Nasri set for defensive role

Gunners ace admits he can play as a defensive midfielder

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 5th May 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Nasri set for defensive role

Nasri: Change of role

When I look at our recent match against Liverpool it was a match I have only played before on a Playstation.

Samir Nasri
Quotes of the week

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Samir Nasri has revealed that he can see himself playing as a defensive midfielder for Arsenal in the coming seasons.

The 21-year-old's comments may come as a surprise to some with the Frenchman deployed behind the strikers for former club Marseille and on the wing for the Gunners this term.

But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is thought to sees the midfielder in a more defensive role in front of the back four, in the mould of AC Milan ace Andrea Pirlo.

Wenger is not the first to make the suggestion with Nasri revealing that ex-Marseille coach Albert Emon and France boss Raymond Domenech have both stated that they see the youngster as a deep lying midfielder.

The Gunners have been crying out for a ball winner in the middle of the park for the past few seasons and since the arrival of Andrey Arshavin, Nasri has seen himself pushed further back, not that he seems to mind.

"I think so yes," he said when asked if he could switch to defensive midfield.

"In any case, I am more at ease in the middle. I have more influence on the game. Even if it isn't up to me to do the dirty work, I feel capable of doing it.

Different demands

"In England, I have learnt to take the knocks. But I still need to adjust to the positions you need to take up because you have different demands to when you play on the wings."

The France international is set to start for Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second-leg on Tuesday with the North Londoners trailing 1-0 against Manchester United.

Nasri reveals that the defeat to Barcelona in the 2006 final still lingers with a number of players and adds that the fans can play their part against United.

"Everyone has still not swallowed it (the 2-1 defeat to Barca)," he explained.

"Even my car driver who drives me to the training centre told me, 'you don't have the opportunity to play in a Champions League final everyday'.

"I talked with Kolo Toure and (Emmanuel) Eboue. They would like revenge. The dream final would be against Barcelona of course.

"The great European performances are always linked with extraordinary fans. If I can ask something it is that we need the Emirates to become the Stade Velodrome.

"I remember the 2004 Uefa Cup semi-final against Newcastle, I still have shivers, it was a volcano. Against Manchester it has to be a volcano!"

High standard

Meanwhile Nasri admits that he is satisfied with his first season at the club but believes there is always room for improvement.

"Not everything has been perfect, I know that, but I am never happy," he told L'Equipe.

"I have played at a high standard but I have also had some little knocks at the start as well. But I think I have had a good season overall.

"I had to adapt to the English game - I didn't think it would be so quick and physical - and I have learnt a lot.

"I am more consistent and I am now used to the physicality here. When I look at our recent match against Liverpool it was a match I have only played before on a Playstation.

"When you play a part in it and you don't come out of it too badly, you are proud."