Lose-lose situations

There are enough Gooners growing tired of the do-they-don't-they transfer sagas of Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri. It's important to remember that it's the media reports who are tiring us out, not the players. I've stopped counting the number of stories linking the two away from Arsenal (feel free to count yourself), but the clear majority are just repeats, repeats, repeats from reporters who weeks ago all promised that the deals were to be made in just a few hours and days.

As I've repeated ad nauseam: nothing is really news here. Cesc will be sold when the price is right, but Barcelona aren't bidding enough. Samir will stay, either one last season or - if persuaded to sign - for longer.

After the manager's clear statements on Nasri, the controversy surrounding his situation seems to have died down. But the captain's predicament remains, and I can only urge any angry Arsenal fan again to view the situation with his eyes. He has nothing to win and everything to lose by speaking out:

1) pledge himself to Arsenal? Not as long as it's his boyhood club beckoning. And especially not as his current club are prepared to sell for the right price. Loyalty has to go both ways.

2) pledge himself to Barcelona? Not as long as the deal hangs in the air; coming back from that if a transfer deal was  botched would be near impossible. Besides, that would surely mean making a transfer request, forcing him to consider bids from other clubs prepared to match Arsenal's evaluation. After all, it's only Barcelona he would leave Arsenal for. Oh, and any seven digit so-called loyalty bonus will be made null and void. That's not just money for the agent.

3) openly discuss his transfer dilemma? The can of worms would be bottomless. In a world where every little thing he does say is magnified and drawn out, noone in his position is tempted to speak openly. He might even be misunderstood, accidentally when speaking English, or on purpose, his words twisted to sell papers or gain clicks. The damage would almost certainly be irreparable.

4) shut up and wait for the conclusion? The obvious choice for any professional in any business, not knowing which employer will sign the next paycheck.

You really can't blame him. If you're angry, direct the anger at FC Barcelona, who after spending so much time and effort tapping him up, refuse to pay his worth.

Arsène Wenger's words are clear:

"We have a responsibility towards our club and I have that responsibility to sell the players at a decent price. Or I take money away from my club. And that is not [possible] just to please one player."

As for Samir's situation, he is still in negotiations. They have not been broken off by neither club nor player. Just as Wenger won't comment directly, Nasri can't be expected to comment directly.

And perhaps the two are linked. But then it's anyone's guess: Nasri might be more likely to leave if Fàbregas leaves, as no ambitious club would sell their star player like that. Or Nasri might be more likely to stay if Fàbregas leaves, as he'll be able to claim the playmaker role for himself.

And perhaps he, too, struggles to make up his mind on that one. Speaking out about it is a lose-lose for him, too.