Samir Nasri transferred to Arsenal three years ago in a protracted move which lasted the whole summer and it seems his current contract negotiations with the club may last just as long. Arsenal fans are hoping talks don't go down the route of another Frenchman who left the club after contract negotiations were put on hold. As it turned out, Arsenal's title challenge in 2008 dramatically faltered and Mathieu Flamini, mentally drained and hurt from the collapse - although he maintains his departure had been set in motion a year before - rejected the offer from The Gunners. We are at a similar situation with Nasri.

The ever reliable 'The Goon Blog' reports that Samir Nasri's contract had been already agreed in principle but has seemingly reneged on the deal following Arsenal's poor form at the end of the season. Interest from other clubs may have turned his head but it is likely Nasri is waiting to see how Arsenal's summer pans out and whether he can be convinced of Arséne Wenger's plans. It's important the manager does because keeping Nasri - and Cesc Fábregas too - will be on top of Wenger's agenda before any signings enter the equation.

Now some of you may argue Nasri's role at the club is not as pivotal as Fábregas orRobin van Persie - or even Alex Song for that matter. However, all teams are made of individual components - some bigger than the other - that make a fully functioning unit. The fact of the matter is, Arsenal were brilliant for two-thirds of last season that it'd be foolish to want to break a promising unit - and Samir Nasri more than played his part. Of course, there is a case of Arsenal standing their ground and not let anyone take the club hostage with their demands. If Nasri stays he'd likely be on inflated wages or actually been convinced of the club's objectives. Fans should hope the latter.

Keeping Cesc Fábregas would offer the greatest indication of Arsenal's objectives. Many believe that it is actually the position the captain occupies which is Nasri's best position but he hasn't fully convinced in the role. His penetration is often lacking hence the reason why Wenger is unwilling to drop Fábregas deeper despite his great ability to knit play and keep the ball moving. Luckily for Arsenal, Laurent Blanc seems adamant that playmaker is Nasri's best position and has persisted with him for France.

Samir Nasri, though, is not to fussed about where he ends up playing. He says he doesn't care "if I play on the right or on the left. I am used to it, I score goals and I am more efficient when I play on the wing." It's true: in the early part of the season, he was blistering, scoring eight goals before an end of season tail-off. That's not because he was playing badly; just less sparkling. He was quietly crucial on the left before Arsenal collapsed after the Carling Cup.

Nasri's best individual performances came on the right-flank but I'd argue he was more crucial on the left. On the right, he's probably more suited as it allows him to be more direct and also enabling him to get behind the defence - Arsenal's main strategy last season. On the left, he was less able to get behind because it puts him on to his weaker foot; on the right, his body is already open so he can shoot first time. As a result, you will often see him take up central positions in a bid to get behind from the left rather than dart in from the touchline. This preference means he is also more likely to pick up the ball deeper and play as a left-playmaker rather than use his dribbling skills to take on defenders. Which is fine, if Arsenal have the balance; if they don't, it looks awkwardly tentative. But that balance is where Arsenal was the best. Think back to the win against Chelsea and the almost perfect league record until the defeat to Birmingham in the League Cup final. Theo Walcott was on the right, stretching the play and acting as a second forward, albeit slightly wide. Nasri added the balance between creativity and dynamism and Arsenal as a unit just clicked.

The question then becomes more of depth than of keeping Nasri although he has a lot more to give. Believe me. Theo Walcott looks impotent when a defence drops deep and denies him the space in which to use his speed to get behind. Andrey Arshavin, despite his numbers, has been wonderfully erratic. His role is heavily subsidised so it is no excuse for him not to make those numbers - 10 goals, 17 assists - but that glosses over his poor passing accuracy and failure to adapt to Arsenal's style.

His passing success rate stands at 70% and the majority of those misplaces passes are rudimentary and square balls - to Gaël Clichy in particular. Nicklas Bendtner is not a winger although he does work hard at it but Arsenal currently have found no way to use his diagonal runs to the best effect. A tricky and dynamic winger - possibly in the Charles N'Zogbia mould - could be targeted although it looks to two Arsenal are tracking - Ricardo Alvarez and Gervinho - add height as well.

The summer will be a pivotal one and it's one where realistically, Arsenal could soon lose two of it's world-class creators. It will be Wenger's job to convince Samir Nasri that he's central to Arsenal's plans, whether he plays in the middle, right or left.

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