KT: Possible exits shroud Arsenal tour

With reports linking captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri to moves away from the Emirates, it could be hard for Arsenal to focus on their Asian Tour.

By Kelvin Tan
While Arsenal fans in Malaysia and China will  be rejoicing at the sight of their heroes during the Gunners' Asian tour, their pleasure will be tempered by the absence of club captain Cesc Fabregas, who mysteriously suffered a "small muscular problem" just a day before their departure from London.
Speaking to Arsenal.com, manager Arsene Wenger said: "Fabregas will not travel because he still has a small muscular problem. He will stay and practice here."
Fabregas himself told his Twitter followers: "I'm sorry to all the fans in Asia that I won't be on the tour."
It is interesting to note how several players during Wenger's reign at the club have come down with similar maladies and strains whenever it has been convenient for the Frenchman, and much of the Spaniard's absence will probably have to do with reports that Arsenal and Barcelona are discussing terms over his expected transfer from the Emirates to the Nou Camp.
There will be some solace for Arsenal fans though, with the presence of Nasri, but the truth is that players have gone on pre-season tours only to make last minute transfers on Deadline Day, and it is certainly no guarantee that the Frenchman will still be at the club, come the start of the Barclays Premier League season.
The absence of Manuel Almunia and Nicklas Bendtner also hints that both could be out of the North London club in the next few weeks, and it is in this atmosphere of uncertainly that the Gunners will embark on their first Asian sojourn since 1999.
There is a silver lining in all of this, though.
Malaysian and Chinese fans with both get to run their eye over Japanese starlet Ryo Miyaichi, who has been recalled after a loan spell with Dutch side Feyenoord.
The 18-year-old was bought by the Gunners in January and immediately loaned out to the Eredivisie side, where he quickly became a fans' favourite, christened "Ryodinho" for his silky skills and ball control.
Wenger has clearly earmarked the youngster for greater things, and could fast track his introduction into the Arsenal squad for the upcoming season, saying to the club's website: "He is on the plane because he is quality."
"We want to give him a chance to show his quality and I think everybody will be curious to see him play in Asia.
"I rate him personally [and] it's a good opportunity for him to show that he has the talent to play for Arsenal Football Club.
"He has done extremely well at Feyenoord and we have so many good reports. It will be interesting to see him play", the Frenchman added.
Apart from Miyaichi, another young star worth looking at is Emmanuel Frimpong.
The Ghana-born defensive midfielder, likened to Chelsea's Michael Essien in terms of his playing style, was supposed to get his chance in the 2010-11 season after impressing Arsene Wenger last summer in the Emirates Cup, but suffered an ill-timed anterior cruciate ligament injury in August that ruled him out for the season.
The 19-year-old is eager to make an impression on Wenger in Asia, saying to Citi FM: ""It was a difficult season for me with the injury and the comeback.
"There have been talks about Cardiff and Charlton Athletic, but I know [I can be] a regular of Arsenal if I stay clear of injury. I know what I can do because I have already shown to people what I can do in the short period of time."
Arsenal's first game of the tour is on 13 July in Kuala Lumpur against a Malaysia XI, before an encounter with Hangzhou Greentown in China on 16 July.

Arsenal Asia tour squad: 

Wojciech Szczesny, Vito Mannone; Sebastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Laurent Koscielny, Armand Traore, Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna; Alex Song, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Denilson, Aaron Ramsey, Emmanuel Frimpong, Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin; Marouane Chamakh, Ryo Miyaichi, Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela, Robin van Persie.