Wednesday 12 December 2007

Arsenal Team and Transfer News



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits hamstring victim Cesc Fabregas is desperate to face Chelsea on Sunday.

"We haven't set any date for his return yet," said the Arsenal manager. "Cesc is not with the group at all; he is with the medical people being treated. He is working very hard.

"Cesc is very impatient, but he is not back yet."




- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Jens Lehmann will make a rare appearance tonight against Steaua Bucharest.

The 38-year-old has not featured for the Gunners since August 19 at Blackburn when he made a second high-profile error of the then fledgling season.

Wenger revealed: "Lehmann will start in goal.

"His attitude has been fantastic and when you look at this man the one thing you cannot fault is he is a super professional. Jens is an example for everybody.

"For every goalkeeper it is good to practice, but at some stage you need to play at a competitive level.

"It is not a present. It is to keep him fit and competitive.

"If Jens plays well it does not create a problem.

"Why should it be a problem if a player plays well? It is a problem if he doesn't play well."

Wenger maintained: "For all of us the only target is to do well for the club - and we can only do that if we perform well.

"Jens' long-term future depends on, when you are 38, what you call a long-term future. We haven't spoken about that.

"At the moment I expect him to play well tomorrow."

However, when asked if he expected Lehmann to remain at Arsenal for the second half of the season, Wenger said: "I cannot guarantee that, like for anybody else."




- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hit back at claims from Chelsea rival Avram Grant that his squad cannot handle injuries.

Wenger called Arsenal's first defeat of the season, away to Middlesbrough on Monday, a mere blip and hit back at Grant, saying: "We focus on ourselves and our performances. We played a fantastic game against Aston Villa just two games ago. We had a very average game at Middlesbrough and we lost.

"My squad is very determined and very strong. If you had listened to what people said before the season we would be 10th or 12th in the league and be out of everything. At the moment we are in everything."




- Mathieu Flamini is set to be handed a new five-year contract by Arsenal.

The London Evening Standard says the Arsenal midfielder's current deal runs out next summer and he will be free to talk to other clubs about an end-of-season move from next month.

But the 23-year-old, who moved to Arsenal from Marseille in 2004, is on the verge of being handed a lucrative new deal after proving to be a key member of the team.

Negotiations between Flamini's advisers and the club are at an advanced stage and he could soon put pen to paper on a £40,000-a-week deal. That would put him in a middle band of earners on Arsenal's payroll.




- Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner is desperate to stake his claim for a long-term place in Arsene Wenger plans when he plays tonight against Champions League opponents Steaua Bucharest.

The 19-year-old spent last season on loan in the Coca-Cola Championship with Birmingham, and intends to repay the faith shown in him by Wenger.

"Every time I get my chance I want to take it, to show people what I can do," said Bendtner, who scored his first European goal in the 7-0 demolition of Slavia Prague during October.

"When you are in a team which plays such great football like Arsenal, it is really difficult to get into the side, but when your chance comes you have to show you are capable of coming in and playing in the team."

Bendtner reflected: "I will just take it as it comes. So far I have been pleased."

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner believes that remaining unbeaten all season was never realistic.

"When you play in such a tough league, [a defeat] is always going to happen," the Denmark forward said after the defeat away to Middlesbrough on Sunday.




- Arsenal are on red alert after Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc admitted today he was ready to leave at the end of this season.

Boruc has been linked with the Gunners and AC Milan in recent months and he told The Herald: "I have decided I am going to leave Celtic in the summer.

"Celtic want more than £10m for me but I think it's too much. I have to see what's best for me."


Up The Gunners!

Monday 10 December 2007

Arsenal Team and Transfer News



- Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has again put his hand up for England.


The Spaniard is a year away from becoming a British citizen and, having never represented Spain at any level, the 30-year-old would become eligible to play for England.


"I would never close the door on people who have shown me so much affection," he told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.


"If I can lend England a hand once the time comes for me to be eligible - and I want to thank the country for the support it has shown me - I don't see why I shouldn't play for them. I don't rule it out."




- Arsenal star Manu Adebayor has revealed he's added several kilos to his frame in recent months.

The Togo striker, 23, admits he struggled to live up to his £7million price tag when he arrived at Arsenal from Monaco in January last year.


