By Alan Duffy

"You see this smile on my face? It's only for the cameras, ok? I genuinely despise you"

Currently doing a spot of pre-season training in Spain with new club Shanghai Shenhua, Le Sulk, Nicolas Anelka, has described the hell he had to endure during his final days at Chelsea.

The newest Arsenal starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has burst onto the scene since the New Year and is already being tipped as a certainty to go to the Euro 2012 tournament with England this summer. But the youngster himself is keeping his feet on the ground and is more than happy to just listen and learn [.

I wondered being honest, how long it would take until we heard from either Nico Anelka or Alex after their departures from Chelsea back in last month's transfer window and it hasn't taken long.
The Sun over here in the UK leads with an interview Anelka has given about the end of his Chelsea career and claims he was left to rot with the reserves.

Arsene Wenger is well aware that Jack Wilshere should not have played around 50 games in his first season at Arsenal, which has led to him being injured for the whole of this season, and he is worried about making the same mistake with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Arsenal manager said: "That's what happened to us [.

Make no mistake about it, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has created a buzz amongst Gooners that is only comparable with Charlie Sheen mangled on Tigerblood.
The boy has burst onto the scene in explosive fashion since making his first league start for Arsenal against Manchester United last month.

Robin Van Persie scored a hat-trick and gave three other assists in the 7-1 win over Blackburn this weekend, but the teamwork amongst him, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a joy to watch as they terrorized the Rovers defence. The Ox was starting his fourth game in a row for Arsenal and Van Persie [.

So, Monday morning, eh? After a win, eh? Tends to be quiet, eh?

That last one wasn't a question. It's true. After a win there's a lot less to talk about than after a defeat. This, my friends, is not a bad thing at all. Much as I love the chatting and the breaking up of the online discourse to tell people not to suggest such things about their opponent's mother and the like, a day when there's little to complain about (although I'm sure some will find a way), is no bad thing at all.

A first win of 2012, seven goals, a striker in the form of his life, and one of the most exciting young talents in the country. Finally a day really worth cheering about.

The emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in particular, is great news for the club. In recent times Arsene Wenger seemed to have lost his touch with bringing in exceptional young talents, with the likes of Diaby, Denilson and Walcott not fulfilling their potential, and the most exciting player, Wilshere, coming up through the club's academy.

Match Report Video By the numbers

I think we can safely say this morning that's just what the doctor ordered.

Three points, a good performance, and a day which brought no controversy, animosity, angst or worry. For a moment it looked a bit shaky, when Pedersen equalised with Blackburn's first attempt on target, but instead of setting us back it sparked us back into life and withing a couple of minutes we were two goals to the good.

Don't just sit there Robin. Get a fourth

That's our first rout of the season. The first of which we won and not the other way around. You can count the Chelsea game as one but then it was not as one sided as this was. Blackburn tormented us the last time we met and this was sweet revenge being exacted.

04.02.2012 - Con goles de Robin Van Persie (´2, ´38 y ´62), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (´40 y ´54), Mikel Arteta (´51) y Thierry Henry (´90), Arsenal venció (7-1) al Blackburn Rovers (Pedersen ´31) en el Emirates Stadium por la 24º jornada de la Premier League.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain started his third game in a row for Arsenal and was rewarded with a 7-1 win including his first two Premiership goals for the club, but he says that the points were much more important than him finding the net. "It was an enjoyable day for everyone," he said. "We knew we had [.

Arsenal vs Blackburn 7-1 Highlights Goals 2012 Video Van Persie Pedersen Chamberlain Arteta Henry Givet red card is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter

Arsenal vs Blackburn 7-1 Highlights Goals 2012 Video Van Persie Pedersen Chamberlain Arteta Henry Givet red card is a post from Soccer Blogger.

So it seems that the rumours that Arsene Wenger was thinking about resting Robin Van Persie against Blackburn were true as the Arsenal boss revealed in his pre-match conference that he is intending to do a little tinkering. It could be that Arsenal's newest star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may also be given a break as Wenger [.

Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has launched a scathing attack on Andrei Arshavin, arguing that the Russian International striker no longer cares about playing for Arsenal. Arshavin was at fault for Manchester United's winning goal against Arsenal recently, and Lawro believes it's time for the player to leave the Emirates.

The Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin was visibly shaken by the reaction of the home fans at the Emirates last week when he took to the field in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and considering that he was lacking in confidence before that he can't be very keen to wear the Arsenal colours again. A few weeks [.

The 2012 NHL Draft is still a ways away. It will take place at Consol Energy Center in the city of Pittsburgh starting on July 22nd. However, it's never too early to take a look at the best prospect available for the draft.

While there are a number of international players at the top of the list, there is also quite a bit of domestic talent.

Delfina keeps an eye on proceedings at Liverpool vs. Manchester United on Saturday. Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe.

We're thinking that the UN should offer Delfina Suarez a job. Her ability to divert attention in a potential flashpoint situ, using just a woolly hat and pink puffy jacket combo, is the best we've ever seen.

Here we are on the verge of our 4th round FA Cup tie with Aston Villa, and yet I find myself still thinking about the substitution of Oxlade-Chamberlin in last weeks 2-1 loss to Manchester United.

With the way Wenger was talking it makes me wonder if he is getting his apologies, or should I say his press conference story ready should we lose today against Alex Mc Leish's Aston Villa.

Alex Horwath (UW) was all set to go to training camp with Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City and compete for the No. 2 goalkeeper job.

But he couldn't get past one thought.

"In the back of my mind, I didn't really want to be a backup in the MLS right now," the 24-year-old said this week from his home in Maryland.

