Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain are the stars of this new Lucozade commercial in which they play as ringers in 5-a-side teams. The north London duo are in the familiar position of being on opposing sides as they square-up in the less familiar surroundings of a tiny astroturf pitch. Would it do them any [.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that midfielder Jack Wilshere has been taking painkillers to get through matches. The injury prone England international is set for furhter surgery on his troublesome ankle at the end of the season. We reported that Alex Oxlade Chamberlain had let that particular cat out of the bag last month.
After last night's game, Arsenal have got a reprieve and are now masters of their own destiny. Two wins from the last two games against Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United will ensure a top four finish and continue the incredible run of qualifying for the Champions League under Arsene Wenger. As the Gunners are just two points behind Chelsea in third place and they have two hard games against Aston Villa and Everton, as well as the Europa League final against Benfica in between them, there is still a chance for Arsenal to snatch third place.
Things are getting very tight at the top of the Premier League. Arsenal have got four games left to ensure a top four finish and qualification for the Champions League next season. Arsene Wenger was dealt a blow yesterday when the FA deemed the red card and three match ban for Olivier Giroud would stand, leaving the professor with a tough decision to make.
Jack Wilshere's latest injury scare is a minor issue caused by a screw in his ankle, according to Arsenal team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Gooners will have feared the worst when it was touted that the England international will probably undergo another operation at the end of the season. But midfield colleague Oxlade-Chamberlain says the problem only [.
Arsene Wenger has got a number of selection decisions to make for Arsenal's trip to Fulham tomorrow. These may be affected by the relative fitness of some of the players, but for the purposes of this article I am going to assume that, barring Diaby and Fabianski, there are no major injury concerns.
Arsene Wenger has selected the same side that beat Reading so convincingly last week, so Gervinho has the chance to continue his revival at the club. Santi Cazorla will start on the left of the attack again, although he will probably come inside quite a lot and try to influence the game from wherever he can.
The young Englishman was purchased by Arsenal from Southampton in the summer of 2011 for a fee believed to be in the region of £12million (plus add ons), and burst onto the scene against the likes Manchester City, Manchester United and AC Milan.
This time last year Arsenal had an almost identical February and March, within days knocked out of two cup competitions and sweating over a top 4 finish. Arsene Wenger responded by taking the pressure off his younger players and fielding as many experienced heads as possible.
Arsene Wenger is hoping that Arsenal can pick up where they left off before the international break. The Gunners have lost Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott to injury since then, though, and Jack Wilshere is still not available. Arsenal should still be more than capable of a home win against the Premier League strugglers Reading, who have won just once on their travels all season and have lost all of their 11 games against the Gunners.
Arsenal vs Reading preview, match line up and score prediction by KJ
It's been a long two weeks since the Arsenal last played and it was probably the worst time to get the international break. Arsenal were back to winning ways with back to back wins against Bayern Munich and Swansea.
Stuart Pearce has lost his battle with Roy Hodgson over the Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, but the manager of the England under 21 side is still hoping to get another Gunner from the first team to join his squad for the European Championship in Israel this summer.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the star of the show for England against San Marion on Friday, and he already has 10 caps and two goals at senior level.
After the news broke yesterday that Theo Walcott had picked up an injury in training and would miss at least one match for Arsenal, most Gooners will have been dreading the international games last night, but the rest of the Gunners on duty emerged unscathed and it may actually have done some of them the world of good.
I would not have been too surprised if Arsene Wenger wanted to name the same Arsenal team that started the morale boosting game against Bayern Munich on Wednesday,. but unfortunately Kieran Gibbs looks like he will not be able to play, so Monreal will come in with Jenkinson on the other side.
Wenger said, "I think he(Gibbs) will be out on Saturday.
It looks like Arsenal and England star Alex Oxlade Chamberlain doesn't have a future as a voiceover artist when he hangs up his boots. The young midfielder had a few reading problems as he attempted to lend his voice to a video celebrating the FA's 150th anniversary. The Ox seemed to particularly enjoy attributing England's [.
Arsenal fans and Arsene Wenger can breathe a sigh of relief after the England under 21 manager Stuart Pearce revealed that he would not be taking Jack Wilshere with him to the European championships in Israel this summer. The young midfielder is eligible to play, as is Danny Welbeck from Manchester United, but they are both regular players in the senior squad now.
Arsene Wenger made seven changes but still fielded a strong Arsenal team as he looked to get into the last eight of the FA cup at the expense of championship side Blackburn Rovers. Vermaelen and Koscielny must have no injury concerns because they both started, with Coquelin brought in at right back.
The last time we saw this Blackburn outfit grace the hallowed Emirates' turf, we won 7-1. Take away our un-reliant Robin from the mix and that's still a 4-1 victory in my books. Of course, being a cup competition this time, far more is at stake; our only true shot at silverware to be precise! However, a good chance to see some players who haven't had many minutes on the pitch although is there ever a good enough reason to see Gervinho?
The last time we saw this Blackburn outfit grace the hallowed Emirates' turf, we won 7-1. Take away our un-reliant Robin from the mix and that's still a 4-1 victory in my books. Of course, being a cup competition this time, far more is at stake; our only true shot at silverware to be precise! However, a good chance to see some players who haven't had many minutes on the pitch although is there ever a good enough reason to see Gervinho?
With a few injuries to worry about, but a week before the next Arsenal match, Arsene Wenger could pick his strongest side possible to get a result from a tough visit to Sunderland. Lee Cattermole returns to an already physical side so the Gunners can expect a midfield battle. That may be why Ramsy will partner Arteta and Diaby will start on the bench.
