ARSENE Wenger rubbed salt into Chelsea’s wounds yesterday by revealing he picked up their France midfielder Lassanna Diarra for “just £2m”.
Arsenal never disclose fees paid for players, but Wenger couldnÂ’t resist confirming the bargain price of Diarra, 22.
Diarra was man of the match, controlling central midfield, as WengerÂ’s young Gunners beat a near full-strength Newcastle 2-0 in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
Wenger said: “He is a ready-made player. He is ready to play at that level without any problem.
We got him and I must say it was for a lot less than the number in the papers – just £2m
Diarra made just 21 starts in two years at Stamford Bridge after joining from French minnows Le Havre, where he was spotted by ChelseaÂ’s then chief scout Gwyn Williams.
It’s understood he was frustrated at finding himself behind John Obi Mikel – who cost Chelsea £16m – and made it clear he wanted a move.
With the Blues also paying £24.5m for Michael Essien, the fee the Gunners paid for Diarra, who had this season and next left on his Chelsea deal, looks like peanuts.
Diarra made his full debut for France in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Lithuania in March and now has five caps.
He was initially talked up at Chelsea as a successor to Claude Makelele. But now his emergence could have an impact on the prospects of Brazil star Gilberto.
Yesterday, ArsenalÂ’s 30-year-old told Starsport he wanted to sort out his long-term future at the end of the season.
He said: “After this year I have one more year left on my contract and we will see if I can sort it out, like we did the last time my contract was down to its last 12 months.
“I have always said I want to stay at the club.” The Brazil skipper also admitted last month he was upset at not being told personally by Arsene Wenger he was losing the club’s captaincy to William Gallas, finding out instead on the internet.
dint know he was the motm for the carling cup match agaisnt the magpies! woah.
