Wenger confirms Arsenal interest in Mata

By Liam Twomey at the Emirates Stadium

Aug 28, 2013 12:14:00 AM

The Gunners boss confesses that he "likes" the Chelsea star but doubts whether the Blues would be willing to sell to a Premier League rival and is concerned over fresh fitness fear

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that he would be keen to sign Juan Mata should Chelsea be prepared to sell to their rivals.

During the Blues' summer pursuit of Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, it has been reported that the Spaniard, who has started only once so far this season, is seen as expendable by Jose Mourinho, though the Portuguese has long maintained that he has no intention of losing the crowd favourite.

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Speaking after the Gunners' 2-0 Champions League win over Fenerbahce, Wenger neither confirmed nor denied reports suggesting that Mata's father watched the game in an executive box and remained coy on whether his injury worries deepen his need to sign players.

"I have heard, like you, that Juan Mata may be on the market," he told the press. "I like him [but] there is a reluctance in England to sell to each other.

"We have to see how bad the injuries are but I can't tell you more than that.

"We are on the market – the whole world knows that now - but I can't be more creative than that because nothing has been concluded yet."

Wenger also admits that he does not know whether Aaron Ramsey will be fit to face Tottenham on Sunday. The midfielder picked up a groin problem late on against the Turkish giants, having scored both of his side's goals as the Gunners cruised into the group stage, triumphing 5-0 on aggregate.

Lukas Podolski was withdrawn with a hamstring injury early in the second half, while Jack Wilshere's ankle problem also flared up in the closing stages after some hefty challenges from Fenerbahce defenders.

"That's a negative – we paid the price because we lost Podolski, I don't know how Ramsey is or how Wilshere will respond to his ankle problem," Wenger lamented. "The two tackles on Wilshere [late on] were disappointing.

"Podolski will definitely be out for 21 days and we have to check on Ramsey's groin [on Wednesday].

"Jack should be alright for Sunday and I'm hopeful on Aaron but I don't know how bad it is.

"I wanted to take Wilshere off. I would have played with 10 men, because they had to score five goals in 10 minutes. Even with 10 men, we could have avoided that but he told the physio he wanted to go on." ------------------ goal.com