But extra training has seen him claim the title of a heavyweight striker in the top flight with eight goals.

"I needed to do something," said Adebayor, now 13.5st. "I needed to build up my muscles to take the blows. You have to in England.

"When I got going, I was a lot more powerful. There is no comparison with before. Here, you don't take creatine, only vitamins to recuperate. But we work twice as much.


"I had to progress. I used to take two metres to control the ball. But now the fans are seeing a new Adebayor."




- Robin van Persie is returning to Arsenal training this week.


"Van Persie and Abou Diaby are not far," boss Arsene Wenger told arsenal.com.


"From this week they will be back in normal training."


However Wenger added that a return against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday "looks early".

"We have to see how he [Van Persie] responds to contact training," the Frenchman went on. "Don't forget he has been out for seven or eight weeks and has had no contact until now so we might have to be a little bit patient."



- Veteran midfielder Gilberto insists he is determined to take any chance that comes his way after admitting he is keen to stay at Arsenal.

The Brazilian made what was only his fourth Premier League start of the campaign at Newcastle on Wednesday night.


Gilberto, 31, has been linked with a move away from Emirates Stadium during the transfer window, but is determined to make the most of whatever chances come his way.


"It is nice to get a chance to play a full game but of course I am doing the best I can to get back in the team," Gilberto told the club's official website.


"I will see what happens but of course I want to play in the first XI and I will do my best to achieve that."


The 2002 World Cup winner added: "A big squad is important. At the moment we have a few injuries, but we have other players who can do a great job.


"The manager needs to change the team in some positions but we keep the same spirit and the same way of playing."


- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Newcastle United's performance in Wednesday night's 1-1 draw was just like watching Bolton Wanderers.


He said: "It was exactly the same type of organisation and the same type of play, very direct, very committed and in a 4-3-3.


"You could feel before the game there was a crisis. I anticipated a different game because you could see that no matter if there were differences within the club, it looked like they had made a real union to win this game and fight.


"I must say on their side, everyone was on board because everyone in their team did fight like mad for 90 minutes.


"They made a fight of it and that's why they got a point from it."



Up The Gunners!

Saturday 8 December 2007

Arsenal Team and Transfer News



- The PFA are attacking the Premiership's foreign contingent in an official report, it has been revealed.

The Sun says its key findings include an attack on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger for his recruitment of young foreigners.

It shows the massive increase of foreign players in the Premier League since it began in the 1992-93 season.

Then there were 363 English players (71 per cent) in the Premiership, compared to just 49 from overseas (10 per cent). The remainder were from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

By last season there were just 191 English players (38 per cent), with 252 from abroad (51 per cent).

It is also revealed only 12 foreign players were involved in the opening weekend of the first Premiership season - last weekend there were 138.

The report concludes foreign players are stifling the development of English kids and will do long-term damage to the national team.

Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the players' union, had hoped to keep the conclusions of the report - called 'Meltdown' - secret until next week.



- Barcelona newspaper columnists believe Arsenal are laughing at their club over the summer sale of Thierry Henry.

Henry joined Barca for £16.1m on a four-year contract in July having missed five months of the 2006-07 season with back trouble. A related injury left him unable to face Espanyol last weekend and initial reports said that he would be out of action "indefinitely".

The Guardian says Catalan columnists have been biting in their criticism, describing Henry's signing as a "huge con" and "massive error".

The newspaper El Mundo Deportivo, recalling that Arsene Wenger had made £30m on the sales of Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars to Barcelona, said: "Arsenal must be laughing themselves hoarse."



- Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has described skipper William Gallas as their "maestro".

"We are defending a lot better together than last season. That's the key," declared the Ivory Coast centre-half.

"It is a collective thing. In any team you have a maestro and at the moment William is doing that job. He is the captain and is leading us really well.

"With all the experience he has got, we try to listen to him. He is 30, has played a lot of games and has won a lot of trophies as well - but the main thing is that we work together. We all try to help each other."

Toure added: "In a game when you are a little bit tired or a little bit weak, you have your friend to help you or say to you, 'come on you can make it'. We all say that to each other.

"As a person it gives you focus from one minute in the game. When you have your friend saying, 'come back on your game, give your best, refocus', that gives you strength.

"At the moment we are doing that all together, from the keeper to the striker. That makes a big difference."



