´t rule out selling stars to rivals

Arsene Wenger admits he would consider selling star players including Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor to Arsenal’s Premier League rivals if the price is right.

Adebayor has endured a difficult season after failing to recapture last season’s form and hinting he would be ready to leave Arsenal if a top club came in for him.

Many Arsenal fans feel Adebayor only stayed at the Emirates Stadium because he couldn’t get a better offer and the out-spoken forward has been jeered by his own supporters several times this season.

Chelsea are the latest club to show interest in Adebayor and Wenger, speaking at a fans’ forum on Thursday, conceded he would sell any player if he felt it would improve the team.

“I don’t want to go especially into any individual assessment of who we want to keep and who not, at the moment, and normally Adebayor is part of our plans for the future,” he said.

“If I feel that a player should go, or could go, why not sell him to one of the other top four?

“Yes, of course, it’s unusual, but we sold Ashley Cole to Chelsea and we bought William Gallas (from Chelsea) so you can never say I never do it because I’ve already done it.”

Adebayor’s lacklustre displays in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United caused fans to boo him during Sunday’s defeat against Chelsea and Wenger knows the negative comments have taken their toll.

“I believe he has been disturbed by bad feelings from the fans because he was close to leaving and it unsettled him a little bit,” he continued.

“He had a big injury but in training he looks very, very sharp and is coming back to his best.”

Wenger hit back at those fans who claim Adebayor encapsulates the team’s lack of heart to come-back when they are struggling.

“It is easy to sit in the stand and say that they are not up for the fight,” Wenger said. “What they have done in this season in a negative environment shows what they can do.

“There is a massive difference between the away fans, who are absolutely fantastic, and the home ones. It is always that negative way of thinking, that the players do not care.

If we do not get there next year playing in this style then I am responsible and will stand up for it. But what this team needs is people who are fans of the club.”

Although Arsenal have now gone four seasons without a trophy and never threatened to challenge for the Premier League this season, Wenger mounted a staunch defence of his policy of blooding young players instead of signing more experienced stars.

“I believe every manager has the same problem, to manage within his own resources,” Wenger said.

“I look now like I do not want to spend money, but I have nothing against spending money.

“I just feel we have a team who can be very competitive and we want, as always, to manage this club within its resources. I will do that.

“If you want me to get the club bust, I am not the person to do that, that is for sure.”