Wenger in further plea to want-away stars

Arsene Wenger has challenged want-away captain Cesc Fabregas and contract rebel Samir Nasri to nail their colours to the Arsenal mast and drive the club on to long-overdue success next season.

Fabregas will play no part in this weekend’s Emirates Cup – which features a game against New York Red Bulls and former skipper Thierry Henry – as constant rumours over his future and recovery from a troublesome hamstring have, according to Wenger, left the midfielder “unsettled”, with Barcelona looking to bring the World Cup winner back to the Nou Camp.

Nasri, meanwhile, has yet to pen a new deal.

Wenger remains as defiant as ever his young squad can finally deliver in 2011/2012, despite having collapsed so spectacularly over the closing weeks of last season.

“The players have worked very hard, are determined and the competition is a high level,” said Wenger in last night’s news conference at Emirates Stadium.

“We analysed it all again and you look at all the performance indexes from last season you will see we were very close. That is why my desire is so big to keep the whole squad together.

“I talked about Fabregas and Nasri because I feel a good response would be to say ’OK, we missed it last year. Let’s show that we can do it together, with maybe one or two more players’.

“That is what we come to expect from champions.”

This time last year, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was third choice.

Now the young pole, whose mix-up with centre-back Laurent Koscielny cost Arsenal the Carling Cup at Wembley, has his eyes on the jersey full-time.

“I enjoyed my spell last season and I want to do my best to convince the boss that I should be number one,” Szczesny said.

“We are all friends – all the players at the club are all friends – but at the same time, we want the same spot.”

With midfielder Abou Diaby set for 10 weeks on the sidelines after ankle surgery, Wenger could well keep hold of Henri Lansbury, who had looked set for a £2m move to Norwich, where he spent a successful loan spell last season.

“I believe he will make a career and at the moment it is a bit congested for him, but I believe he has the talent to play for Arsenal,” Wenger said.

The Gunners are expected to close out deals for Valencia midfielder Juan Mata, Everton’s England centre-back Phil Jagielka and promising young Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell ahead of the transfer deadline.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner is on the verge of a £9m move to Sporting Lisbon, while Emmanuel Eboue is reported to be ready to join Galatasaray.