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is weighing up a deal for DR Congo striker Tresor Mputu.

Reports in Africa suggest the French coach may be ready to move for Mputu, who impressed during a recent trail spell at London Colney.

The 20-year-old's agent claims an offer has already been made, with a deal close to being finalised.

Mputu - dubbed the next Samuel Eto'o - impressed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and would cost around £500,000.

The star's agent Bajo Bujani says Arsenal have made an offer for Mputu and are ahead of Seville in the race for his signature.

He said: "While Seville have also shown great interest, I believe Tresor will end up in England.

"Arsenal have given TP Mazembe until Monday to respond to their offer.

"I'm convinced that the deal will be completed after the weekend."



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits Cesc Fabregas is struggling to be fit for their clash with Chelsea next week.

Wenger has ruled Fabregas out of this Sunday's trip to Middlesbrough, together with Alexander Hleb and Mathieu Flamini, and suggested that he may struggle for the game against Chelsea.

"We have no one coming back for Sunday [at Middlesbrough]," said Wenger.

"And to put a date on that is very difficult. If you ask me who will be the first to come back, then I think it could be Mathieu Flamini. Cesc and Alexander Hleb are on the same line but whether they come back next week or in two weeks I don't know."

Fabregas pulled his hamstring in the Champions League defeat against Sevilla last week and, although the team won well at Aston Villa on Saturday in his absence and secured a battling point at Newcastle United on Wednesday night, Wenger believes that they cannot win the Premier League without him.

"What's true in one game is not over 10," the Frenchman said after the 2-1 win at Villa Park. "In a one-off, of course you can do well. But we want Cesc with us. He's a big player. He is world-class."

Up The Gunners!

Monday 3 December 2007

Arsenal Team and Transfer News


- Alexander Hleb is unlikely to play at Newcastle on Wednesday.

The Arsenal midfielder limped off during the 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Saturday with an Achilles problem. He had only just returned from a hamstring injury and, in addition, that flared up again on the night.

“He had a kick on his Achilles,” said Wenger. “He had a hamstring problem before but we decided to play him. He had a little recurrence and I am not sure he will be available for Newcastle on Wednesday night.”

Arsenal’s treatment table is starting to become crowded. Robin van Persie (knee) has been absent since October while Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and Abou Diaby (back) sat out the game at Villa Park. Gael Clichy and Alex Hleb only played after fitness tests on the morning of the game.

“My worry at the moment is that we lose players in every game,” said Wenger. “I hope we’ll get them back soon.”


- Emmanuel Adebayor believes Arsenal are proving the doubters wrong but is refusing to contemplate the possibility of the Barclays Premier League leaders going through a domestic season unbeaten for the second time in five years.

They will head into Wednesday's match at Newcastle boasting an eight-month unbeaten league record with their only reversal during the current campaign coming in last week's Champions League game in Seville when they fielded a much-changed side.

Adebayor said: "I know people are starting to say already that we can go unbeaten but I know the most important thing is keep on doing a good job and keep on playing our football.

"Three or four months ago there were people saying 'we are not sure Arsenal are going to finish in the top four', and now they are mentioning we could go unbeaten for the season.

"The most important thing is to focus on our job. We don't care what people are saying. It is good that people are talking good things about the club and we are very happy about those things.

"But the crucial thing is to keep our head on our shoulders, keep on doing a good job, keep on performing like we are now and at the end of the season we can talk about whether we finish unbeaten or not."



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he may need to strengthen his defence in January.

"In midfield we have plenty of players," he said. "The only area we might be a bit short is at the back because we have Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue going to the African Nations Cup.

"We might have Johann Djourou back though. We have the option to recall him."



- Arsenal striker Robin van Persie may not be available until the New Year.

The striker last played for Arsenal on October 7 when he struck twice in the 3-2 win over Sunderland at Emirates Stadium. He injured his knee in the international break that followed and has been out of action ever since.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "It will be two or three more weeks."
The manager said the problem was bigger than first thought, adding: "There is still pain. He is not close, he has no chance at all for next week."



- Arsenal and Manchester United are being linked with Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The People says Jaaskelainen's future is hanging in the balance with the keeper's contract set to expire at the end of the season.

With 10 years under his belt, the 32-year-old is the longest serving player at the club.

