arsenal news

According to reports in various English media, Arsene Wenger is looking to sign Leighton Baines in the January transfer window. The Everton left back was previously linked with a move to Manchester United. Baines was supposedly earmarked as the perfect replacement for Patrice Evra, whose form has not been up to expectations in recent past. But now it seems that Arsenal could join United in the chase for the England international, according to the People, as Arsene Wenger has been looking to strengthen the left back slot. Gibbs and Santos are considered to be the weakest link in the Arsenal defense; both are inconsistent and injury prone. Although Baines would be a great addition to the squad, it would be interesting to see whether Wenger agrees meet Everton’s demands of £15million for the left back. These rumours comes days after Baines said in an interview that although he wants to get more minutes on the pitch for his national side, he understands why it is hard to l

No Mapou Yanga M’Biwa for Arsenal There was heavy interest by Arsenal for the Montpellier defender, Mapou Yanga M’Biwa as the window drew to a close. His versatility and youth was probably one of the most attractive factors to Wenger. However, it looks extremely unlikely that Wenger will get his man with M’Biwa’s latest quotes: “The chairman told me I have an agreement to leave. “AC Milan came for me. But the chairman refused the offer. So I understood it would be difficult. “Arsenal came to make an attempt. But I was focused on something else [AC Milan]. I was disappointed when I understood it could not be sorted out with Milan. “The chairman is our boss, our godfather, the one who educated us and gave us an opportunity. We have to show respect.” As you can see, his heart really isn’t in it for the Gunners. He already rejected a move to Arsenal (which was probably a deadline day bid) because his “head was turned” by Milan. It’s clear that he’s focussed on a move to

The Arsenal career of Abou Diaby has been very frustrating for Arsenal fans everywhere, but imagine what it was like for the man himself and his manager. Arsene Wenger has always had faith in the French midfielder, and it is the support and belief that he has received from evryone at the club that has kept him going. “Mentally it was a hard time but I love football. Football is my passion so it doesn’t matter what happened, I need to look forward and that is what I have done in this situation. “I have to thank the manager because I have had tremendous support and, as a player, it is really important to have that support. Support from your team mates as well, I have to say that during this period they helped a lot. “I want to enjoy myself because I love football, and to pay back the club, manager and team mates as well.” The 26-year old French international joined the Gunners in January 2006 and made 16 appearances before a horror tackle by Sunderland defender Dan Smith

Arsenal are reportedly considering a January move for Schalke forward Klaas Jan-Huntelaar as Arsene Wenger looks at strengthening his attacking options. The North London side will apparently register a bid in the region of £6m for the Dutch international, who will be available on a free transfer next summer when his contract at his Bundesliga side comes to an end. Having seen Robin Van Persie leave for Man United Wenger has seen his attacking options greatly blunted and the Gunners boss must now rely on new signings Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud to provide the firepower for the North London side. Indeed Arsenal’s back up support has also been reduced with Nicklas Bendtner and Park Chu-Young completed loan moves to Juventus and Celta Vigo respectively, whilst Carlos Vela completed a £4m move to Real Sociedad. The 29 year old former Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan man has previously been an Arsenal target and is said to be a player that Wen

Just when you thought it was safe to stop talking about Arsenal’s transfer policy (for a few months at least) Bacary Sagna has reopened old wounds with an interview given to L’Equipe in which he bemoans the loss of key players every year:  At Arsenal, you’re back from holidays, you prepare and you see two of the players leave when competition returns. That’s the way it is since I am here. I’m used to it now. Van Persie, I expected it. All of us expected it. It was ‘obvious’, if I shall put it in English. But Alex Song for Barcelona… What a surprise. He is 24, he had three years left. I still can’t understand. It is a huge loss for the club. Sagna goes on to appear to question his own future at Arsenal, pointing out that he himself has only two years to run on his deal and that, as yet, no one at the club has talked to him about extending it. It’s a worrying situation indeed. We know that Cesc for example decided to leave not just because of his Barca DNA but becau

Diaby says he is Arsenal’s Yaya Toure not Alex Song by AM Abou Diaby has hogged the limelight with his superlative performance against Liverpool. Following Alex Song’s departure to Barcelona, there were questions about who is going to take up the role vacated by him. Diaby says that Coquelin and Arteta are the ones who will step into Song’s shoes, while he will be Arsenal’s Yaya Toure. The Frenchman said – “In our teams, Yaya Toure and me have similar roles. I am not Alex Song. We have many players who can take his place like Francis Coquelin or Mikel Arteta, who likes to play deep. I want to get forward – that’s me. “I have defensive duties as well so I need to have a good shape defensively and, as soon as we get the ball, go forward. “I have to thank the manager because I have had tremendous support and as a player it is really important to have that support. Support from your team-mates as well – I have to say that during this period they helped a lo

