Transfer news

Transfer news

 

Wenger plays down M'Vila reports

 Arsenal have already secured the £10 million signing of Lukas Podolski from Cologne, but Arsene Wenger poured cold water on reports France midfielder Yann M'Vila was set to follow in a big-money move from Rennes.

GettyImagesYann M'Vila's form for Rennes has seen him become a France regular

''It is not true,'' the Gunners boss said on Thursday. ''There is not any interest at the moment.

''We have not been in touch with anybody, we have not made any offer to anybody and we are nowhere near to buying anybody at the moment. We are focused on our final game of the season.''

Arsenal face West Brom this weekend with a slender one-point lead over Tottenham (two over Newcastle) and there is little margin for further error by a team which has drawn the last three games.

Throw in the fact Sunday will be Roy Hodgson's final game in charge at The Hawthorns before he takes over as England boss, and everything is set for a fascinating encounter. Wenger, though, wants to keep things simple as he targets victory.

''We have a massive game in front of us, but I feel we are focused, switched on. I am confident we will do well,'' said Arsenal boss Wenger, who has guided the club into the Champions League for the last 14 seasons.

''For us it is just to find the right mixture - to be focused, combative and relaxed, and especially be faithful to play our football like we want to. At the end of the day it will be down to playing well, no matter what is at stake.''

Wenger continued: ''We have known final days like this before, games where we have played for championships, or qualifying for the Champions League. It is a fantastic opportunity for us, that of course we want to take.

''We are used to coping with that. At the end of the day, it's playing football. If we have more of the ball than West Brom, like we want to have, we will have more chances to win the game.

''That is what we will focus on. Just be faithful to the way we want to play football.''