But with contract talks having ground to a halt, the shot stopper now seems certain to quit - with Manchester United and Arsenal both expected to move for the player.



- Arsenal's England U17 defender Tom Cruise admits he comes from a family of Gunners season ticket holders.

Cruise told arsenal.com: "I have been an Arsenal fan all my life and so being a part of the Club is a dream come true for me and my family. My dad Tom, mum Stephanie and my brother Albert have all supported me and watched almost every game and I know how much it would mean to them for me to make it as a professional at Arsenal.

"At the moment I am concentrating on becoming the best player I can be. I want to play as many games as I can in the Under-18s, but I want to start some games for the Reserves. I have come on as a substitute twice and been on the bench three times but as a defender I think that I would benefit so much from the experience of reserves football."


- The draw for the FA Cup Third Round was made on Sunday. Arsenal were handed a trip to Burnley.

The tie will be played on either Saturday January 5, or Sunday January 6.


- Arsenal have joined the race to sign highly-rated PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay after watching him in action over the weekend.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the most talented players in the Eredivisie having come through PSV's youth system.

His former boss Ronaldo Koeman, now at Valencia, is thought to be keen and reports suggest he could make a bid as early as January to take him to Spain.

However, Arsenal now look to be in the running after Arsene Wenger dispatched a delegation to take a close looking at Afellay over the weekend as PSV won 1-0 at De Graafschap.



- Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry says Arsenal are the Premiership's outstanding team.

After their 2-1 defeat on Saturday, Barry reflected: "We were taught a footballing lesson in the first half.

"They showed us how to play the game. There is not a team in the country who can touch Arsenal on that style of football."



Up The Gunners!

Sunday 2 December 2007

Arsenal Team and Transfer News



- Arsenal managed to hold on against a rampant Aston Villa in the second-half to earn a 2-1 victory.

The league leaders were at their free-flowing best in the opening 45 minutes when goals from Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor superseded an early strike from Villa midfielder Craig Gardner.

But in the second half the Gunners had to show their fighting qualities before coming out on top with centre-backs William Gallas and Kolo Toure in outstanding form.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "We were brilliant and resilient. In the first half we played some absolutely amazing football. We moved the ball quickly, were accurate with our passing in short spaces and made it difficult for Villa.

"In the second half, the physical contribution from Villa and the fact some of our players dropped off a little bit, allowed them back in.

"I felt at the end of the first half we seemed as if we weren't right on top of things and that made it difficult.

"But this is a big result. Because of the belief in the Villa side after their recent good run, we needed something special.

"Maybe in the past, games like that have been our Achilles heel. But we have improved, have more experience and resilience and we panic less."

Flamini's goal could not have been better timed given the absence of leading scorer Cesc Fabregas through injury.

Wenger said: "He was always in the box looking dangerous, and in fairness in big games he has scored important goals. He did that against Liverpool and Chelsea last season."



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Emmanuel Adebayor was full of praise for Arsenal teammate Alex Hleb after yesterday's 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

"He is a very good footballer, we know that, he is one of the main players in the squad," Adebayor told Setanta Sports after the game.

"He has the technique, he has the ability and I think he is one of the greatest players I have played with."

Mathieu Flamini also had positive words for Hleb, who was forced off the pitch in the second-half after a crunching challenge from Villa striker John Carew.

"He is a good friend of mine and he played very well today," said Flamini. "I hope he has not got a big injury and I hope he will be ready for Wednesday (against Newcastle) because he is an important player for us."



- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expected to recall defender Johan Djourou from his loan at Birmingham City.

With defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue set to leave Arsenal in January for the African Nations Cup, Wenger is expected to recall Switzerland international Djourou as cover.



- Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia has revealed that he and Gunners goalkeeping rival Jens Lehmann are no longer on speaking terms.

Almunia deputised for Lehmann earlier in the season while the German international was sidelined through injury.

The Spaniard has since become Arsene Wenger's first-choice stopper, meaning the now fit Lehmann has had to settle for a place on the bench.

"We maintain a distance. There is no dialogue. It's better for me that way. I'm a lot calmer not talking to him," he said in The Sun.

"I'm having the best time of my career, enjoying each game as if it is my last. I like living fully in the present."

Up The Gunners!