Mirror Football

Sky Sports | Football

Arsenal News

Football Results

Barclays Premier League News

Arsenal News-Wire

Arseblog - "It"s fuckin" excellent"...an Arsenal blog.

Thierry Henry - Arsenal's Legend

Arsenal FC Blog

Arsenal Times News

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Can Arsenal find that one defender needed to reach the summit?

Arsenal have proved time and time again over the years that they can be nothing short of brilliant when going forward in attack, but, at the same time, Arsenal have apparently done all they can to prove how inept and downright awful they can be defensively, a trend that new boy Carl Jenkinson managed to demonstrate all too neatly in the Gunners' recent friendly game against FC Cologne.

With Arsene Wenger having announced that he is now quite simply desperate to sign a new defender who can bring a little more stability and security to the back line, and perhaps aid the development of the club’s promising young goalkeeper, who may be talented but still has a lot of work to do in order to bring his distribution skills up to the level expected of a world class goalkeeper, Gunners fans know all too well that the manager's failure to find a decent defender in the current transfer window would leave Arsenal well short of possessing the required talent to win the Premier League next season. Those looking to bet on Premier League winner should bear this in mind.

However, if Arsenal do decide to buck the trend and splash the cash on Chris Samba or Gary Cahill, they would be instantly handed the chance to be able to defeat the more physical sides in England who have been able to bully them into submission in recent years. The Premier League best odds reflect this.

If, and only if, this happens over the coming weeks, then summer 2011 perhaps won't be viewed as a complete failure for them after all, even if Cesc Fabregas does leave to follow his heart and play for Barcelona.

With Wenger a manager now under more pressure than ever before, only time will tell as to whether Arsene knows, or Arsene only used to know when it comes to signing top players who can turn the Gunners into genuine title challengers.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Eboue set for Galatasaray switch

Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue is close to leaving Arsenal after the club agreed a deal to sell the Ivorian to Turkish club Galatasaray for around £4 million.

Eboue has been a consistent performer for the Gunners since joining from Belgian club Beveren in 2005, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to have run out of patience with the 28 year old after he gave away a vital penalty which lead to Arsenal conceding two late goals and dropping two valuable points from a winning position.

Wenger is still in the market for defensive back up after a series of errors at the back last year, with those who get free bets backing Everton’s Phil Jagielka to arrive at the Emirates despite Arsenal having a £10 million bid for the England international turned down last week.

Eboue is not on Arsenal’s tour of east Asia, with a calf injury cited as the reason for his absence, although talks between the player’s agent and Galatasaray are expected to get underway this week.

Also on his way out of the Emirates is Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who is on the verge of completing a £1 million switch to Championship side Ipswich, while Wenger is still hopeful of shipping out Danish international Nicklas Bendtner and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as the Arsenal boss goes in search of raising funds to bring in players that will help end the club’s current six year trophy-less run.

Neither Almunia or Bendtner were on the Gunner’s trip to Germany last week or are they currently in Asia as Bendtner discusses terms with Borrusia Dortmund while Almunia has attracted interest from Atletico Madrid, Malaga and Fenerbahce.

Gael Clichy has already departed for Manchester City in a £7 million move, while Denilson has been farmed out on loan to Brazilian side Sao Paulo, while Ivorian striker Gervinho arrived from Lille earlier this month.

Those who bet with paypal believe Arsenal will struggle to break their trophy-less duck this season, especially with the danger of losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas threatening becoming a reality.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Are Arsenal more suited to Europe?

It has been six years since Arsenal have won any trophies but maybe their style of play is suited to the Champions League more than the Premier League.

The Gunners have not won anything since the 2005 FA Cup and since that date they have come up short in both the Premier League and the Champions League competitions.

The argument thrown at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is his reluctance to spend big money to bring in huge stars to the Emirates, while there remains the constant criticism aimed at their defence and goalkeeping situation. Those looking at the Champions League betting will wonder why things haven't been changed.

Former Gunners legend Patrick Vieira, who was part of the famous 'Invincibles' side, reckons the team now play better football than the Arsenal side he was in – but their lack of physicality means they will not win the Premier League.

The fluent, attacking brand of football that Wenger has his team playing is possibly more suited to the Champions League rather than the physical rigours of the English Premier League.

But after slipping down to fourth in the Premier League last season, it means Arsenal now have to qualify for the Champions League – making it even harder to win that competition.

Vieira reckons the passing and movement of the current Arsenal team is "better" than it was in his day but they are just lacking the "physical" and "intimidating" characters they had. Anyone placing a Champions League bet should bear this in mind.

"Since I left Arsenal, there are new players, a new generation and maybe a new philosophy because Arsenal play better football than we used to do in my time," the Frenchman said.

"I honestly believe that the Arsenal team now are playing better than we were then. The difference is we put silverware on the sideboard."

Chelsea seem to be the English side most desperate to win a Champions League trophy, as it is the one competition they have not won in Roman Abramovich's time in charge.

New boss Andres Villas-Boas has come out recently and pledged his intention to bring the Champions League trophy to Stamford Bridge in his first season in charge.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Denilson to Return to Brazil

Arsenal midfielder, Denilson, is to return to his native Brazil on loan, following a disappointing season at the Emirates Stadium.

Denilson signed for the Gunners from Sao Paulo in August 2006. Two months later he made his debut against West Bromwich Albion in a Carling Cup match, but would have to wait until December for the opportunity to play a game in the Premier League. The midfielder has enjoyed a productive partnership with Cesc Fabregas in subsequent years.

