Have Arsenal abandoned the hunt for a defensive midfielder?
Arsenal were thought to be on the verge of signing a big, strong, tough tackling defensive midfielder in the summer, with Yann M’Vila and Etienne Capoue two of the favourites. The window opened and closed and Arsenal, despite having money to spend did not sign an enforcer.
Arsene Wenger had said that he would only buy a player who would improve the squad, so does that mean he thought there were no defensive midfielders good enough? Or did he think that Arsenal do not need such a player?
Arsenal eyeing top-class striker for January transfer window
Posted on October 11, 2012 by admin
There are reports this morning that Arsene Wenger has instructed his Arsenal scouts to identify a top-class striker to be brought in during the January transfer window, with Fernando Llorente, Adrián López, Robert Lewandowski and Stevan Jovetic reported to be top of his wish-list.
Although Wenger has been experimenting with different players in the centre-forward role, the Frenchman has realised that only having Olivier Giroud as his only out-and-out hitman could be a negative in the second half of the season if Arsenal are going to aim to challenge on all fronts against the much deeper squads of Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs.
Gazidis – Arsene Wenger looks at a players value, not his price!
Posted on October 11, 2012 by admin
The Arsenal Chief Exec Ivan Gazidis has been talking about the way that Arsene Wenger does his transfer business, and he says that the price of a player will not influence the Frenchman’s decisions in the transfer market but he is more concerned on whether the targeted player can actually improve the squad.
“I don’t think Arsene is conservative, I think he is extraordinarily brave. I think he does things others don’t do and sees things others don’t see,” Gazidis said on Radio 5 Live.
Santi Cazorla replaces Juan Mata in Spain’s midfield
Posted on October 11, 2012 by admin
The Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has had a fantastic influence on the Gunners since his arrival this summer from Malaga, and he has been rewarded with a suprise call upto the Spain national team ahead of the Chelsea player Juan Mata.
Cazorla was asked if he was picked because of the rave reviews coming out of England since his arrival at Arsenal: “It could be that.” Santi Cazorla said. “In the few months I have spent there, there has been more talk about me, I feel important at Arsenal, I want to keep growing and I hope I can improve a lot into the future,Juan Mata is very highly rated, he is doing great work and that is especially recognized in England. But the coach decides who comes with the national team.”
Vermaelen believes Belgium are ready to qualify for World Cup
Posted on October 11, 2012 by admin
Thomas Vermaelen’s Belgium team have not been given an easy Qualifying Group for the World Cup, but with players like Jan Vertonghen, Eden Hazard, Mousa Dembel and Marouane Fellaini, as well as the Arsenal captain, in the side they are very hopeful of reaching Brazil in 2014. Belgium face real competition from Croatia and Serbia but Vermaelen believes that they have the squad to do it this time around.
Vermaelen said: “At the moment everyone is really positive about the national team, especially in England because they know a lot of players in the Premier League that play for Belgium,”.
Who Arsenal should buy? – Midfielders
Posted on October 10, 2012 by admin
Wenger has the money Part 2
Yesterday, I touched upon what strikers we could use with the recent news revealing that Wenger has £40 million to play with in January.
Looking at our midfield, it seems a bit lacking in quality at times. Without Diaby our midfield doesn’t seem physical enough for games like Stoke, West Ham, Man City etc. We were lucky against West Ham as there were numerous occasions where Diame broke free from midfield marauding into dangerous attacking positions.
Looking at our midfield, it seems a bit lacking in quality at times. Without Diaby our midfield doesn’t seem physical enough for games like Stoke, West Ham, Man City etc. We were lucky against West Ham as there were numerous occasions where Diame broke free from midfield marauding into dangerous attacking positions.
Arsenal keeper will leave for Italy while young striker signs first Pro contract
Posted on October 10, 2012 by Bob
Arsenal have signed up the promising young striker Chuba Akpom now he is 17-years old. The talented teenager has been playing regular games with the under-21 team and scored on Monday after an assist by Jack Wilshere.
The young striker has been involved with the England youth teams and impressed at the under-17 Nordic tournament last year, scoring three goals. Hopefully another star of the future is now committed to being a Gunner.
The Ox will get new Arsenal deal and wants 100 England Caps!
Posted on October 10, 2012 by Bob
Just over a year after buying Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton, senior figures at Arsenal are ready to give the 19-year old England international a new and improved contract as a reward for his fantastic, form and improvement since coming to the Emirates. The Ox works as hard as his namesake and has got a brilliant attitude.
Due to the exceptional players in the Arsenal midfield this season and the formations used by Arsene Wenger, Ox has not played as much as he might have expected for the Gunners, but he was looking a little tired after a long season and summer.
Barcelona’s Puyol injury may give Arsenal’s Cazorla start for Spain
Posted on October 10, 2012 by Bob
Santi Cazorla has been outstanding for Arsenal since moving from La Liga side Malaga in the summer. His name was unfamiliar to many people in this country and their is a common assumption that he is struggling to get a place in the Spanish national side. Cazorla may get a rare start this week as Spain travel to Belarus for the first of two World Cup qualifiers, the second being against France.
Spain are blessed with lots of talented midfielders, many of whom have similar playing styles, such as Iniesta, Fabregas, Silva and Xavi. Cazorla could get the nod, however, with his Arsenal performances drawing interest all over the world. Cazorla has already got 48 caps for Spain and two European championship winner’s medals.
Arsenal want extra game to get Wilshere and Sagna ready for the Premier league
Posted on October 10, 2012 by Bob
After playing their first competitive football for Arsenal in 14 and 6 months respectively, Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna needed an international break like Steve Bould needs a hairdryer. The next scheduled under 21 match is not until the night of Monday 22nd October which would mean a two week break for the players.
Emmanuel Frimpong is also on the verge of being ready for the first team so Arsenal are trying to arrange another game before the 22nd. All three players will be twiddling their thumbs, desperate to get on to a football pitch. They have done plenty of gym work and training but it is match fitness and sharpness that they need.
Arsenal will never sell on loan Park Chu-Young
Posted on October 10, 2012 by Bob
Arsenal have released their accounts which are looking pretty good, showing that Arsene Wenger should have a decent war chest to spend in January. Another interesting thing apparent from the figures is the news that the club have given up any hope of ever selling the South Korean international striker, Park Chu-Young.
Park signed for Arsenal last summer just before the transfer window closed, and this is one panic buy that did not go well. The young (get it) Korean was half way through his medical for Lille when he heard about interest from the Gunners and cut short his tests. He may now wish he had gone through with it after making one single solitary league appearance as a substitute for eight minutes in his Arsenal career.
Scotland scared to death of Aaron Ramsey!
Posted on October 10, 2012 by admin
Scotland face Wales in a crucial World Cup Qualifier in Cardiff on Friday. After just two matches played Wales are still pointless, while Scotland only have 2 points on the board, so both sides desperately need a win to put them into contention to reach Brazil in 2014.
The last time these two met in Cardiff Wales ran out easy 3-0 winners, and the Scotland defender Gary Caldwell has been trying to forget that dismal display that day, but he certainly remembers the performance of one Arsenal midfielder. Caldwell said: “I played in that game but that’s been banished from my memory. I don’t know what happened that day.
