Winterburn: We usually only sell players we don't need

Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn admits that Arsenal have been a selling club for a while now, but only with the players that manager Arsène Wenger deems surplus to requirements.

The left-back's insight comes after comments over the weekend from Wenger which surprisingly stated that the Gunners needed to sell every season to recoup at least £24 million to service the debt for the new stadium.

He also agreed that the wage structure within the club was necessary, in response to demands from players such as Emmanuel Adebayor who is rumoured to be seeking a monumental pay increase.

Winterburn says that the club's top scorer has not proven himself consistently yet. The club's wage structure has also resulted in midfielder Mathieu Flamini leaving, as Italian club Milan were simply offering more money.

Winterburn told Sky Sports News: "It's not great news before the start of a new season because you don't want some of your top players moaning about each other.

"Hleb is now looking to move and move quickly and the criticism of Fabregas and Wenger should obviously help him on his way.

"The inevitable will now happen and I think he'll end up at his chosen destination, which is Barcelona.

"I think Arsenal have always been a selling club. But usually they are a selling club with the players that Arsène Wenger wants to get rid of.

"What you have to realise is that Wenger doesn't like confrontation. He likes a happy ship and if a player is unhappy and does want to leave the club then usually he will let him go.

"What Wenger does well is he lets players go just after their peak or have maybe been carrying an injury - look at the Patrick Vieira situation a couple of seasons ago or Thierry Henry, who we're still waiting to see if he can reproduce his best form for Barcelona.

"I think we've got a slightly different scenario this time because we've got players wanting to leave who are not yet at their peak. If those players do leave it would be interesting to see how they get on.

"I would think Wenger is very annoyed that they're not staying loyal to him. But players have got so much power now and can buy their way out of contracts so clubs can't afford to leave them in the reserves with the transfer fees they can get.

"There's a lot of power in the players now and it's shifting away from the club.

"Adebayor's saying he's replaced Thierry Henry, but Henry was a terrific player for the club and helped Arsenal to win trophies.

"Adebayor has had one good season and is entitled to a rise, but is he entitled to a rise up to between £100,000 and £120,000, which is being quoted?

"If that's the sort of money that Adebayor wants then he won't be at the football club at the start of the season because I don't think Arsenal will be able to afford that type of wage.

"If they did, then the rest of the squad, who are in the same situation, would say they deserve a bit more in their wage packet as well.

"If he's happy to accept a little bit lower and prove himself again this season then maybe he can earn that sort of money the season after if Arsenal start winning trophies."

User Comments

LAGOONER

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 10:24 PM - Reply

I believe Adebayor should be allowed to go. He has damaged our trust in his dedication to the club. Keeping him on his terms will bring about soccer unrest and coup to the dressing room (after-all he's an African). Secondly, Hleb should not be persuaded to stay. His heart is no longer with us.

GoonerXM

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 08:52 PM - Reply

SELL ADE, GRAB THE MONEY + PLAYER VERY QUICKLY AND BUY REPLACEMENTS BEFORE THEY ARE TAKEN UP BY VULTURES OUT THERE!!!!

snosrapgooner

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 06:21 PM - Reply

I cannot understand anybody being critical about Mr W. He has been an outstanding manager for over decade, and has made our club one that is respected for it's football. Ade, Flamini, Sagna and Hleb are all great players, but not one of them are yet of superstar status. Thierry was a legend,and left with honour. I remember the fuss made when he left. Also when Anelke left, and Freddie to some extent (another legend by the way). I agree that we will miss them, but I would rather keep Cesc than all four of them, escpecially as he's commited to the club. In Wenger We Trust.

Ten10

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 04:42 PM - Reply

I think the poplar concensus here is that Ade shd go and Hleb shd be encouraged to stay. I agree with those comments, but with recent comments made by Hleb, I don't think he'll stay at Arsenal, and what a shame that would be. Ade is over-hyped, and his ego is from another planet. He showed the same tendency with his adopted national team and I think £30 Million is damn good business.

