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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Wilshere backs Wenger to carry on

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has insisted that Arsene Wenger is still the right man to lead the club despite the constant speculation regarding his future.
The Gunners have struggled so far this season, suffering a number of disappointing defeats, most notably in the League Cup where they were eliminated last week by League Two Bradford City.
The results have prompted a lot of questions about the Frenchman’s future in North London and some fans and soccer betting news reporters now feel that Wenger’s time at the club could be up, following seven years without winning a major trophy.
Wilshere was one of the few Gunners players to perform at Valley Parade and after missing all of last season through injury, the 20-year-old has certainly impressed since returning to fitness.
Despite his young age, the playmaker is now seen as one of Arsenal’s most important players and has regularly credited Wenger with constantly helping him to realise his massive potential.
Wilshere has now reiterated his belief that the 63-year-old is the right man to guide the team and has backed him to lead his side out of their latest slump.
 “For me, there is no question he is the right man. You cannot start questioning him because we have had a few bad results. The players have to look at themselves," Wilshere said to Premier League betting news reporters.

"Every year he has been in the Champions League and there is no other manager who has done that. He brought the Total Football, if you like, to Arsenal - the passing game.”
"He has also been great for me, has shown great faith in me from when I was young. He stuck with me when I was injured and has still stuck by me."

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Arsenal would benefit from midfielder Strootman inclusion

If Arsenal’s recent performances have told us anything, it is they desperately need some midfield nous in their ranks. Losses to Swansea, Olympiacos and the humbling to Bradford City in the League Cup could all have been avoided had a strong body sat in the centre of midfield.

Boss Arsene Wenger has failed to deliver in bringing up a defensive midfielder through the ranks. The perpetually injured Abou Diaby has never risen to the standard needed for a title-challenging side while Francis Coquelin is too inexperienced for that role.

Not since Gilberto Silva have Arsenal had a proper holding midfielder that can retain the ball, instruct the midfield and break down attacks simply with his positional play. Rarely do we see the crunching tackles Patrick Vieira and Gilberto used to combat opponents, Wenger instead opting for quieter players who, although gifted on the ball, have no idea how to structure a midfield.

When Vieira left, Gilberto filled the hole before it was time for Mathieu Flamini to step up with Cesc Fabregas alongside. Arsenal’s inability to secure Flamini’s services effectively ruined Wenger’s plans for a side ready to win trophies back in 2007/08.

Since then the squad has mentally weakened and, heading into the January transfer window, something must be done to strengthen the midfield. One man who Wenger should look to bring in is Kevin Strootman, PSV’s 22-year-old midfielder, who has all the qualities of a hardened DM having learned from the best in the business: Dutch team-mate Mark van Bommel.

With 15 international caps to his name Strootman has perfected the driving midfielder role that has made Yaya Toure and Xavi Alonso such great successors in the Premier League.

Wenger must sign in January and Strootman is the man to fill a desperately needed gap in their midfield. If the bossfails to spend Arsenal may fall outside the top four this season, meaning he ability to attract world-class players would be lost.
Check the Betfair FA Cup  markets before the third round in a fortnight’s time or if you want to have a flutter on Leeds v Chelsea, makes sure you check out the latest Capital One Cup Betting.