Arsenal Online

Arsene Wenger set to extend Arsenal contract

John — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:19:16 +0000

Arsene Wenger has today given his biggest hint yet that he is close to signing a new contract, and wishes to finish his managerial contract with Arsenal.

Wenger, who has one year remaining on his contract often leaves it late when renewing, but wants to show his faith in his team and his belief in the project he has been building at the Emirates for the last several years.

“I have to show how much I believe in this team by showing my commitment, my situation will be sorted out very soon.”

“I believe my commitment to the club has nothing do with the speculation of how the season would go, because that would be unfair.
If I do not do well, and one day the club is not happy with me I can completely understand that I do not stay here any more. But I believe we will do well.”

“What will be success is to improve from last year, which is to win the league – that is the only benchmark – You cannot finish third and then say for the season after, you want to finish behind that. We are a young side and the improvement is natural – the ambition is there, we are hungry for success.”

“We know people want more from us and we are ready to give more, but success is to win the league.”

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Arsene Wenger set to extend Arsenal contract

Is Arshavin’s commitment in doubt?

John — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:56:15 +0000

Arsene Wenger has spoken of his disappointment at the comments attributed to Andrey Arshavin this week.

The 28-year-old Russian reportedly revealed his admiration for the Gunners’ Champions League conquerors Barcelona and expressed a desire to play for the Catalan giants, saying “it would be the pinnacle” of his career.

His agent immediately denied Arshavin was looking for a move, but Wenger, although slightly uncertain if the reports should be taken at face value, is still unhappy with the comments.

“Yes, I am very disappointed because he shows a completely different attitude,” Wenger said.

“He wants to extend his contract with us and stay with us, so the noise coming out of Russia is very difficult to explain. He looks to be very happy here, so you should ask him where it comes from.”

Wenger had every right to show his displeasure. Whether Arshavin’s comments have been taken out of context or badly translated, he should have known better. He should be concentrating on being ready to help justify Arsenal’s Champions League betting odds next season, rather than thinking about other clubs he might be able to win trophies with.

It’s not the first time the Russian’s quotes have hit the headlines. He has, on several occasions, appeared to question Arsenal’s direction during a season of frustration, but he needs to learn and fast if he is to enjoy a long career at The Emirates.

It could have been worse though, he could have voiced his appreciation for North-London rivals Spurs – that would have seen him given the boot straight away.

But on a serious note Wenger is fully committed to the club and it’s only correct he should expect the same from his players.

Meanwhile, another player linked with a move to Barcelona faces a race to be fit for the World Cup.

Cesc Fabregas will play for Spain if he is fit, but with the side currently favourites in the World Cup 2010 betting, manager Vicente del Bosque will know he can’t afford to carry any dead weight if he is to win the tournament.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Is Arshavin’s commitment in doubt?

Robin’s return too late to fire Gunners

John — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:34:37 +0000

Robin van Persie’s 25-minute cameo at White Hart Lane on Wednesday was enough to have Arsenal fans thinking what might have been.

The Dutch striker returned after five months on the sidelines with an ankle injury he picked up on international duty with Holland and looked like he had never been away.

He immediately lifted the Gunners after his second-half introduction and but for two fine saves from Heurelho Gomes he would have got on the scoresheet.

His display in the 2-1 defeat to Spurs, which included a sublime turn, a brilliant free-kick, and a well-executed swivelling volley, must have made fans realise what they have been missing.

How would Manchester United have managed without Wayne Rooney for half the season and how would Chelsea have done without Didier Drogba?

They are two key players for Arsenal’s title rivals and there can be no doubting van Persie is Arsenal’s attacking kingpin. Van Persie’s return will also be a boost for Holland, who are many people’s World Cup tips.

The sheer amount of goals that Rooney and Drogba have contributed to their respective teams highlights their importance and even a 15-goal haul from van Persie would surely have seen Arsenal to the top of the league.

Arsene Wenger’s men are now six points behind leaders Chelsea with just four games to play, while Manchester United are two points ahead and Arsenal’s hopes of title glory have all but evaporated.