Bob1967

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 10:00 AM - Reply

Get shot of him, if you give him the money it's the wrong message, 1 season does not make him Henry. Take the cash and buy RVP some decent shinpads. Odds are we'll be top at Xmas and finish 3rd again next season. I don't want to see a rich Russian or Thai Prime Minister at the club but some money is needed, that said a wage structure is sensible and if a player signs a 3 yr deal he shd see out the 3yr's or at the very least have a 2/3rds clause (option to buy themseleves out after 2 yrs) otherwise it's all gonna go pear shaped.

MIke

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 06:20 AM - Reply

It took Henry half a decade to prove himself to the club before his wages were over 100K. Ade wants it after 1 complete season? How many goals will he score without Cesc unleashing him?

detroit gooner

Posted on 11 Jul, 2008 at 01:11 AM - Reply

If you remember last season, 6 of his Ade's goals came against Derby County. I could have scored against DC, and I'm a fat, 43-year-old out of shape beer guzzler. Let this guy go. I'm more impressed with Bendtner anyway. Get rid of this mercenary now. A guy like that is a cancer in the dressing room anyway. I still miss my man Bergkamp.

abbs

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 11:41 PM - Reply

First of all i personally will like to say we should keep Hleb. He does not score many goals but my GOD, what a player!!!. Did anyone see his contribution for us. He can play all across the mid-field either left, right, centre and behind the main striker. How can we let one of our rivals get such a player.
I can tell any fellow arsenal fan, all the players we have being linked with to replace Hleb are no way near as good as him. I dont know whats all the hype about Nasri. He is a good player but not as good as Hleb. I have seen him play times without number but he is not as classy as Hleb. If we are replacing him we should bring in some body who is better or at least as good as him. Please arsene negotiate with Hleb. As for Ade he is a good player who gives us a different dimention to our play. We were not used to scoring much headers but last season we scored many headers. Having said that Ade should remember that Wenger is a God sent to salvage his career at monaco so he should be thankful to God for that and not throw it back at Wenger's face. It is a pity we don't know were loyalty and integrity in football reside anymore.

Fergkamp

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 06:47 PM - Reply

Adebayor should be out of Arsenal, he is a bad strike, a horrifying player.

Period.

Jak

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 11:33 AM - Reply

i trust wenger tomake the best choices available. i support the egalitarian wage structure - but it does mean ego's like adebayor won't be happy. sell him, who cares, think of all the sitters he missed last year... a striker worth the wages he wants should have been on 35-40 goals last season with that sort of delivery. he managed 30 (with 6 against derby)

Hleb had potential to be an arsenal hero, but he's taking the piss out of us fans, with so many mixed messages over such a long period. stop hurting the team; either show solidarity or piss off - and do it quickly.

Merse

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 10:59 AM - Reply

Time to bring a money man on board.I think this is what Wenger wants,and is the only way forward for us now if we want to compete at the highest level.

phader - REALIST ARSENAL FAN HERE

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 10:57 AM - Reply

OK, I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD SELL ADE BUT REMEMBER, HES ONLY 24 AND CAN ONLY IMPROVE. WHY ARE WE SELLING OUR FIRST TEAM PLAYERS TO OTHER BIG TEAMS?? DOESNT ARSENE WANT TO WIN THE CHAMPS LEAGUE??
AND ALSOOO, FLAMINI, HLEB AND ADE ARE NOT SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS - THEY ARE OUR FIRST TEAM PLAYERSSS. PLAYERS LIKE SENDEROS,HOYTE SHOULD BE SOLD (TRUE OR NOT??). AND WHY DO WE HAVE TO SELL, WATS WRONG WITH HAVING A BIG SQUAD OF 25 GOOD PLAYERS. WE NEED TO HAVE A GOOD BIG SQUAD IF WE WANT TO CHALLENGE FOR F.A CUP, LEAGUE CUP, PREMIERSHIP, & CHAMPS LEAGUE. AND ARSENAL ARE FAMOUS FOR INJURIES SOO WHY NOT. WE BUY NASRI AND WOT HAPPENS WEN HIM AND ROSICKY GETS INJURED?? DIABY AND EBOUE ON THE WINGS???? NOO ARSENE.
I HAVE FAITH IN ARSENE WENGER, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN IMPRESSED BY HIS ACTIVITY IN THE TRANSFER MARKET.

