London: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is happy to play Bacary Sagna and Lukasz Fabianski in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Hull City despite uncertainty over their futures, he said on Wednesday. The contracts of France right back Sagna and Poland goalkeeper Fabianski are due to expire shortly and both have rejected new deals from the club, but Wenger has no qualms about selecting them.
On Sagna’s situation, Wenger told a press conference: “I told you many times that it's exactly the same as last week. The ball is in his camp and I cannot influence that.” Asked if he had any concerns about playing the 31-year-old, Wenger replied: “Not at all. I told you many times, for me a professional is to give your best until the last day of your contract.
“That’s for me the real professional. I don’t doubt his integrity, his desire to win and his commitment at all,” Wenger added. Fabianski has played in the cup competitions for Arsenal this season, with countryman Wojciech Szczesny the first-choice goalkeeper for league and Champions League matches. Despite reports that he, too, could leave the club during the close season, Wenger again dismissed suggestions that it would affect his focus.
“Honestly, I have always acted like that because it would basically mean the guys are not professional. “I have done that with Samir Nasri, with Robin van Persie, with everyone when I knew they left or had a good chance to leave. I always played them. If they deserve to play, they play,” Wenger added. Wenger reiterated his stance that Jack Wilshere will be fully fit to take part in the World Cup with England, having been included in national coach Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad on Monday.
The 22-year-old made his comeback from a fractured foot in Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Norwich City, having been on the sidelines since March. However, Wenger was evasive when asked if Wilshere would feature against Hull and revealed that his England colleague Alex Oxlade Chamberlain is also a doubt for the game due to a groin complaint.
