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were at their free-flowing best in the opening 45 minutes when goals from Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor superseded an early strike from Villa midfielder Craig Gardner.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

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