Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb has played down talk that he has had a rift with boss Arsene Wenger and Spanish teammate Cesc Fabregas. Hleb has been continuously linked with a move away from the Emirates all summer, and Barcelona and Inter Milan remain interested in the Belarus international.

"I am very grateful to Arsene Wenger," he said. "He is the best coach of my career and not just a coach. He is a very good man and intuitive psychologist. I very much appreciate his support.

"I talked to him twice before the end of the season (about my future). It is also not that easy for me to leave this club, because it has become my home. I think he is upset, though it is better to ask him, maybe he is glad.

"I believe that there are ten top clubs in world football and, when a couple of clubs are interested in you and offer better terms, I believe that others would have done exactly the same.

"But Arsenal is dear to me. I am grateful to Wenger for everything he has done for me. As an Arsenal player, I can say that there is no better club in the English Premiership.

"Cesc and I understand each other very well on the field. And it is very, very pleasurable for me to play with him.

"He's a very pleasant guy both in life and as a footballer. He is just more egoistic in goalscoring opportunities. If he had a chance to score, he always used it, unlike me."