Arsenal's Wenger praises Juan Mata as injuries make transfers even more of a necessity for Gunners
Chelsea midfielder's father and agent Juan was at the
Emirates for Tuesday night's match - 24 hours after Mourinho left his
lad on bench
Laurence Griffiths
Arsene Wenger has claimed Juan Mata is up for sale - and admitted he likes him.
Chelsea playmaker Mata's father, and agent, Juan Senior was in the Emirates directors' box for the Gunners' Champions League win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday, and Wenger admitted later that he "may" have been a guest of the London club.
It was an intriguing subplot to Arsenal's progress into the group phase, which came at a "heavy price" because Lukas Podolski, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey all suffered injuries to leave manager Wenger in even greater need of new signings.
Podolski could be out for up to five weeks.
Mata, also linked with Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham, was an unused substitute in Chelsea's Monday night draw with Manchester United.
Wenger, who came close to signing Mata two years ago before he went to Chelsea, said: "Well, yes. I like him.
"I have heard like you, because I watched the game last night, that Juan Mata could be on the market. I don't know... there is anyway a reluctance in England to sell to each other."
When asked whether Mata's father was a guest of Arsenal, Wenger smiled: "No. I don't know. Maybe."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists Mata is not for sale and may not be happy that a rival manager is talking about one of his players, but Arsenal are desperate to strengthen their squad before the transfer window shuts on Monday.
Chelsea playmaker Mata's father, and agent, Juan Senior was in the Emirates directors' box for the Gunners' Champions League win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday, and Wenger admitted later that he "may" have been a guest of the London club.
It was an intriguing subplot to Arsenal's progress into the group phase, which came at a "heavy price" because Lukas Podolski, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey all suffered injuries to leave manager Wenger in even greater need of new signings.
Podolski could be out for up to five weeks.
Mata, also linked with Arsenal's arch-rivals Tottenham, was an unused substitute in Chelsea's Monday night draw with Manchester United.
Wenger, who came close to signing Mata two years ago before he went to Chelsea, said: "Well, yes. I like him.
"I have heard like you, because I watched the game last night, that Juan Mata could be on the market. I don't know... there is anyway a reluctance in England to sell to each other."
When asked whether Mata's father was a guest of Arsenal, Wenger smiled: "No. I don't know. Maybe."
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists Mata is not for sale and may not be happy that a rival manager is talking about one of his players, but Arsenal are desperate to strengthen their squad before the transfer window shuts on Monday.
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