arsenal squad - Recent posts
Viewing all posts which authors have tagged ‘arsenal squad’.
You can also subscribe to this tag's feed.
Some players want to leave, Arsenal will be going places this summer, the English NT is filled
with jerks... your usual cup of Arse here at the Offside
We start today's blog with a subject Arsenal fans are always delighted to hear about: player
departures. Park Chu-Young has indicated that if keeps getting ignored for play action, he might
leave in the summer.
Slowly some of those long standing absences are working their way back into the Arsenal squad
and not a moment too soon. The latest update has Kieran Gibbs ready and available for next week's
Arsenal Champions League first leg against AC Milan if Wenger so desires. Thomas Vermaelen stuck at
left back might finally get some relief and relocate to his more familiar centre back role with
Laurent Koscielny.
I don't know if you've noticed, but January has been pretty awful so far. We've lost all three of
our league games, and we've gone back to our old habit of throwing away leads. United swept us
aside with an ease that was almost saddening, given how massive the games between the two clubs
used to be.
In a toughly contested match at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester United emerged 2-1 winners over
Arsenal to move within three points of the Barclays Premier League summit.
Earlier in the day, league leaders Manchester City went six points clear at the top thanks to a
late penalty kick converted by Mario Balotelli.
On Sunday, January 22, 2012, Manchester United will take the pitch against Arsenal at the
Emirates. Cognizant of the simple fact that Manchester United handed Arsenal an 8-2 loss that is
counted amongst the very worst in a period of 100 years, no one is giving much reason to believe
that the Gunners have a chance against the Red Devils.
Arsenal has suffered some terrible bad luck with defensive injuries this season. We lost
Sagna, Gibbs and Jenkinson all with a 17 days in October, but the loss that has hurt us most was
the loss of Santos in December. Santos was an attacking full-back and gave us extra attacking
options something that has been lacking in recent weeks.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain
Alex made his big move to Arsenal in the summer for a massive £15million. The England U21
international has been outstanding when he has featured this season and will have a big part to
play in the second half of the season. At the start of December Wenger tipped Chamberlain to make
the England 2012 squad for the summer tournament which could him play more and more in the second
half of the season.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain
Alex made his big move to Arsenal in the summer for a massive £15million. The England U21
international has been outstanding when he has featured this season and will have a big part to
play in the second half of the season. At the start of December Wenger tipped Chamberlain to make
the England 2012 squad for the summer tournament which could him play more and more in the second
half of the season.
Slow news weeks, obviously. Still, a couple of tidbits are noteworthy. Find out which legendary
French striker is held in high regard by Gibbs and why our next transfer target could be a 16 year
old. More after the jump.
When Thierry Henry re-joined the Gunners at the start of the month, there were questions
regarding his potential worth to the team, but also his effect on the team chemistry that has
progressed leaps and bounds since the start of the season- it's obvious that this is one of the
most closely-knit and cohesive Arsenal team in years.
Arsene Wenger brought in Ju-Young Park from Monaco this summer as competition for the mis-firing
Marouane Chamakh, and was convinced he would be a great addition to the Arsenal squad. Wenger said
on his arrival: "We are delighted to have signed Ju. He will add true quality to our attacking
forces and will be a [.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has at last re-signed for the Gunners, it has just been announced.
The deal was concluded in time for the Frenchman to be eligible to play in Monday's FA Cup clash
with Leeds although doubts remain about his match fitness.
Henry has left speculators, pundits and critics undecided about the impact this might have on
the Arsenal squad.
The imminent resigning of Arsenal Legend Thierry Daniel Henry has left speculators, pundits and
critics undecided about the impact this might have on the Arsenal squad. It is easy to overlook the
Wenger & Henry combination which has proved to be successful on and off for approximately twenty
years.
Arsene Wenger has recently attested to Thierry Henry's greatness. Arsene Wenger has suggested
the old hero could even be a top player right now, even at 34 years of age, in the English
Premiership. Now it has emerged that Per Mertesacker, the gigantic German defender, has said pretty
much the same.