By Chris Wright

After completing his £4.2 million, three-year move to the French capital earlier in the week, former Chelsea centre-half Alex was officially unveiled by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes yesterday.

Question is, what's he so worried about? I've got a sneaking suspicion that Leonardo's other hand may be straying 'south of the border' behind that there jersey.

The young Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain caused a furore when he was withdrawn by Arsene Wenger during last weeks League match against Man Utd, but although the manager thought that The Ox was looking fatigued in the game, he now believes that the 18 year-old is mature enough to play every week.

Today as expected, Alex signed for PSG and ex Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti after asking to leave the club towards the end of last year.
The Official Chelsea Website posted up confirmation this afternoon with a statement that reads:

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Alex to Paris St Germain.

Today as expected, Alex signed for PSG and ex Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti after asking to leave the club towards the end of last year.
The Official Chelsea Website posted up confirmation this afternoon with a statement that reads:

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm we have agreed terms for the permanent transfer of Alex to Paris St Germain.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas insists that he is not the right man to discuss a potential deal for Genk youngster Kevin De Bruyne and also feels that "certain issues" will prevent the club from signing Brazil international Willian from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup visit to cross-town rivals QPR a fixture that Villas-Boas desperately wants to win in order to get one step closer to silverware the Blues gaffer told reporters that neither De Bruyne nor Willian were in his immediate plans.

Kickettes, do you recall the veiled threat we (and many, many other members of the media) received from legal firm, Schillings, on behalf of their clients, the Gerrards, requesting privacy from the paps whilst out with their kids?

If not, read about it here.

Well recently, and as we rightly predicted, Lourdes made her grand entrance into the public world via the same pages that pay Alex for her brainless ramblings, which OK!

Later this morning Arsene will meet the press for his pre-Aston Villa press conference. And beyond the normal information we get from one of these gatherings, I have to say I'm really curious as to how it will go down.

It'll be the first time he's faced the media since Sunday's defeat to United and that reaction to his decision to take off Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The end is nigh

Does everyone realise that there's only 5 days left in the transfer window? Technically the weekend doesn't count but no reason why deals can't be finalised then and the registration done by Monday or Tuesday. It's all gone quiet on the Arsenal front. Newspapers has even gone bored of recycling the same stuffs over and over again.

Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images.

We didn't actually intend for this to become a regular feature, but during Liverpool's 3-1 defeat to Bolton this weekend Andy Carroll took his shirt off, and in doing so, proved he does serve a useful purpose on the football pitch.

Not many people think he does at the mo, so before he has the chance to prove them right later today against Manchester City, we felt this occasion deserved to be marked.

Queens Park Rangers apparently can't afford Alex. Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, certainly can. I guess that solves that then, in my skewed mind at least.

A reunion?

The protracted transfer of Alex away from Chelsea drags on.

News today arrives in two parts.

By Chris Wright

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Remember on Sunday afternoon? Against Manchester United? When Robin van Persie mouthed the words 'oh no' as Arsenal's most enterprising attacking threat was substituted off for Andrey Arshavin? Apparently that was a thing.

Usually, after a defeat like the one we experienced against United, and one in which the main talking point wasn't the football itself, there's a tendency for the club to go into lock-down mode.

Not this time though. We've got a reaction from various players to what's gone on, not least of which is Robin van Persie's exclusive in The Sun (why there and not the official site?

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has publicly slammed Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin following Sunday's match at the Emirates.

Neville, now in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, was critical of Arsene Wenger's decision to sub the effervescent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, especially as the struggling Arshavin replaced him.

Initially it appeared that Robin Van Persie had been so averse to Alex Oxlade Chamberlain's substitution against Manchester United because he had set a goal up for him moments earlier. But it has now emerged that the Arsenal skipper's angry reaction at the youngster being hauled off was due to the fact that he is [.

Dateline 22 January 2012, this date will go down in history, it is the date the fans at the Emirates turned on Arsene Wenger.

The fans booed the team off at half-time and were rewarded when youngster Nico Yennaris replaced the hapless and hopeless Djourou who becomes a bigger liability every time he puts on an Arsenal shirt.

mansub by arsenalist Having just benefited from an assist by the Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, Robin Van Persie joined thousands of Arsenal fans in a show of dissent when Arsene Wenger replaced the young Englishman with Andrey Arshavin. Oxlade Chamberlain had looked lively and had been the only Arsenal attacker who looked like causing the Manchester [.

That's right, folks. The Wenger Woys are back, and they've got a brand new lead singer. Andrey Arshavin has joined the band as a singer after impressing guitarist Arsene Wenger with this little jig and sing-song after coming on as a sub for Alex Oxlade Chamberlain during yesterday's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Arsenal fans who argue that Arsene Wenger should not be sacked can only come up with one reason "He's our most successful manager ever". Others might also point to his unearthing of talents like Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. The theme here? It's all stuff from an increasingly long time ago.

Morning all,

and let's start with some good news, for a change. Word is Thomas Vermaelen could be in line to play against United later on. He trained with the first team yesterday and assuming all went well it means he'll start the game at left back. It'll certainly add some solidity to a back four which could really do with it at the moment, but we ought not to forget that our defensive issues aren't simply the domain of that group of players.

It looks like it could be a race between Sebastien Bassong and Giovani Dos Santos to be the first through the White Hart Lane exit door this month with our defender being the first dissenting voice of this transfer window.

Bassong could have gone to Bolton as part of a Gary Cahill deal in the summer but a more likely destination could be QPR, who have been linked with most of the fringe defenders in the Premiership.