Gooner Talk

After a meeting yesterday evening with Udinese boss Pasquale Marino, reported Arsenal target Gokhan Inler will be staying at the Stadio Friuli despite recent quotes from his agent suggesting the 25-year-old’s future may lie elsewhere.

Gooner Talk told you several days ago that the Switzerland international was on the verge of a move to north London but according to Swiss sports daily Blick, the hardman midfield star will sign a new contract extension which will keep him at Zebrette until 2013.

“We have decided that Gögi (Inler) remains in Udinese,” says Dino Lamberti, Inler’s agent, after a meeting last night in Barcelona.

“Any player would want to play for Arsenal of course, but for Inler this may be perhaps a little early. Maybe a season too early.”

Inler’s contract will see him earning a rumoured £10million over four years – a fantastic reward for an up and coming Swiss youngster.

What does this mean for Arsenal though? Will Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso be Arsene Wenger’s main target? Or will their be late step-up for Villa midfielder Gareth Barry?

One thing is for sure, despite the quotes hinting at potential moves away as well as the continued paper speculation – Gokhan Inler is staying in Italy, at least for another season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was questioned about what characteristics he was looking for in a possible new signing and revealed that he puts quality above experience when searching for a new star.

Wenger has been overly critcised by certain segments of Arsenal fans after selling experienced players and buying un-proven youngsters in the summer transfer window.

Despite that, the 52-year-old Frenchman believes quality is certainly more important than experience when it comes to looking for a new player.

“We need someone that can integrate the spirit and technical level of the team as well as the ambition of the team. He also has to have an immense desire to join Arsenal Football Club as well. Experience can help, but first is quality, then experience. But most importantly – quality.” said Wenger speaking to Arsenal TV Online.

Udinese midfielder Gökhan Inler has been heavily linked with a move to north London and could prove to be the “quality” that Wenger is talking about. Inler, 25, starred for Switzerland during their Euro2008 slump and his ‘hardman’ reputation might just persuade Wenger to make the signing which all fans are waiting for.