The Arsenal career of Abou Diaby has been very frustrating for Arsenal fans everywhere, but imagine what it was like for the man himself and his manager. Arsene Wenger has always had faith in the French midfielder, and it is the support and belief that he has received from evryone at the club that has kept him going. “Mentally it was a hard time but I love football. Football is my passion so it doesn’t matter what happened, I need to look forward and that is what I have done in this situation. “I have to thank the manager because I have had tremendous support and, as a player, it is really important to have that support. Support from your team mates as well, I have to say that during this period they helped a lot. “I want to enjoy myself because I love football, and to pay back the club, manager and team mates as well.” The 26-year old French international joined the Gunners in January 2006 and made 16 appearances before a horror tackle by Sunderland de

So its fair to say that judging by yesterday’s result, most fans would agree that Arsenal are back to their usual winning ways. However, I still approach with caution when I say that not all our problems are immediately sorted with a victory against Liverpool. Our next trio of games will include Southampton, City and Chelsea. Not the easiest run of games, to say the least. Sometimes we have to step back and look at reality for a second before we get caught up on just how great our current squad really is. Southampton have already tested City and Man Utd defensively and have broken through twice on each occasion. More than that though, both City and United were pulled from the fire by quality strikers. Giroud has what it takes but the team must learn to deliver the ball into the box to make use of his height advantage. How often against Liverpool did we watch the ball sail over Giroud? Effective deliveries into the box against Southampton will be the key to the match.

Harry Redknapp has made a surprising plea to Theo Walcott through his column in The Sun , requesting the winger to stay put at Arsenal. Walcott’s contract situation at the Emirates has fuelled speculation about his future, with Man City and Liverpool prepared to make a dash for the Englishmanwho has only a year left on his deal. But Redknapp has urged the 23 year old to sign a new contract with the Gunners, claiming that he has the talent to fill the boots of Robin van Persie. Redknapp, who gave Walcott his debut at Southampton back in 2005, wrote this in his column: “There is so much more to come from him. And nowhere will he get a better chance to fulfil that potential than where he is right now. He should sort out the little differences in his contract with the club and then sign it.” The former Tottenham boss also felt that Walcott’s talents could be served better from a more central position, pointing to the fact that centre-backs are rarely comfortable in the f

As usual football pundits predicted Arsenal to do bad this season after selling two of their main stars RVP and Song. But as Wenger said earlier in an interview, “Arsenal can always surprise you.” After two goalless draws, they produced a solid performance against a good Liverpool side to get maximum points at Anfield. Both the new signings Cazorla and Podolski had a good game. But it was Abou Diaby who stole the show at Anfield. He pulled all the strings in the midfield and Liverpool found it very difficult to stop his long stride dribbles. Diaby show at Anfield Now lets analyze whether he alone or with Arteta can fill the gap left by Song effectively. Yes! Song is a good player. We all know that. Last season he had many assists under his belt and his link up play with ex-Arsenal captain RVP was great too. But as a defensive midfielder, he failed in my opinion. He lost possession many times with his poorly executed holdup plays. He also slowed down the tempo of

  Arsenal will have a fight on their hands to keep hold of Theo Walcott if they cannot agree a new contract with him before the January transfer window, as Inter and Juve want the winger according to Mirror Football . The England international attacker is in the last year of his current deal at the Emirates Stadium and has rejected a new five-year deal from Arsene Wenger’s men. After watching Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie manufacture moves away from the north London club, it is believed that Walcott is weighing up his options and could sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in January. Serie A sides Juventus and Inter are thought to be keeping tabs on the situation, whilst big-spending French side Paris Saint-Germain are also in the frame. Walcott was initially wanted by Manchester City and Liverpool in the transfer window just gone

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Robin van Persie for his start to life at Old Trafford after the former Arsenal striker netted a hat-trick in a 3-2 Premier League win over Southampton on Sunday, the BBC has reported. Van Persie also missed a penalty in the match but recovered to twice draw the Red Devils level with the Saints, and then to eventually put them in front with only minutes remaining. The treble follows on from van Persie’s first United goal a week earlier - which also came in a 3-2 victory, this time at Old Trafford against Fulham. Ferguson admitted he was impressed by the Netherlands international’s contribution against Southampton. He said: “ His first goal was magnificent - the control and then to bury it. It was a really good goal. His header was excellent, too, but he has been a terrific player for us. ” United had fallen behind in the match through Rickie Lambert’s far post header only for van Persie to equalise before hal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claims midfielder Jack Wilshere is looking ‘very good’ in training and should return to action in a month. The 20-year-old missed the whole of last season with an ankle injury and underwent surgery on a long-standing knee issue in the summer. Understandably, the Arsenal staff have been cautious not to rush the youngster back this time after he suffered a set-back when close to a first team return back in February. Wilshere has been training hard in the gym all summer to keep his fitness up and recently returned to train with the rest of the squad as he stepped up his rehabilitation. It now seems he’s not too far away from making his return to the pitch, with Wenger claiming he’s looking very good in training and he should be ready to start playing again in around a month. Arsene told Arsenal.com : He is looking very good in training. Close? It depends what you call close. I would still give him a month. But it looks very

A new week, a new month and what a way to get a tough September started as the good Gunners put up what is unarguably our best away performance since we did one on Ch3l5ea in that 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield in Sunday’s early kick-off. Prinz Poldi opened his Premier League account and from his countenance, it was evident what a confidence boost of a goal his strike into the bottom corner was for him especially and the club by extension. The German international clearly has become comfortable with the Arsenal play from the left flank. More so when he goes back to help Kieran Gibbs in defence, he actually makes interceptions and good tackles, as evident in the start of the counterattack with Santi Cazorla which resulted in our first goal. Problem now is monsieur G12oud whose play on the day was a below par compared to the one he had in our trip to the Britannia, with the moment of bother coming in the closing minutes of the first half when he shot wide of Reina’

The 62-year-old says he is excited by the prospect of rebuilding his squad after the Gunners sold star duo Robin van Persie and Alex Song this summer Getty Images Arsene Wenger insists another arduous summer at the Arsenal helm has not pushed him closer to retirement and is indeed energised by the prospect of building another great team. Don't Miss Sir Alex relishing 1,000th league game Pires: Giroud can replace Van Persie Jose Enrique: Cazorla one of the best Wenger out to prove doubters wrong The Frenchman was powerless to prevent the loss of Robin van Persie to Manchester United during the close season and admitted it was “strange” to see his captain opening his goalscoring account for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side with a fabulous volley in last weekend’s 3-2 win over Fulham. With Alex Song also having departed last month, Wenger could be forgiven for thinking he faces a folorn task in restoring

Football returns, events on the pitch taking over from the mania which engulfs the game in the final week of the transfer windows. Next years holiday is already planned to avoid the madness again; it’s quite therapeutic. Arsenal travel to Anfield seeking their first win and goals of the season as a run of tough fixtures commences. History resonates through this fixture with those of a certain age and beyond recalling the importance of a trip to this side of Stanley Park. The hosts’ diminished circumstances have not subdued that feeling, evidenced by Carl Jenkinson ‘s enthusiasm for the clash. This lunchtime’s fixture is the start of the future; the Arsenal squad is what it is until the intervention of the Winter transfer window or a substantial bid by any Russian, Finnish or French clubs for any players. There would be some surprise if anyone was allowed to leave which will no doubt disappoint the numerous lumberjacks amongst Arsenal supporters.

Being an Arsenal Fan was somehow bad at the end of transfer window because we were all expecting a direct replacement for Alex Song according to what Arsene Wenger and the board promise us.  When i personally heard that Cabaye's bid was accepted, i was so excited to the extend that jumping online to update people but so unfortunate noting happened at the end. We don't have choice right now than to get behind the team fully as they continue there competition in the league and the champions league. I' m somehow short of words but i wish the team best of luck in there campaign. 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended his transfer policy and insists spending big doesn’t necessarily mean adding quality to the squad. It has been another tumultuous summer at Arsenal, where the Gunners sold talismanic skipper Robin van Persie to Manchester United and Alex Song to Barcelona and in place reinforced the squad with the likes of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla. Wenger, who has always kept faith on his philosophy, insisted splashing big in the transfer market is not a true justification of quality, while buying better players than the present lot undermines the real meaning of the term. “We have bought already – Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud,” he told The Daily Star. “But when you listen to people, you always have to buy more. “Spending in itself is not a quality. Buying better players than we have – that is a quality. Ahead of Arsenal’s visit to Anfield to play Liverpool, Wenger asserted that new players need