Nasri out as Jones signs for Reds

Nasri has been in good form [GALLO/GETTY]

Arsenal’s France midfielder Samir Nasri will be sidelined for a month following knee surgery.

Nasri played for the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s season opening 1-1 English Premier League draw at Liverpool on Sunday but picked up a minor knee ligament injury during the match.

The timing is a blow for manager Arsene Wenger as Nasri was in good form during pre-season and at Anfield on Sunday.

“Samir Nasri will today undergo minor surgery on his knee following a meniscal injury sustained during the match against Liverpool,” the club said on their website.

“Nasri, who has been in impressive form, will be out of action for a month.”

Nasri, 23, made a total of 34 appearances for Arsenal last season scoring five goals.

The London club have meanwhile endorsed a scheme that promotes enhanced fan ownership by helping supporters buy small stakes.

While not as far-reaching as the ownership model at Barcelona – the world’s most notable fan-owned team – supporters can make small contributions to the ‘Fanshares’ initiative before gaining an actual portion of Arsenal.

One ‘Fanshare’ is priced at one hundredth of the value of actual Arsenal shares, which were $15,000 on Wednesday.

The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, which already owns about three per cent of the club, is running the initiative.

The scheme will be promoted at the first home game of the season on Saturday against Blackpool.

Reds sign Jones

Liverpool have completed the signing of Australia goalkeeper Brad Jones from Middlesbrough.

The Premier League club had already announced that they would pay $3.6 million to the second-tier side.

Now Jones has signed his three-year contract and will be competing with Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina for a starting spot.

Jones has appeared twice for Australia and was a late withdrawal from the World Cup squad because of a family illness.