Arsene Wenger: Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are both happy at Arsenal and love the club

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated that Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are both happy at the club.

Fabregas has long been linked with a return to former club Barcelona, whilst speculation linking Nasri with a switch to Manchester City also remains rife, with only one year remaining on the Frenchman’s contract at the Emirates.

However, Wenger has insisted both players remain happy in north London, contrary to repeated reports of discontent from the two players, and has instead suggested that any desire to move is due to emotional reasons.

Speaking during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia, Wenger said: “The needs of the players are not only football-related, they can also be financial or sometimes emotional.

“In the case of Fabregas, he is torn between Barcelona, where he grew up, and Arsenal, where he has been educated. It’s not financial.

“Nasri is the same – they both love the club and are very happy with us. Hopefully we can keep them both happy here.”

The 61-year-old also suggested he understood the motivation behind the desire of players to switch clubs, noting that the short life span of a sporting career increases the need to succeed as quickly as possible.

He added: “What you can never forgive yourself is to turn around at the end of your career, look back on it, and say to yourself ‘I could have done more’.

“That’s why the ages of 20 to 30 are a very important time for a sportsman, because they have to understand very quickly what they have to do to be successful.”

The Frenchman also discussed the process behind discovering young talent, and suggested that a number of potential players may not be given the opportunity to discover their true ability.

“First you need the talent, but also you need to meet someone who believes in you and gives you a chance,” he continued.

“You can imagine though, that plenty of people have talent in life but they do not meet someone who gives them a chance.

“Can you name one Formula One driver from an African country, apart from South Africa? And can you really imagine that there is not one guy in Africa with the talent to be a Formula One driver? Why are they not there?

“Because no one has given them a chance. So in life it’s important to meet someone who will give you a chance, and when I can do this in football, I do it.”