Ahead of an enticing battle with Chelsea on Sunday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has explained some of his thinking in declining to bring Cesc Fabregas back to the Emirates Stadium, which allowed Jose Mourinho to poach the former Arsenal captain.
Much has been made of the suspected reasons behind the £30 million (Dh167.4m) transfer to Stamford Bridge rather than seeing the Spain international head back to the Emirates Stadium instead.
Fabregas has enjoyed a productive season with title-bound Chelsea, but Wenger says he is, “extremely happy” with the club’s summer recruitment of Alexis Sanchez, adding to an already talented attacking pool.
The French manager also noted the playmaking “congestion” at his club and questioned where Fabregas could conceivably fit into his side.
“We don’t only have Sanchez and [Mesut] Ozil, but also [Jack] Wilshere in this position, [Alex Oxlade] Chamberlain, [Aaron] Ramsey, all offensive players,” he said.
“When you have to spend £35m to £40m for a position where you already have players, you have to question what is the logic?”
Wenger added: “When a big player goes from your club, everyone says ‘you have to buy another one with the same qualities’. Once he has gone you have brought another one with the same qualities, he wants to come back and it is not obvious to spend so much on a position that is exactly the same.
“Where does Cesc play today? Behind the striker. Where does Ozil play? Behind the striker.”
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is starting to become a bit of an “animal”, as well, according to Wenger.
The French forward has scored a dozen goals in his last 12 appearances, helping Wenger's side climb back up the Premier League table.
Giroud, who missed three months earlier in the campaign because of a broken leg, felt he needed to be less emotional and add a “killer attitude” to his game, similar to that of Chelsea striker Diego Costa, who has helped fire Mourinho’s side towards the title and could lead the attack against Arsenal.
Wenger believes 6ft 4in France international is now showing just what a powerful, all-round centre-forward he can be.
“Olivier Giroud has a fantastic body strength ... and sometimes he needed to be challenged really physically to become really that animal he can be,” said Wenger.
“He has the kind of game which is linked with his back to goal, protection, so he gets hit a lot, sometimes that game demands as well more commitment and toughness.
“But on the other hand, Olivier Giroud is a player who has improved tremendously technically.
“You take some pictures of Olivier Giroud when he arrived, and today he is a different player: let’s not forget this guys is 92kgs, when he walks on your feet, you feel it.”
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