seliji

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 06:50 AM - Reply

i xan score 35 goals a season if cesc and hleb supply me with the ball.so the main idea is let this guy go for that price.i believe AW can get 4 world class players with 24m price tag given to him.why don't we get a proven goalscorer who is keen to play for us such as david villa.although he iterated that he wants to stay with valencia i still believe we should get him

Amo

Posted on 10 Jul, 2008 at 01:28 AM - Reply

wenger will always do the best and i m sure he will selling ade,did anybody see the difference how Wenger reacted when ade lost a chance at the start of the season and somewhere near the end of the campaign?? Pat Rice was like saying `yeah u r right boss,u should get rid of him`!!!!

thegrigga

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 11:25 PM - Reply

I agree with everyone in that ade is not worth thierrys wage,but what i think people are forgetting is that he has carried the front line for the last season and a half,what with th and rvp injuries in 2006-2007 he was left with baptista who seemed incapable of doing any work for the team.This season just gone it was very similar with rvp out for most of it,eduardo not played much at the start and then obviously injured and bendtner not good enough to start at the momment,it was left up to him again and i think his loss of form towards the end of last season was because he was shattered,and if we had more luck with injuries arsene would have been able to rest him and take him off in games a bit more.I think what i'm trying to get across is that he does deserve some credit,and that him going would be a blow to the team because although rvp is a fantastic player he does not offer the same physical presence as ade or cover as much ground,and some of the other players reportabley linked are very good,but don't offer the same qualities as him,and we would have to play a slightly different style.

arsenal4life

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 07:08 PM - Reply

right i am fed up. Why in the name of god did flamini leave? He aint gonna be playing champions league football gonna . ok.....they will give him more money but he is not fit in and milan will probably trash him. If we dont win trophies again next year, cesc will defenitly go. cmon wenger, dont always rely on youngg guns, get some more famous players(villa,silva,arshavin,senna) then trophies should come.

Andy

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 06:11 PM - Reply

Adebayor is not really worth the hussle. Let's get rid of him and use the cash to get either Martins or Cruz, Bendtner will mature faster than he would ever would.Let him accept the 60,000 pounds per week arsenal are giving him and prove himself again next season, then we can consider giving him his 100,000 pounds he is asking for

mulzee

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 06:05 PM - Reply

sell Ade and get Dioh Williams from Aharus to wear the 25......... he is like Kanu

Deluvian

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 05:38 PM - Reply

I agree with you completely jp those are the strikes we should be lining up.

It seems common sense to sell a striker we all know missed plenty of easy opportunities and is being significantly over valued.

Toba:Thd only Gooner.

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 05:21 PM - Reply

I think Adebayo is just being pushed by some elements; Maybe, his agents. Really, Arsenal would not miss him. But if he knows what is good for his career, I think he should just stay and continue to improve on his scoring abilities. With Eduardo and Rosicky back, and support from Santa cruz or any other established striker, Ade would have Arsenal and Arsene Wenger to thank for the boom his career would get. If he leaves, then he should be ready to join Henry, Reyes and others in their fold.

No 1 Gooner

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 04:16 PM - Reply

Adebayor is a good player but not as good he think he is, he could not score 10 goals a season at Monaco before Arsene brought him to Arsenal. if other club want to pay 30 million for him Arsenal should sell him and use part of the money to get a prolific striker.

mo faal

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 03:58 PM - Reply

If it was my cal i ll let ade go n negotiate wit hleb he s more profitable than ademoney.Ade needs to be reminded that he s nowhere near henry was.

Carlos

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 03:25 PM - Reply

Let Ade go. Watch his career go down the drain! Remember... reyes,diarra,baptista,henry and soon flamini.

