ARSENE Wenger rubbed salt into Chelseas wounds yesterday by
revealing he picked up their France midfielder Lassanna Diarra for
just £2m.
Arsenal never disclose fees paid for players, but Wenger couldnt
resist confirming the bargain price of Diarra, 22.
Diarra was man of the match, controlling central midfield, as
Wengers young Gunners beat a near full-strength Newcastle 2-0 in
the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
Wenger said: He is a ready-made player. He is ready to play at
that level without any problem.
We got him and I must say it was for a lot less than the number in
the papers just £2m
Diarra made just 21 starts in two years at Stamford Bridge after
joining from French minnows Le Havre, where he was spotted by
Chelseas then chief scout Gwyn Williams.
Its understood he was frustrated at finding himself behind John
Obi Mikel who cost Chelsea £16m and made it clear he wanted a
move.
With the Blues also paying £24.5m for Michael Essien, the fee the
Gunners paid for Diarra, who had this season and next left on his
Chelsea deal, looks like peanuts.
Diarra made his full debut for France in a Euro 2008 qualifier in
Lithuania in March and now has five caps.
He was initially talked up at Chelsea as a successor to Claude
Makelele. But now his emergence could have an impact on the
prospects of Brazil star Gilberto.
Yesterday, Arsenals 30-year-old told Starsport he wanted to sort
out his long-term future at the end of the season.
He said: After this year I have one more year left on my contract
and we will see if I can sort it out, like we did the last time my
contract was down to its last 12 months.
I have always said I want to stay at the club. The Brazil skipper
also admitted last month he was upset at not being told personally
by Arsene Wenger he was losing the clubs captaincy to William
Gallas, finding out instead on the internet.
dint know he was the motm for the
carling cup match agaisnt the magpies! woah.
