Wenger challenges dropped duo
(GSM) – Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has challenged Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri to use their World Cup heartache as a spring for improved performances for next season.
The Gunners duo had been strongly tipped to travel with their respective nations to this summer’s finals in South Africa.
But Walcott missed out on England’s final 23 while Nasri didn’t even make the provisional squad named by France coach Raymond Domenech.
Wenger admitted his shock at seeing his attacking midfielders miss out but reminded the young pair that all great players have to overcome adversity at some stage during their career.
“It’s disappointing but I hope they can transform that in the future of their career into even higher motivation, and come back with even more desire to show how good they are,” said Wenger.
“That’s the only way we have in our job, and we forget many times that in this job you need to be strong mentally.
“There’s no big career without big disappointment, but it was a massive surprise, I must say.”
Wenger has been in touch with Nasri and Walcott since hearing their fate, and admitted the news was tough for both he and them to take.
“It was two massive disappointments for the players, of course, first,” he said.
“And for me, I must say it was hugely surprising on both occasions.
“I had contact with them after that and it is something that is very difficult to swallow, to be just out of the World Cup when you had a 90 per cent chance to be in.”