The recent strong run by the Gunners has created this impression that they are a hard lot to
beat. I am among the many Gooners who have noted and commented on the doggedness of this Arsenal
squad. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to see if some numbers back the new
found resolve that is being widely perceived and how other top teams stacked up when compared to
Arsenal.
The recent strong run by the Gunners has created this impression that they are a hard lot to
beat. I am among the many Gooners who have noted and commented on the doggedness of this Arsenal
squad. With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to see if some numbers back the new
found resolve that is being widely perceived and how other top teams stacked up when compared to
Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger made a grave error by playing Andre Santos in the irrelevant Champions League game
against Olympiakos, and he now regrets it for both the player and the Arsenal squad, who could do
with him still fit and well. "I took a gamble because I did not want to be accused of just throwing
[...]
Arsene Wenger is more than happy with his last minute signing of the transfer window Mikel Arteta,
and says that he is already a key part of the new Arsenal squad. "Mikel has taken a big importance
in our team very quickly," Wenger said. "Of course I knew about his talent, but he is a [...]
Arsene Wenger rotated his team as expected for the game against Man City last night, and although
he thinks his youthful Arsenal squad played with "heart, quality and desire", he feels that they
were a bit naive when it came to Sergio Aguero's winning goal just seven minutes from the end of
the game.
Ahead of the game that could seal the Gunners' progression from the group stages, Arsène Wenger
offered very little bad news regarding the Arsenal squad for the Borussia Dortmund encounter on
Wednesday evening. While Tomas Rosicky will be disappointed to be unable to face his former side
with "a small thigh strain", Abou Diaby's recovery [.
The likely starters
It's football day once again. Not something you would usually expect so soon, since Arsenal only
last played on Sunday. Seemed to remember reading somewhere that the FA asked if we are comfortable
with the schedule and we didn't say no. So, no point pondering over that now.
Arsène Wenger has been mulling over the idea of resting Van Persie for today's visit from Stoke,
the player having been the only ever-present member of the Arsenal squad this season along with
Szczęsny. Despite having an on-form, proven striker in Park, it is Chamakh that seems to be the
most likely to replace the [.
Although nothing can be guaranteed, Thomas Vermaelen's return to the Arsenal squad is looking to be
in around a fortnight's time, with Wenger saying "He will be back in full training on Friday. It is
10 days to two weeks for him". At the beginning of the season, the Belgian was seen as the perfect
[.
Will be training at Colney for a few more seasons now
If the team needed any lifting before their trip to Marseille, this should be it. The news of
Thomas Vermaelen penning an extension to his contract. Obviously, what transpired in the summer has
got a lot of fans worried that the situation might be replicated with those currently with 2 years
left on his contract.
When Robin Van Persie stalled on his Arsenal contract talks earlier in the month, there were
tremors felt everywhere. Clubs were perking up their ears, waiting for new development. Arsenal
fans were quaking....dismayed that yet another "home-grown" star is on the verge of leaving.
Arsenal has not been known to keep their stars with huge wage packages and therefore it will not be
hard to imagine the departure of the Dutch star come end of this season.
Arsene Wenger went on a last minute spending spree at the end of the transfer window, and although
the new players are taking their time integrating into the Arsenal squad, Wenger is convinced that
he now has the strength in depth to challenge for all trophies, and also to cover for the usual
long injury [.
Written by Oz Gunner
Theodore Roosevelt once said:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or
where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually
in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs,
who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who
does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends
himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and
who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never
be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Stuart Holden got back into the mix this Tuesday playing for Bolton in a 2-0 win over Aston
Villa in a Carling Cup fixture. It was his first competitive start in six months after a Jonny
Evans tackle tore his knee ligaments.
Holden had to undergo reconstructive surgery and subsequent rehabilitation for his injured
knee.
