Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn predicts tough times ahead for the Gunners as we enter an important moment of the summer transfer window.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HD, the Englishman explained that left-back Gael Clichy and midfielders Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas will probably all leave, with the first two set to join title contenders, a move described by the 47-year old as a “disaster”.

Asked what comes next for Arsenal, Winterburn replied by saying that what needs to be done is to properly analyse the situation, use the cash from out transfers and strengthen the squad so as to be ready for next season.

Earlier, Arsenal’s official website confirmed that Clichy has completed a move to Manchester City for an undisclosed fee, making him the sixth Gunner to leave the North London Club for the sky-blue of Manchester City after Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Patrick Vieira, Stuart Taylor and Sylvinho.

On losing key elements of the squad, Winterburn said:

It looks like [Gael] Clichy and [Cesc] Fabregas could be gone by the weekend and [Samir] Nasri could go, too; it’s so disappointing.

These players have gained experience with Arsenal and two of them could move on to your title contenders. Not only are you weakening your own team, you’re strengthening the opposition; it’s a disaster.

If a player gets into the last year of his contract and says: ‘I want to move to Manchester United or Manchester City’, I think Arsenal will admit they can’t cope financially and take as much money as they can.

But it’s sad because I feel this is the first time Arsenal are starting to lose players that haven’t reached their peak. All you can do, though, is re-focus, get that money and strengthen the team.

«Анжи» намерен побороться за полузащитника «Палермо» Хавьера Пасторе, на которого активно претендуют «Малага» и «Реал».

Агент хавбека Марсело Симонян поведал о том, что сицилийский клуб получил предложение о покупке аргентинца за 50 миллионов евро, и этот запрос исходит от махачкалинской команды.

Кроме того, ожидается, что в «Анжи» Пасторе может получать по 6 миллиона евро в год.

Напомним, что именно сумма в 50 миллионов евро должна устроить руководство «Палермо».

Полузащитник "Флуминенсе" Дарио Конка попрощался с болельщиками команды и перешел в китайский "Гуанчжоу".

В тоже время аргентинец, который был в 2010 году признан лучшим футболистом чемпионата Бразилии, отказался называть сумму своего контракта. Однако по информации местных СМИ сумма зарплаты 28-летнего футболиста составит 38 540 000 долларов. Всю эту сумму он заработает за 2,5 года.

"Я очень взволнован и счастлив, потому что получил такое важное для меня предложение", - приводит Reuters слова Конки.

Paul Scholes is hoping Samir Nasri will join Manchester United after claiming the midfielder's current club Arsenal 'flatter to deceive'.

Nasri's future at Emirates Stadium is uncertain as he has just one year remaining on his contract and is wanted by United and local rivals City.

Reports have suggested that the France international is keen to move to Old Trafford amid claims the Premier League champions will offer £20million.

And, when asked if Nasri was coming to United, Scholes said: "I hope so."

Scholes retired from playing at the end of last season and enjoyed plenty of battles with Arsenal during his glittering career.
Flatter to deceive

However, the former midfielder says Sir Alex Ferguson would "not allow" United to go six years without a trophy, as has happened at Arsenal.

"They just flatter to deceive," he said.

"They may play the prettiest football, but it doesn't always produce the results they need. It doesn't irritate me that people say they're the best footballing team because while they are doing that, we (United) are winning games.

"They do play the best football to watch at times, but what is the point of that if you are not winning anything? Not only that, they are potentially going to lose their best players in (Cesc) Fabregas, (Samir) Nasri and (Gael) Clichy.

"I don't think our manager would allow this club to go six years without a trophy."

For the last few seasons we have been 3 top class players away from having a squad that could of REALLY challenged for titles and trophies, what we had was a pale imitation of a squad and I guess it was only down to Wenger (at times) that we did as well as we did. But history will show that the last 6 years has delivered nothing but record profits, multimillionaire ex-shareholders and a big shinny concrete bowl.

So we start this summers transfer season with the signing of an un-known 19yr old from Charlton, yes hes a boyhood Arsenal fan and wish him good luck and the selling of Clichy to Man City. OK Clichy has been a big part of the defensive problems over the last few years but you have to wonder if the club are going to buy a better player as a replacement or put the faith in Gibbs, Jenkinson and TV for the left back position next season and save the £7mill transfer fee. Daft I know to suggest the club will not spend the money, but they still haven't spent the money we got for Toure and Adebayor !

If the club think the outrage on all Arsenal message boards,facebook groups and twitter last night was a bit over the top I'd love to be a fly on the wall if they ever read things online once they have finally agreed on the price Cesc will be sold to Barcelona and once the sulking Nasri does a bunk.

The club now more than ever need to show some ambition,the summer after a huge increase in ticket and membership prices is not the summer to be prudent with the finances. Arsenal fans aint mugs, I'd go as far as saying we have some of the most financial astute fans in the world, we knew the bowl had to be paid for, I guess we knew deep down that we would pay for it,(no director has put a penny of their own money into the club since the 50's so why would that change now eh) but the speed in which the debts have been paid off have without any question has been to the demise of the playing staff, something we was promised wouldn't happen.

So as we stand, sorry sit, we are looking at needing to bring in 5-6 CLASS  players to put us in a position to challenge next season and it's not knee jerk to suggest that if we don't buy and buy well then we could be easily looking at a 6-8th place finish.

You would think those running the club know that big name players will not only help us win trophies, which earns money, but it also earns the club money in shirt sales etc and it brings in the much needed investment in big sponsorship deals, they must know that big firms like to be associated with winners ? it makes there brand look good, so by spending money the club can also make more money. so Wenger, Silent Stan Ivan (god knows what he does for the club) do the right thing this summer, get in the CLASS players we have been missing the last 5years, spend the money we get from player sales, sell the deadwood in the squad, show us that we are a football club first and a business second or come the first home game your going to have a hell of a lot of angry skint fans on your backs.