Scott

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 03:18 PM - Reply

I do not think Ade will be missed when he goes. We already have a player the same size with the same heading ability but a better first touch and more pace (Bendtner). I think Bendtner will mature into a better player than Ade. I think we should focus on signing another striker with pure pace and finishing (Martins) and a solid established CB to pair with Toure (still not sold on Gallas).

jp20

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 03:18 PM - Reply

pls sell ade, there r so many talented,humble and capable youngsters who would love to come to arsenal(huntelaar,pavluychenko,maybe villa etc.)

topgunner101

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 02:46 PM - Reply

i agree.ade had a good season.but....can he repeat it consistantly??i personaly beleive none of the leavers will fare all that great in europe.italian football in particular is in terminal decline(and even old jose wont stop that)they beleive the players from the epl will save these teams from the teams that beat them.some of our lads have bought in to this idea.and it inflates their egos aswell as their bank balances.BUT.its the clubs that realy made them what they are.so hleb and flamoney will flop in their first seasons,unable to repeat their arsenal form.and rot out the rest of their contracts on tha benches of milan and barca.and so they should.

gunnerb08

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 02:37 PM - Reply

What is going on at arsenal. Last season we were very unlucky with injuries and and we didnt get the rub of the green but now we have flamini leave now hleb is on his way and he had a few words to say about arsene and cesc. Now it looks like ade is going as well we are going backwards big time here. We need new players in we cant always be relying on young players comming through the ranks. I really fear that if we win nothing this season cesc will be out the door. What is going on?

Sav the Gooner

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 02:25 PM - Reply

I would agree with Junior - if we sell Ade we need a proven striker and not a 16-17 year old!!

Sav the Gooner

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 02:18 PM - Reply

I would agree with Junior - if we sell Ade we need a proven striker and not a 16-17 year old!!

Ayodeji Joseph

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 01:41 PM - Reply

Hmmm, who does Adebayor think he is? He is not even in the class of Oba Martins.Please let him go for even 15m. Let us go for Oba goal a faster, stronger and more intelligent player!

Shah

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 12:39 PM - Reply

i think arsene wenger did a god job for arsenal. He gives his full commitment to bring the gunner to be at the top level. New season is coming soon and if arsenal can win trophies, then the club will be more better in financial. Go arsenal! you're the champion!

Toju Apo

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 11:27 AM - Reply

Well said. There's been a lot of grumbling amongst Arsenal fans about the wage structure but I believe that the club pays well. If you want wages that are not proportional to your output and consistency, there are other clubs in London desperate enough to oblige you

Rob

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 11:23 AM - Reply

Get rid of Adebayor, he has the 1st touch of a rapist and was offside the most amounts of times of any premier league player!
We can do better, especially if we get close to the £30m quoted for him!

The guy has Henry's ego, without even half his class!

Ola

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 11:06 AM - Reply

I am a die heard arsenal fan, I really think wenger should allow Adebayo to move on, He is not the type of player he think,He is not the type of player of Hleb calibre. I would prefer arsenal to increase Hleb wage and hold on to him and allow Adebayo to go.
Adebayo only benefit from the good display from the midfieders Cesc,Hleb,Rosicky and others, Pls allow him to try another club if he would be lucky to play with that good set of superb Midfield again.(Greed)

Welsh Gooner

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 10:48 AM - Reply

Nutty, as usual talks a lot of sense. Wenger always see's the bigger picture. Name the players that have left Arsenal in his reign as Manager and go on to better things........ Anelka, Henry, Vieira, Overmars, Petit etc
Also....At the start of last season Ade wasn't seen as Henry's replacement. The No.1 striker role would have been RVP if it hadn't been for the number of injuries he had. Ade has had his head turned by his agent into believing he is better than he is. If Arsenal can get anywhere near the £30 million pound price that is being talked about, then they should grab it with both hands!!!!

Junior

Posted on 9 Jul, 2008 at 10:44 AM - Reply

If we sell adebayor i jus want wenger to replace him with an established name plz

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea