Arsenal Online

Eboue has title belief

John — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:52:05 +0000

Emmanuel Eboue has highlighted the belief in the Arsenal squad and is confident the Gunners can be successful this season.

The full-back turned midfielder thinks Arsene Wenger’s men should be able to cut out the mistakes and can go on to win all of their remaining 11 Premier League games to lift the title.

When asked if a 100 per cent league record was possible from now until the end of the campaign the 26-year-old said: “Why not? It will be very difficult so we need to work very hard. We need to not make mistakes otherwise it won’t happen. But I always believe. If you don’t believe in yourself you might as well stop playing. So I believe that we can do something this season.”

Currently, Arsenal’s Premier League betting odds make them third favourites for the title at around 13/2.

Eboue has made 15 league appearances for Arsenal this season and has recovered his form after a sticky spell at The Emirates in the last 18 months.

When it comes to making mistakes he has been as guilty as most over the last year or so, but the former Beveren star praised the support offered by Wenger.

“Arsene Wenger is like our dad. He knows that we can make mistakes on the pitch and after that he’s angry, but after that he tries to give us his advice.

“He’s so nice and so good to us. So I think we must do our best to win something for him,” Eboue added on Goal.com.

Meanwhile, Eboue will be looking ahead to South Africa where he should feature for the Ivory Coast.

Many consider an Ivory Coast World Cup bet as a good option because their odds of around 28/1 make them dark horses for the tournament.

Furthermore, the side is looking to appoint Guus Hiddink as manager for the tournament and this could boost their chances significantly.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Eboue has title belief

Wenger reveals player bribery

John — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:12:18 +0000

Arsene Wenger has revealed he has previously seen players paid off in a bid to throw matches.

The Arsenal boss was speaking in the wake of the Gunners’ Champions League defeat to Porto in midweek when Wenger, among others, pointed the finger at some dubious refereeing from Martin Hansson.

Lukasz Fabianski picked up what was deemed a back-pass from Sol Campbell.

When Hansson – the Swede who missed Thierry Henry’s infamous handball in France’s World Cup play-off against the Republic of Ireland – allowed the free-kick to be taken quickly Falcao swept the ball home for the winning goal.

Although Arsenal’s Champions League betting suggests they still have a good chance of progressing to the next round despite their 2-1 defeat in Portugal, Wenger was still furious at the official.

“I believe he is incompetent or dishonest, so I prefer to believe he is not competent,” Wenger said of Hansson.

“I have seen much worse than that in my life – my own players were bought by the opponent. And I didn’t become paranoid.

“I do not want to come out on the past.

“In my job, you always have reasons to become paranoid, so I do not want to go the way to think that people are not honest.”

Wenger refused to reveal which club he was managing when the bribery incident took place.

The Frenchman spent three years at Nancy before taking charge of fellow Ligue 1 outfit Monaco for seven years.

He then moved to Japan to manage Grampus Eight before taking over at the helm at Arsenal in 1996.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Premier League betting odds suggest they are still in with a chance of winning the title this season.

However, they remain six points behind Chelsea and have an inferior goal difference after both teams won at the weekend.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Wenger reveals player bribery

Wenger quick to forget cup exit

John — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:43:55 +0000

Arsenal fans will quickly forget the FA Cup defeat at Stoke on Sunday if they can return to the top of the Premier League after their busy round of fixtures with top clubs.

The Gunners drew with Aston Villa last night at Villa Park and wins against Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool will see Arsene Wenger’s men back on top and with it the 3-1 cup reverse long forgotten.

But while most fans have been mulling over their cup exit, the boss Arsene Wenger has already put the defeat to bed.

Wenger rested several of his big guns and his young outfit were beaten late on by a competitive Stoke side, but Wenger has insisted he was right to leave out his first-choice goalkeeper and back four and is certainly not dwelling on the FA Cup result at The Britannia.

Wenger said:

“I do what I feel is right and that’s it.

“I already forgot Stoke, I did not know we even played at Stoke because I am focused on tomorrow. That is the most important thing.”

“I didn’t want to go out of the FA Cup on purpose.

“With 12 minutes to go, it was 1-1. It was a very tight game and at Stoke, it is like that.

“We got caught on the counter-attack when we tried to win the game and that can happen.

“They scored a perfect second goal on the break and unfortunately that’s where we lost the game.

“It was very tight. We did fight very hard.”

Wegner will be hoping that a well-rested first time will boost Arsenal’s Premier League title chances.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Wenger quick to forget cup exit

Aston Villa 0 – 0 Arsenal match report

John — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:14:52 +0000

Arsenal finished the game tonight away at Aston Villa in a goalless draw.

The match was an open encounter with plenty of chances for both sides, Fabregas hitting the post in the first half and Rosicky the bar in the second.

Here was how Arsenal lined up :

Almunia
Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy
Fabregas, Rosicky, Denilson,
Ramsey, Arshavin
Eduardo

Arsenal went into the game knowing a win would put them back on top of the table with games with Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool to follow in the next fortnight.

The Gunners didn’t settle well in the first half, but were unlucky not to go ahead when a moment of Fabregas magic got him past two men, his strike beating Friedel in goal but coming back off the far post.

Vermaelen appeared to pick up a knock on the shin on the half hour mark and had to be replaced by Sol Campbell, an injury that will be a worry for Wenger ahead of Sunday’s match with Man Utd. Credit to old man Campbell though, he had a solid game after coming on as substitute.

Arsenal sustained another injury in the second half, Eduardo pulling out of the chase for the ball with what looked like a thigh strain. At least the Villa man put the ball out of play when this occurred though; let’s hope Everton saw that…

Eduardo’s injury brought about the introduction of Bendtner, who looked a little rusty and short of a bit of pace but his return is certainly welcome, what with the state our attacking players are in (mostly injured, that is).

The game opened up a great deal in the second half, and I would have found both sides counter attacking exciting if my nerves weren’t completely wrecked and I hadn’t chewed through half my fingernails. Arsenal had a handful of chances but couldn’t convert.

I’d being thinking to myself that if we came through the 4 games with Villa, Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool with 10 points I would be a happy Gooner. It looks then that the Gunners will just have to go and beat Utd, Chelsea and Liverpool to satisfy me then.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Aston Villa 0 – 0 Arsenal match report

Silencing the critics

John — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:11:41 +0000

Something is afoot in the mind of the man too often compared with Patrick Vieira. Physical appearances aside, Wenger himself has felt moved to document the radical differences in the playing styles of our current number two and our former captain. As a player whose confidence dominates his performances to an unusually high degree, removing this albatross from Abou Diaby’s neck might be just the trick to sustaining his recent fine form.

For large parts of his Arsenal career the midfielder has taken more flak than anyone in the side since the dark days of Emanuel Eboue’s fall from the fans’ affections. His passing has at times been woeful and his decision making sluggish, leading to suggestions he lacked the high-level spatial skills that lift the greatest midfielders above their peers – a complete awareness of the location and destination of each player and run on the field.

The charge most commonly levelled at him is that, for all the brilliance of his footwork and powerful, effortless running, the outstanding moments have been all too fleeting. Inconsistency has plagued his game. This hasn’t been helped by repeated injury problems, the worst of which – a broken ankle sustained against Sunderland – almost brought a premature end to his career.

Yet suddenly it’s all coming together for him. Scarcely a pass misplaced, no moments of utter madness (Old Trafford lives long in the memory) and no injuries. Diaby’s linkup play with Fabregas and Song has been exceptional, and with such complementary attributes between the players, this trio are looking like the most potent midfield in the league. As an incisive box to box threat, Diaby is fast setting the standard as one of the best in the business, something that has boosted Arsenal’s Premier League chances. The challenge is keeping him fit and focused. Wenger seems to have the latter under control. With a World Cup this summer there could be no greater incentive for Diaby to do all that he can to avoid further mishaps.

Meanwhile, in other sports news, the odds for this year’s Cheltenham Festival are already starting to hot up and could be worth keeping an eye on.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Silencing the critics

Wenger hits out at international friendlies

John — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:38:56 +0000

Arsene Wenger has once again criticised international friendlies after Dutch striker Robin Van Persie was injured during a recent match against Italy.

The 26-year-old suffered ankle ligament damage and is now likely to remain sidelined until April at the earliest.

Wenger has now revealed that the Gunners will be seeking compensation from the Dutch Football Federation and he has called for a ban on all friendlies taking place during the domestic season.

Prior to Sunday’s win over Liverpool the Frenchman said: “I believe that the friendlies during the season should be banned”.

“Contrary to what people say I believe they are made to make money and for diplomatic purposes, for political purposes.”

Wenger’s anger over the Van Persie injury will have been further fuelled by a misdiagnosis from the national team doctors. Despite the seriousness of the damage, it was originally announced that the forward would be out for just a few weeks.

Wenger explained: “Initially, the Dutch FA said it was a small problem and Robin called me to see if he could go and see this Serbian wonder doctor and it was okay.

“It was only when he came back here that we realised there was much more damage. In Holland they have a fight between the national doctor and the guy that did the surgery on Robin.”

Arsenal will now be hoping to receive compensation for the incident and the Gunners boss added: “We are working on this with our lawyers and we are definitely going for it.

“I expect compensation for the damage it can make to the championship.”

Indeed, the injury is likely to have had some impact on Arsenal’s Premier League odds.

Van Persie’s striking replacement, Andrey Arshavin has continued to flourish in a more central role, scoring the winner against Liverpool. However, with more than half of the season to go, and ground still to be made up on leaders Chelsea, Wenger will be hoping that the damage he talks of does not prove to be critical.

Meanwhile, sporting pundits have already turned their eyes to the 2010 Cheltenham Festival as they weigh up the prospects of the likely runners at the event.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Wenger hits out at international friendlies

Young guns set to be unleashed once again

John — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:21:51 +0000

Arsene Wenger’s youngsters will be given more chances to shine in the coming weeks as Arsenal continue to fight on all four fronts.

With a Carling Cup clash at Manchester City swiftly followed by Premier and Champions League matches, Wenger will turn to a number of different players to see the Gunners through the busy festive period.

The Arsenal boss is well known for his youthful selections in the Carling Cup and despite coming up against high quality opposition this week, his policy is unlikely to change.

Speaking on the official club website, Wenger said:

“The Carling Cup is a competition that is not one of our priorities, but we go to Manchester City to win a game,”

“We’ll play our young players in the Carling Cup, and some of them will play in the Champions League [at Olympiacos next week] as well because we are already qualified.”

Sunday’s defeat to Chelsea has put even more pressure on Arsenal’s Premier League title odds and if they are to keep up with their London rivals, Wenger knows that they must get back to winning ways at the earliest possible opportunity.

He added:

“For us it is important to win in the Premier League [against Stoke] because we lost two games, and that of course is a massive disappointment. And two games for the first time we didn’t score. We are used to scoring goal after goal, but at the moment we aren’t scoring.”

The lack of goals may have a lot to do with the absence of Robin Van Persie, who could now miss the rest of the season after injuring an ankle while on international duty. Eduardo and Carlos Vela were both given the chance to impress against Chelsea but neither managed to breach the opposition defence.

Rather than spend money on a new striker in January, the perfect answer for Wenger, would be for a youngster, like Vela, to make a real impact on the first team in the coming weeks.

As the Arsenal manager said, prior to the Chelsea match:

“If you have to respect your budget, every mistake you make costs money and you have to be able to afford that.”

While Wenger could maybe afford one or two mistakes, the pot is certainly not limitless and promoting from within may just prove to be the more lucrative option both on and off the pitch.

In other sports news, the odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup are tightening up, so it could be worth your while to keep your eye on them for future betting opportunities.

By Josh Allen

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Young guns set to be unleashed once again

It’s Vela Time!

John — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:18:13 +0000

Carlos Vela has been likened to Robbie Fowler, as Gunners boss Arsene Wenger banks on the Mexican to make a big impact on Arsenal’s football betting odds in the coming weeks.

Injuries to Robin Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner have thrust Vela into the limelight and the 20 year old came on during the second half of Saturday’s Premier League defeat to Sunderland.

The youngster is also currently in negotiations over a new contract, with Wenger hoping that Vela can become a key player at the Emirates for years to come.

Speaking on the official Arsenal website, the Gunners boss said: “We are extending his contract at the moment, we are in a situation where we get these players in at 15 or 16 and work very hard for five years with them. After that we do not want to give them away.

“Vela is a fantastic talent and he is 20-years-old. We have invested a lot of time for him because we put him in Spain for two years, got him back and now we work with him every day.

“I believe he is a Robbie Fowler-type. He needs very little time to make a decision in the box. He is relaxed when he finishes and he has very short back-lift. He is left-footed and he is a similar size.”

Vela may have only made 10 starts for the club since joining in 2007 but he has already impressed many, after showcasing flair and creativity in abundance to increase the sports betting odds. A return of seven goals also catches the eye, given the lack of first team opportunities.

Up until this year, one of the reasons that chances were limited, was the presence of former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor. However, the departure of the Togolese star has opened a door for Vela and he certainly has his manager’s backing.

When asked if Vela’s talent was the reason that he decided not to replace Adebayor, the Frenchman’s answer was simple.

“Yes” the manager replied.

By Josh Allen

Be sure to check out Betfair’s new Front Room for plenty more football banter.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

It’s Vela Time!

Wenger refutes complacency claim

John — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:17:57 +0000

Arsene Wenger has denied claims that Arsenal became complacent during the latter stages of their 2-2 draw with West Ham. The Gunners appeared to be cruising to an important away victory after goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas put Wenger’s side 2-0 up. However, the hosts responded through Carlton Cole and, against all the Premier League football odds, drew level courtesy of an Alessandro Diamanti penalty.

Despite the setback, Wenger says that the Hammers’ resurgence was not down to his players underestimating their opponents.

“It is not complacency” said the Frenchman after the match.

“We just have to continue to play in a rigorous way, respect the game we love. That is what we forgot sometimes and we have paid for it. We play at top quality and at the moment we do not get rewarded for what we produce.”

This was the second successive game in which Arsenal threw away a lead, after they were pegged back by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar in midweek.

Wenger expressed disappointment at that result but seemed more concerned by the unnecessary nature of Sunday’s draw.

“In the Champions League it can happen that you are 1-0 up and are caught on a free-kick in the last minute” he said. “Today it has not to happen. At 2-0 we lost the way we want to play the game. And when a team come back to 2-1 and you are away from home you are always under threat to go to 2-2.”

The result represented a missed opportunity for Arsenal, who could have moved to within a point of Manchester United, after the champions went down 2-0 at Liverpool. Wenger’s men now sit in third spot, three points behind United and five behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Wenger refutes complacency claim

Emirates proves its versatility once again

John — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:38:06 +0000

When Arsenal built the Emirates Stadium, its suitability for football was not the only aspect that designers had to consider. As with all truly great stadia, versatility is key, particularly when it comes to increasing the club’s revenue.

On Tuesday the Emirates once again proved it’s worth in that respect, by hosting the FIFA backed 1Goal campaign.

1Goal aims to provide education for every child in the world and the event attracted around 250 guests, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown and a host of former footballers such as Alan Shearer and Marcel Desailly.

Arsene Wenger and Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis were present to greet the guests and show them around the Emirates pitch and stadium facilities.

After the event, Gazidis said:

“We are absolutely delighted that Emirates Stadium was chosen to host this important worldwide event, with so many VIPs in attendance.”

“Emirates Stadium has quickly established itself as a leading event venue not only in London but throughout the UK and Europe. We are proud that we have built a successful and reputable events offer which rivals any other established events venue.

“Since Arsenal Football Club moved to Emirates Stadium in July 2006, as well as nearly 100 Arsenal football matches taking place here, we have hosted two major music concerts, an Anglo-French governmental summit, X Factor auditions, many weddings, as well as hundreds of corporate conferences and private events.”

The key to the Emirates success is an all encompassing design that includes two hospitality suites, as well as the facilities to stage anything from a concert to a live satellite link-up. The latter was incorporated into the FIFA 1Game event and allowed guests to view messages of support from world leaders.

Despite only opening three years ago, the stadium has already won a host of awards and has undoubtedly played a major part in Arsenal’s recent pre-tax profit of £45.5million. With a weapon like this in the club’s financial armoury, Gazidis and the Gunners board have every right to be positive.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Emirates proves its versatility once again