Nicklas Bendtner has filled in admirably, but van Persie is world class and has been sorely missed at The Emirates and things would have been very different if the Dutchman had stayed fit.

For his part, Bentdtner will now be looking to help his national side spring a surprise, with Denmark’s World Cup betting standings making them outsiders for the tournament.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

Robin’s return too late to fire Gunners

From Morecambe to Barcelona

John — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:46:25 +0000

Sol Campbell has had a remarkable season. The 35-year-old centre-back left Portsmouth last summer and signed for ambitious League Two outfit Notts County under the guidance of Sven-Goran Eriksson.

But after just one game – a 2-1 defeat against Morecambe – Campbell walked out on the Magpies and his five-year deal was cancelled by mutual consent. Now, just six months later and with Gallas injured for the trip to the Nou Camp, Campbell is set to line-up against Barcelona – the last side big Sol faced in his previous spell with the Gunners.

Campbell actually scored in that meeting – the 2006 Champions League final – and to see him play against the Catalan giants again will be, as Arsene Wenger said, “amazing”.

“It is unbelievable, he played at Notts County six months ago. That he can turn up and play against Barcelona is quite amazing,” the Frenchman said.

It’s been a remarkable 12 months for Campbell, who arrived back at Arsenal in January, and if he can help shackle Lionel Messi and co in the second leg I think his return will have been justified. But marking Morecambe frontman Paul Mullin and keeping Messi in check is a whole different ball game.

The big defender has made two Champions League appearances this term, scoring in the 2-1 defeat at Porto but his task won’t be envied by any defender in the world at the moment.

Messi has been in devastating form, scoring 30 goals in all competitions and chipping in with over 50 assists for Pep Guardiola’s men. The World Cup 2010 odds also make Messi one of the favourites to be top scorer at that tournament, underlining the threat he poses.

Arsenal’s Champions League odds suggest the side will have a tough time against Barcelona and Campbell will have to roll back the years to keep the Argentina ace quiet again, if he does it will be some achievement and it could help swing the tie.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

From Morecambe to Barcelona

St Andrew’s curse halts Gunners

John — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:39:27 +0000

The days of St Andrew’s being a happy hunting ground for the Gunners are well and truly over.

Arsenal won 4-0 in the Midlands back in 2002/03 and grabbed a 3-0 win the following season, but since then Arsene Wenger’s men have tasted victory just once and Saturday’s draw, like the one two years ago, has put the skids on the Gunners’ title charge.

Sami Nasri’s 81st-minute strike looked like being enough for Arsenal. It was strike good enough to win any game and if he pulls a few more of those out the bag between now and the end of the season, then he should find himself in South Africa with France, who are currently eighth favourites in the World Cup 2010 online betting.

However, on Saturday sub Kevin Phillips popped up to equalise at the death, leaving the Gunners four points behind leaders Manchester United.

It was a shattering blow and just as damaging as the one struck by James McFadden two years ago when he rescued a late point for Birmingham against the Gunners in a 2-2 draw.

That game was marred by the horrific injury to Eduardo and although there were no leg breaks this time, Cesc Fabregas did pick up a knock which almost forced him off. Arsene Wenger was keen to keep him on even with Wednesday’s tussle with Barcelona looming. The midfielder is facing a few days of intensive treatment on the heavy blow he took from Craig Gardner.

Wenger, who ahead of the game said he had not forgiven Martin Taylor for his lunge on Eduardo two years ago, described the tackle as “another bad one” but he is hopeful Fabregas will line up against Barca.

Still it was another disappointing end to a trip to Birmingham, which at one state looked like being a victorious one despite The Gunners not being at their free-flowing best. Arsenal’s Premier League betting odds suggest they are still in with a chance of the title, but Wenger will know his side cannot afford to slip up again.

St Andrew’s was thought to have had a 100-year curse placed on it when it was built something, which prompted former boss Barry Fry to urinate in all four corners of the ground in the 1990s to try and lift the hex.

The so-called curse was lifted in 2006, but try telling that to Wenger who might well have been advised to take a toilet stop on the pitch before leaving on the team bus in preparation for next season’s visit.

This post is from: Arsenal Online

St Andrew’s curse halts Gunners

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