However, a back injury, coupled with the emergence of Jack Wilshere consigned Denílson to the bench during the 2010/11 season. Fans of Betfair Premier League action will know he wasn't at his best when he did get a chance to play.

Denilson scored six goals for Arsenal in 96 appearances, but success in a major competition evaded the Brazilian.

"I move away from Arsenal with sadness because I have so many friends at Arsenal", Denílson said.

He added that he is focussed on next season, but will "always be looking out for the Arsenal results".

It is currently unclear where he will be returning to Arsenal once the loan period ends, or whether it will become a permanent move. Those following the football betting will no doubt keep track of developments.

It is currently unknown which Brazilian club Denílson will be playing for during the 2011/12 season.

Denilson joins Carlos Tevez as the second high-profile Premier League player to be linked with a a team in South America. However, Tevez's transfer to S.C. Corinthians could yet fall through, after the president of the Sao Paulo-based club Andres Sanchez claimed that Manchester City have "not accepted" Corinthians' latest offer.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Arsenal’s Future

Arsenal’s future appears to be hanging on a knife edge right now. With club captain Cesc Fabregas forever destined to leave the club and join his boyhood favourite club (and the place where he began his career as a trainee) Barcelona, and Samir Nasri being chased intensely by both Manchester clubs, this summer could prove to mark the beginning of the end of Arsene Wenger’s 15 year project.

With the sale of Gael Clichy to league rivals Manchester City last week, Arsenal fans must be praying that he is the anomaly rather than the precedent. In Clichy, Arsenal had one of the most consistent left backs in the league. Whether Keiran Gibbs is ready to step up is debatable. Nicholas Bendtner, Manuel Almunia and Robin Van Persie have all been linked with other clubs, so Wenger will do well this summer to keep his team in one piece.

Nasri had a wonderful season last year. He has become one of the most sought-after attacking midfielders in the world, and much of that credit has to go to Wenger.

Bought from Marseille in 2008 for £12 million, he had a solid first two seasons but failed to set the league alight. Last season however, Nasri stepped his game up and performed at the highest level, week in, week out. Wenger has stated on countless times that it is imperative to Arsenal’s near-future that they keep Nasri next season, even though his contract is due to end in 2012.

One feels that Arsenal needs both Nasri and Fabregas to stay if they want to be considered genuine title challengers.

Why not check out Fruit Machines online while you wait for the start of the new season by the way?

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wenger 'must spend to be successful'

Robin van Persie has made it clear he thinks Arsenal need to spend big to win trophies, and many fans will agree they need a transformation to have any chance of winning the Champions League.

The Gunners have not won a trophy in six years and have seen themselves fall behind Manchester United and Chelsea in the Premier League and Champions League, while big-spending Manchester City also seem to have overtaken Arsenal. Those placing a Champions League bet will be wondering if Arsenal can cut it.

Arsene Wenger's side dropped down to fourth in the Premier League last season, meaning they will have to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, while a turbulent summer has seen them fighting to keep key players.

Gael Clichy has departed the Emirates for City, while both captain Cesc Fabregas and midfielder Samir Nasri are being heavily linked with moves away before the new season begins. Those following the Champions League betting will be keeping a close eye on transfer issues.

If Arsenal lost those two midfield catalysts they would be struggling to keep up with the big-boys of both the Premier League and Champions League, with striker Gervinho the only incoming face of the summer for Wenger.

Dutch forward Van Persie admits "proper players cost money" but Wenger may have to break with his usual tactic of spending smaller sums on young talent rather than breaking the bank for quality.

Van Persie told the Daily Mail: "The way I feel now is that a few signings are more than welcome,"

"Every other team is buying quality players, so hopefully we will do the same."

Theo Walcott recently stated he thought Arsenal need to bolster their squad if they wanted to end their trophy drought, with the England man stating they need to keep hold of the Gunners "best players" while also bringing in new faces to make a "bigger squad".

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Arsenal at the crossroads

Arsenal are seen as a club in crisis. The expected departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, soon after the exit of Gael Clichy, the last member of the Gunners' 2003/04 'Invincibles', would leave a huge hole in a team that is already under pressure to deliver. Boardroom uncertainty and unrest amongst senior players does not help matters.

However, there is more to this current state of flux at the Emirates Stadium than meets the eye. It is supposed that a six-year trophy drought and associated itchy feet of his top players is forcing Wenger to abandon the self-sustaining transfer model and youth-based recruitment policy that he cherishes. Everyone is saying the manager must splash the cash in the form of massive transfer fees and huge wages and those looking at the Premier League betting odds will agree.

It is true that the Gunners have a tighter wage structure than their main Premier League rivals. The fact that they have made a £27m transfer profit in the last five years, compared with expenditure of £380m at Manchester City and £98m at Chelsea, is indeed admirable.

Nonetheless, they are not averse to making big money signings, most notably Andrey Arshavin and Samir Nasri. It is just that Wenger is adept at making huge profits by moving players on at the right time. The big purchases will inevitably increase in the forthcoming weeks, as Clichy, Nasri and Fabregas are core parts of the current team.

It is no bad thing to replace unmotivated talismanic senior players who dominate the changing room with fresh talent. A transition period will of course ensue, but as Wenger proved in winning the title in his first full season, he can gel players quickly.

If Arsenal are at the crossroads, it might just be that they continue on the same course rather than making a major turning down a different avenue. The cut-price starlets, intermingled with household names will continue to arrive, with the end of season trophy haul the only thing that Wenger will want to change.