Fran Merida
How Wenger changed his mind on Fran Merida
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By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger believes Fran Merida has “too much quality” to leave on loan this season. That is why the Arsenal manager made an 11th-hour U-turn about sending him out for a season at Levante.
Merida travelled to the pre-season friendly at Valencia with significantly more luggage than any other squad member. A temporary transfer to the Segunda División side was about to be completed and so the 19-year-old thought he was making a one-way trip to Spain.
But Wenger changed his mind and the benefit could be seen this evening at Emirates Stadium if Merida plays against Liverpool in a mouthwatering Carling Cup Fourth Round tie.
“I wanted to keep him,” Wenger told TV Online. “I nearly gave him out on loan in the pre-season but, in Valencia, I made the decision to keep him because I feel he is a classy player. He just has football in his blood and these players always have a good chance to come through.
“On the day I had to make the decision and I decided to keep him. He was going for the year to Levante. It would have been good for him but I felt that he has too much quality to go out.
“We educate the players and in the end they play for somebody else. I find that a little bit too generous, especially when you have worked with them for years.
“I believe it is important to give them the maximum chance with your club.”
Tonight is a huge opportunity for Merida given that he has entered that ‘Twilight Zone’ between Reserve and first-team football. There have been reports of interest from outside but Wenger, though aware of his predicament, is sure his future lies at Arsenal.
“I like Fran,” he said. “He had a good pre-season and unfortunately after that he was away a lot with Spain and then you get him out of sight a little bit. But he played well in the recent Under-20s tournament and now he's back so I hope he can show how good he is [against Liverpool].”
[Wednesday, October 28, 2009]
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