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."

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