Wenger calls on Reyes to show strength and stay loyal

ARSENE WENGER has challenged Jose Antonio Reyes to show inner strength to resist the temptation of giving up on his Arsenal career and returning to Spain after just a year at the club.

Reyes admitted in a radio interview, when he was duped into believing he was talking to Real Madrid sporting director Emilio Butragueno, that he dreamed of moving to the Spanish club. Wenger insisted Reyes, who is understood to be homesick, would have to demand a move as he has no intention of selling him and he backed him to come through this test of character.

“We signed Reyes as a 20-year-old and we have gone for the challenge of making him into one of the big players. This doesn’t change my determination to see that through,” said Wenger.

Reyes has been angered by the underhand tactics of Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, while it is also understood he did not use the phrase “bad people” to describe his Arsenal team-mates.

However, there was little question of his desire to return to Spain as he had admitted: “I wish I was playing for Real Madrid. It has always been my dream since I was little to play there.”

Having realised he had been caught out, Reyes released a statement through Arsenal, pledging his commitment to the club.

Wenger meanwhile, revealed he has still not asked Ashley Cole whether he illegally met Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho - as he already knows the truth.

He is now relying on the Premier League to get to the bottom of the controversy.

Meanwhile, Sol Campbell is set to be ruled out of Arsenal’s Champions League tie away to Bayern Munich on February 22.

Campbell is definitely out of Monday’s game with Crystal Palace and the fifth-round FA Cup tie the following weekend and looks extremely doubtful for the Bayern game.