After five matches in the English Premier League 2011/12 season, Arsenal are sitting in 17th
position and have the worst goal difference in the league. It would be unthinkable to suggest that
this is where the club will be at the end of the season, but Arsenal fans are genuinely worried
that Champions League football might be off the table next year.
Arsenal are aiming to rebound strongly from their most recent Barclays Premier League setback at
Blackburn by using a string of talented youngsters against Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup
tonight.
On a night where Leeds United will reignite a huge rivalry with reigning English champions
Manchester United, Shrewsbury's visit to the Emirates was originally nothing more than a mere
formality.
Robin van Persie has urged his Arsenal teammates to rebound quickly from the 4-3 defeat at
Blackburn by reminding them that a long season lies ahead.
Van Persie, who did not hesitate in stating that the Gunners were unfortunate in losing to an
inferior Rovers side in Saturday's early kick-off at Ewood Park, is looking forward to three home
fixtures in a row, which will provide Arsene Wenger's men with an excellent opportunity to finally
claim back-to-back wins.
It is being reported this morning that Arsene Wenger has not finished his investment in the growing
Arsenal squad, and is still looking for another top class creative midfielder, and it seems he is
now looking at another cast-off from one of Spain's giants. This time the focus is on the
out-of-favour midfielder Estaban Granero, [.
Arsene Wenger wrapped up as many as five quality signings on the transfer deadline day but not
all members of his squad are feeling confident about the future ahead.
Russian winger Andrei Arshavin, for one, believes that the Gunners' failure to sign a defensive
midfielder such as Rennes' Yann M'Vila not only left the Arsenal midfield incomplete, but also
prevented Wenger from compensating for the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
- Tom Thomas
Arsène Wenger will be feeling very sad tonight. Not just the sadness you feel when you're
disappointed with yourself, but a certain sadness trailed by the desperation and helplessness of
knowing you're in a corner and you may well have put yourself there.
- Tom Thomas
Arsène Wenger will be feeling very sad tonight. Not just the sadness you feel when you're
disappointed with yourself, but a certain sadness trailed by the desperation and helplessness of
knowing you're in a corner and you may well have put yourself there.
Arsenal's summer signing Gervinho has revealed that former Gunner Samir Nasri convinced him to
seal a transfer from Lille to the Emirates by promising that they would be playing together at the
club this season.
However, with Nasri recently completing a protracted move to Manchester City, Gervinho has urged
the entire Arsenal squad to overcome the pain of losing such a key playmaker by responding
collectively.
Manager Arsene Wenger was delighted to see the Gunners qualify for the group stage of the Champions
League as the win over Udinese eases the pressure on his young Arsenal squad. Speaking in his
post-match press ...
Arsene Wenger's hope in reinforcing his Arsenal squad with some top names in the market doesn't
look promising as one of the Frech tactician's target, Eden Hazard, looks to be a difficult
purchase since the player's current club, Lille, isn't keen on selling the young prodigy.
The French champion's boss, Frederic Paquet, stated that Hazard isn't going anywhere including
to Emirates this summer since the club have already released some important players, especially
Gervinho, who was also bought by Wenger earlier this month.
It may come as good news to some of you, but on the other hand it may not as it depends on your
point of view. Samir Nasri looks set to travel to Italy with the rest of the Arsenal squad for the
make or break game with Udinese. Nasri trained with the rest of [...]
Arsene Wenger is expected to make some big-name signings at long last with days remaining before
the transfer window closes.
It emerged that Kaka, Gary Cahill, Leighton Baines, Yann M'Vila & Lille forward Eden Hazard are
all possible targets*.
But here lies the problems, Arsenal fans, including myself are fed up with that word.
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has urged his teammates to acknowledge the quality of
Tottenham Hotspur as Harry Redknapp's men visit Old Trafford for this evening's mouth-watering
clash with the champions.
The Spurs could not enjoy the excitement of a home opener at White Hart Lane last weekend as
their match against Everton was called off due to riots in the area.