Arsene Wenger defends decision to pursue Luis Suarez

Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez (R) makes a substitute’s appearance during the pre-season friendly football match between Liverpool and Olympiakos at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool.

Arsenal‘s Manager Arsene Wenger has defended the club’s decision to pursue Luis Suarez, despite resistance from the player’s present club Liverpool.

Liverpool has maintained throughout the past month that the star forward was not for sale. Despite this, Arsenal made two bids worth £35million and £40m plus £1 respectively, and both these bids were duly rejected by Liverpool.

Brendan Rodgers-Manager of Liverpool has been scathing in his attack on Arsenal, even commenting on their apparent lack of class.

“I’ve got to say I’ve always associated Arsenal as a club with class and so there was a wee bit of a game there,” he told Daily Mail.

However, Wenger hit back and said that his club had always behaved in an appropriate manner. He said: ‘We always try to act properly but a transfer is always an agreement between three parties and we have always acted properly until now.’

Fans of Liverpool are however hopeful of Suarez’s continuation and had given him a rapturous welcome as he entered the field in Saturday’s game against Olympiacos.

But, even though Liverpool won 2-0, there were periods in the game where Suarez appeared to be just going through the motions.

Suarez then did not attend a dinner organized in honour of Steven Gerrard, and ended up being the only big player of the team who failed to attend the event.

The Anfield boss, Brendan Rodgers, has remained non committal and denied any news linked with Suarez’s transfer.

He said: “For us, it’s about moving on and doing our own work. There will come a point where (Arsenal) understand that. Obviously they have an interest and they put that interest in with two bids which were nowhere near what the player is worth.

“We do not want to sell. We’re in total control of the situation as a club and that’s how it will remain.

Despite this, there are strong reports suggesting that Luis Suarez may hand over an official transfer request. Read more here.