The summer of 2011 was pretty hectic as an Arsenal fan and ultimately was an extremely negative experience. We lost not one starter, not two starters but three starters in Clichy, Fabregas and Nasri. It wasn't helped by the fact that one of our biggest signings that window (before the mayhem on deadline day) was an 18 year old Englishman from league one that cost us more than £10 million.
The news will not surprise Arsenal fans, but could be seen as a bit of a kick in the teeth for some of the other young players in the England international set up. Roy Hodgson has picked a squad to face Brazil in a friendly next week, but has left out a number of younger players, who will drop back down to the under 21s for the upcoming European championships this summer.
Theo Walcott was one of three Arsenal players selected for the England squad to face Brazil in an international friendly next week, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were the others. Walcott will hope to play as a striker, but is much more likely to operate on the right. This is where he plays most often for the Gunners, but Walcott thinks that should not always be the case.
Arsene Wenger has a selection problem for Arsenal with the visit of West Ham to the Emirates tomorrow. It is vital that the Gunners make the most of this game in hand to keep right up with Everton and Tottenham in the race for a top four finish. With Mikel Arteta injured, Wenger has used Francis Coquelin and Abou Diaby behind Jack Wilshere in the midfield.
It's been a frankly terrible start to the window considering how obvious some of the gaps in our squad are. We are lacking a decent striker, a defensive midfielder, a wide midfielder/winger and possibly a second choice keeper. It's already half way through the transfer window and there's been no positive activity on our part.
Reading vs Arsenal preview, predicted line up and score line by KJ
It is time for Arsenal to show some consistency for the umpteenth time. It's getting a bit boring watching us win a match to only watch us lose the next. Wenger needs to make sure that the next four games are 12 points in the bag – nothing less.
Arsenal 2 – 0 West Bromwich Albion. Finally. by KJ
It's been quite a bit of time since we've won at the Emirates in the league (the 5-2 win against Tottenham was our last) but we've finally got the much needed win today. It was fortunate to say the least but we aren't really going to complain about it considering the luck the likes of Man Utd get.
Arsene Wenger had almost a full Arsenal squad to choose from, with Walcott and Diaby the exceptions. Podolski and Rosicky were on the bench and Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain started either side of Giroud. Good work by the Frenchman gave Gervinho a chance from a corner in the first five minutes but he flashed wide when he should have hit the target at least.
Arsenal vs West Bromwich Albion preview, predicted line up and score line by KJ
It's been a very testing November as an Arsenal fan and December has looked the same. However, Wenger and the squad have an opportunity to make it right providing we get the all-important win against an in form WBA side.
There may be a simple explanation for this, and to be honest I couldn't care less if the Arsenal boss has been economical with the truth or not, as long as Bacary Sagna and Lukas Podolski are available to play against West Brom at the Emirates tomorrow.
Yesterday, Arsene Wenger released the information that the two players, along with Theo Walcott, would miss the vital Premier league game through injury, Sagna with a foot problem and Podolski with his hamstring.
Arsene Wenger announced yesterday that Arsenal would have to do without Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski against West Brom tomorrow. Walcott has a calf problem and Podolski is struggling with his hamstring, apparently but they are short term problems. It is a big blow to Arsenal, who really need a good win to halt the slide in the Premier league and get the fans back on side.
Although Arsenal will need to watch out for the goal threat of Marouane Fellaini and Nikica Jelavic who are the top scorers for Everton this season, with six and five goals respectively, it is the left back Leighton Baines who really makes them dangerous. The 27-year old has developed into one of the best left backs in the Premier league, in fact stats released this week show him to be the best in Europe.
Arsenal vs Montpellier match preview, line-up prediction and score line by KJ
After the heroics in the North London Derby last weekend, the team should be ready mentally to get the result against Montpellier tomorrow. This, on paper, is the easiest game we'll face in this year's group stage.
Arsenal vs Tottenham preview, predicted line up and score line. by KJ
This is the match we wait for every season Tottenham at home. It's a brilliant game for the neutral but is even more special to the fans. The atmosphere is rocking, all the failures during the season are put behind us and we are treated to one of the most exciting games this season will bring us.
Does Arshavin still have a future at this club? by KJ
Arsenal managed to scrape a 1-0 win on Saturday against QPR, mainly down to the quality of the cross that came from 75th minute substitute, Andre Arshavin. He wasn't just a one trick pony; numerous times he bailed us out when QPR attacked to make sure that we came away with the win.
I'm sure you'll all be familiar even those who did not read my match preview with the statistics flying around before yesterday's game. Needless to say, Schalke ended a very strong run of form in Champions League home games for Arsenal. As for actual, more immediate form, Arsenal looked much the same as they did at Norwich: slow and unimaginitive.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of the best England players on the pitch yesterday for England. The Arsenal midfielder was always lively and looked the most likely to break down San Marino who often had everybody behind the ball.
The Ox has been impressive in the national side since making his debut in May.
The England manager Roy Hodgson watched his team totally dominate San Marino with 86% of the possession and a comfortable five-goal win, but his joy was tempered by the "vicious" attack on Theo Walcott at the beginning of the game, which saw the Arsenal winger having to spend the night in hospital.
Gary Neville's Monday Night Football analysis is usually a great watch (although it's always a bit of a shame when, like last night, it's better than the match that follows). Looking back at Manchester United's draw at Tottenham on Sunday, Neville put to bed the rumours that defender Nemanja Vidic fancies keeper David De Gea.
