Arsene Wenger has delivered a warning to disgruntled midfielder
Lassana Diarra that he would be making a big mistake to walk out of
Arsenal's 'paradise'.
Diarra complained after he was omitted from the 16 to play Chelsea
on December 16 and told a French newspaper how he had been a victim
of broken promises and was ready to leave the club he joined only
four months ago.
The 22-year-old, who pushed for a move from Chelsea in the summer,
has started only four games in the Barclays Premier League since
his £2million transfer across London but has been told to grow up
and fight for his place like a man.
"We are not in a kindergarten here," said Wenger. "We are in a job
for men. You cannot be at our level, one of the biggest clubs in
the world, paid at a fantastic level and have no competition.
"Tell me one club of our size in the world who give a chance to the
young players like we do. There are none. At our club young players
are in paradise. Normally you wait until 26 or 27 to get a chance
in a big club. You go to Real Madrid, you go to Milan, where do the
young players play?"
Despite this policy, there is a growing list of unhappy players at
the Emirates Stadium, led by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who will be
allowed to leave next month.
Gilberto Silva and Abou Diaby are also dissatisfied with their
roles on the fringes.
Wenger added: "I cannot understand when people are surprised there
is competition in a big club. You leave one big club for another
and you have another manager who, at the end of the week, will
choose 11 players. Fifteen will have to deal with the situation of
not being played. Why does that raise questions? It is part of our
job.
"If you have a period for two or three months with the team doing
well and you have a player doing well in front of you, that's bad
luck.
"It is a job for strong people and those who stay strong always
come out. When they are at a club lower in the League they want to
join a bigger club. You cannot have everything."
Diarra is in the squad for today's game at Everton and Wenger
insists his attitude has been "100 per cent professional" in
training.
He has attracted interest from Lyon and Paris St-Germain but may
want to discuss his situation with Mathieu Flamini before deciding
his future.
Flamini was seeking a transfer 12 months ago, speaking in the
French media about his unhappiness, but was eventually persuaded to
stay and has become a mainstay of Arsenal's midfield this
season.
Wenger said: "Diarra has the talent to be in a big club. That's
where his place is. It's as simple as that. He wants to play, he's
unhappy not to play. I can understand that. But you have to assess
yourself and stay where you belong. He belongs to a big club. For
the moment he doesn't play but if he continues to fight he will
play.
"When you sign a contract, no one puts a gun to your head. Nobody
forced me to sign. I'm 58, I never went to see somebody after I
signed to say: 'I'm having a difficult patch at the moment, I want
to go'."
Lehmann's position is totally different. At 38, he will not be
expected to fight for his place. Borussia Dortmund are interested
and the Germany international will be allowed to make up his own
mind.
