I was absolutely gobsmacked to see this statement from Arsenal today:
“Jack’s ongoing rehabilitation has seen a long-standing slight issue with his patella tendon in his left knee flare up.
“As a result, Jack will travel to Sweden for a minor procedure on his left knee in the next few days. This procedure is not expected to significantly affect Jack’s comeback ahead of next season.
“On returning to England, Jack will resume his rehabilitation with the Arsenal medical team over the summer.” Read more... (201 words, estimated 48 secs reading time)
Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ team have been voted the greatest Premier League side in history.
Arsene Wenger’s 2003-04 record-breakers, which included superstars Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira, went an entire season unbeaten to claim the league title.
And now the Gunners’ unforgettable achievement has been rewarded with the crown of Best Team in the Premier League’s 20 Seasons Awards.
Wenger said about the award:
“I am proud of [winning the award] and very happy because I told the players at the time they could achieve something special once we were champions by being invincible,” he told Arsenal Player. Read more... (179 words, estimated 43 secs reading time)
Next season Arsenal will be playing in the NextGen Series for the first time, and the Arsenal players and coaching staff can start to plan for the tournament after after the groups for the 2012/13 edition were announced today.
The ‘U19 Champions League‘ consists of 24 teams divided into six groups of four. Each side will play six games (home and away) between 13 August and 13 December 2012, with the top two from each group being joined in the last 16 by the four best third-placed sides. If two or more teams finish level on points, qualification will be decided by goal difference then goals scored. Like this year all matches in the final stage of the tournament – from the semi-finals onwards – will be held in the same location. Read more... (207 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)
Lukas Podolski admits he cannot wait to start his Arsenal career – and insists he will join the Club with bagfuls of confidence.
The German international striker enjoyed a superb season in the Bundesliga, bagging 18 goals despite FC Cologne’s relegation from the top flight.
And with Euro 2012 on the horizon, Podolski insists he will be ready to hit the ground running when he moves to the Gunners this summer.
“Arsenal are a great club, here in Europe and all over the world,” he told Arsenal Player. Read more... (262 words, 1 image, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal will offer Robin van Persie a club record £7million-per-season.
Arsene Wenger, chief executive Ivan Gazidis and Van Persie are set to meet tomorrow (Wednesday) where Arsenal will present RVP with a three-year deal worth around £130,000-per-week plus a £5million signing-on fee if he signs a new deal with the club.
RVP so said to currently be on around £70,000-per-week at the moment, so all told, this deal will double his wages.
The big question is whether £130,000-per-week for three years and a £5million bonus is enough to persuade Van Persie to sign with the Gunners. Read more... (237 words, 1 image, estimated 57 secs reading time)
Arsène Wenger admits he can finally rest easy after seeing Arsenal secure automatic qualification to next season’s Champions League.
The Gunners ensured a third-placed finish above Tottenham with a hard-fought 3-2 win over West Brom on Sunday despite falling behind inside 15 minutes.
No team in the Premier League came close to Arsenal’s record of winning 24 points from losing positions this season – and Wenger welcomed his side’s ability to finally get the job done.
“It is good to sleep better at night,” the Frenchman told Arsenal Player. “It is a tricky position in fourth because you don’t want Chelsea to win the Champions League. Read more... (259 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)
Here are some of Arsene Wenger’s comments after yesterday’s 3-2 win at West Brom, a result that guaranteed Arsenal Champions League football next season.
on sealing third place…
I think if you look at the season as a whole, we lost only two of the last 16 games and created a fantastic run. In the end we finished with 70 points, which is respectable, and we qualify for the Champions League for the 15th consecutive year. Of course we are very proud of that, especially this season having started where we started. We had problems getting over the line and you could see that again today. Read more... (802 words, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal
The Hawthorns
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
TV: Highlights BBC ONE Match of the Day.
WBA (Probable, 4-4-2): Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison, Scharner, Mulumbu, Dorrans; Long, Fortune.
Out: Gera, Morrison (both knee), Reid (ankle), Tamas (personal reasons), Brunt (tonsillitis).
Tests: Odemwingie (leg), Thomas (illness).
Arsenal (Probable, 4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Coquelin, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Song, Ramsey; Walcott, Rosicky, Benayoun; Van Persie.
Out: Arteta, Mertesacker, Wilshere (all ankle), Frimpong (knee), Sagna (broken leg).
Test: Walcott (hamstring).
Referee: Mike Jones (Matches 24, R6 Y85).
Team News
West Brom skipper Chris Brunt is unavailable for new England manager Roy Hodgson’s final match in charge of the Baggies against visiting Arsenal on Sunday after having his tonsils removed. Read more... (323 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)
Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Sunday’s trip to West Bromwich Albion.
on Theo Walcott…
He will have a test [on his hamstring]. I don’t know yet if he will be included in the squad or not. It is possible.
on other team news for Sunday…
We have little doubts about Park, Squillaci and Santos but they should all be ready.
on Bacary Sagna…
He will have surgery tonight. It is a straight broken fibula. We expect him to be out for a few months but let’s see how surgery goes tonight.
Read more... (97 words, estimated 23 secs reading time)
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny has admitted Arsenal’s players doubted both themselves and manager Arsene Wenger after the Gunners dreadful start to the season, a run that saw them win just one of their first five Premier League games.
With Arsenal up to third in the table, the dark days of August and September are a distant memory, but Koscielny has open the lid on how close Arsenal’s season was to collapsing.
Koscielny says that confidence at the club after the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford that followed the summer departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and a deadline-day scramble to replace them. Read more... (367 words, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)
