Arsene Wenger has admitted his interest in Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, even though the Morocco international claims he has all but given up hope of joining the Gunners. The 25-year-old has been persistently linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as a possible replacement for Emmanuel Adebayor and Wenger revealed he has been keeping tabs on the frontman.

"We keep an eye on him," said Wenger. "He is one of the players that we will follow and if we went for a striker, then he would be one of the possibilities."

Chamakh, though, is no longer confident a move to Arsenal will materialise.

"I don't really believe it much any more,'' he said. But the forward still has his heart set on a move to the Premier League, with Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham all reportedly possible destinations.

He is one of the players that we will follow and if we went for a striker, then he would be one of the possibilities. 
Arsene Wenger on Marouane Chamakh

Adios Adebayor
Adebayor has joined big-spending Manchester City and Wenger paid tribute to the Togo striker's impact in his three years in north London.

Wenger said: "Firstly, we must thank Emmanuel for his contribution to the club. Whenever he was on the pitch, he always gave absolutely everything to the team and since joining us in January 2006, he produced a number of match-winning performances.

"Emmanuel leaves with our best wishes and we now look forward continuing our preparations for next season."

Welcome back Rosicky
Adebayor may have gone, but Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who has been plagued by a hamstring tendon injury for about one-and-a-half seasons, could be fit for the start of the new campaign. Rosicky played his first game for the club in 18 months when he captained the side in a friendly at Barnet on Saturday, playing the first 45 minutes.

The former Borussia Dortmund talent will now look to step up his fitness at the nine-day training camp in Austria, which starts with a friendly in Vienna tomorrow. And Wenger feels that, if all goes to plan, the creative midfielder could be fit to for the start of the Premier League.

"We have to prepare him well and balance him well," said the manager. "But if he comes through the preparations OK then he could start the season.

"There was a time I feared that [he might not come back] and I think that he felt it too," said Wenger. "But he always had a dedicated and healthy life so I always had hope."