Yohan Cabaye
Reuters

Yohan Cabaye has opened the door for a summer move to Arsenal after the Newcastle midfielder expressed his desire to feature in the Champions League next season.

The French international was linked with a move to the Emirates as Cabaye was keen on joining the north London club in the summer transfer window.

However, the deal did not happen and the 27-year-old continued with the Tyneside club.

The midfielder has admitted that he is prepared to make a move away from St James' Park in search of European football next summer.

"I miss the Champions League. I'll finish this season with Newcastle and concentrate on the coming months and then we'll see." Goal.com quoted Cabaye as saying.

"I love to play in front of the defence, to have the whole game in front of me. To recover the ball and then put my team-mates into good positions," the midfielder added.

The Newcastle midfielder has featured in 10 league games so far, scoring two goals and registering two assists.

Wenger could make an approach for his compatriot in the summer and given Arsenal's form so far this season, they are likely to finish in top four.

Meanwhile, the recent statistics show the Gunners have less possession despite their impressive form this season. Wenger has suggested these statistics as an "illusion."

"Against Southampton they had a lot of ball possession but in their own half of the field and very little in our final third, so it's an illusion, these possession statistics," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"The right balance in ball possession is progression and you can see it in Tottenham and Manchester City, where Tottenham actually had more ball possession."

The French manager was also moved to praise his side's defence as Wenger claims the Gunners have shown defensive maturity this season.

"We're better, we have a lot more defensive maturity particularly. We have also been able to overcome more difficult times during matches," he added.

"I think we're perhaps not playing that well because opponents are more organised against us. I think it's important to play our game even if opponents are well-organised," he said.

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