Saturday, 27th December, 2014
Arsene Wenger believes that West Ham boss Sam Allardyce rested Alex Song against Chelsea to prepare him for Arsenal tomorrow.
Song started on the bench for West Ham's defeat at Chelsea yesterday, but was brought on around the hour mark of the contest.
Wenger, who took Song to Arsenal in 2005 and sold him to Barcelona in 2012, needs no convincing of the midfielder's qualities.
And he feels sure Allardyce rested Song in order that he could be fully fit to take on the Gunners tomorrow.
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"He didn't play on Friday against Chelsea", Wenger told a press conference, via his club's site.
"He was certainly rested for us. I think he was a very good player when he was here, but he didn't play a lot when he was in Spain.
"I brought him here at the age of 17 and kept him despite all the opinions against him. You don't need to convince me he's a good player."
Arsenal's victory over QPR yesterday moved them to within one point of fourth-placed West Ham, meaning tomorrow could be a key clash in the battle for a top four Premier League spot.
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