News, information and opinions about Arsenal Football Club and football in general
Arsenal has announced that it will play a pre-season match in Abuja Nigeria on Sunday, August 5.
This will be Arsenal’s first trip to Nigeria, and the match, against an unnamed opponent, in the 60,000 capacity Abuja National Stadium is sure to be a sell out.
The Club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent.
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Sol Campbell today announced his retirement from football and nobody picked him up after was released by Newcastle at the end of last season.
“It was a very hard decision. It’s hard to let go when you have been a top sportsman for a long, long time,” Campbell said on Wednesday.
“To say that I am not going to play professional football again is difficult because I’ve had a long time at the top and I’ve put in a lot of work and it’s taken a lot of dedication.
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Andrey Arshavin says his future will be decided after Euro 2012.
The Russia captain has enjoyed his loan spell at Zenit St Petersburg and it is thought Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would be prepared to sell him this summer.
Arshavin has often played down talk of a permanent move to his hometown club, but admits that that his performance at the European Championship could shape where he plays next season.
“Without a doubt, the decision to join Zenit was right,” he told Russian newspaper Sport-Express. “There are many factors. First, I’m now playing, which is paramount for any player – no amount of training can be a substitute for matches.
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Having finalized the £11m deal for Lukas Podolski, Arsenal are said to have stepped up their pursuit of Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen by beginning talks with the Dutch side over a summer transfer.
Vertonghen is entering the final year of his contract and Arsenal feel they can land the 25-year-old for a bargain price of around £7m. With Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou expected to leave this summer, Vertonghen will be the final piece in a Gunner’s defence that has bene overhauled in the last 12 months.
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It has been a poorly kept secret that German striker Lukas Podolski will be joining the Gunners next season.
But now that the move has been officially confirmed, the Arsenal boss has gotten a chance to talk about the Gunners ‘top-class’ signing.
“We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future” said Wenger. He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.
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Hear are some of Arsene Wenger’s comments after today’s battling 1-1 draw at Stoke:
on the performance…
I believe that it was a game where we have shown great character, great battling qualities. It was a game of two different approaches – one very direct in the air and one who tries to play on the ground. Both teams are good at what they do and that’s why I think it was still an interesting game. We had good chances, especially in the first half. In the second half I felt our fluency dropped a bit in midfield – we still had chances though, especially a penalty that was not given. Overall we deserved at least a point and I can only give credit to my players for their battling qualities and the way they responded to what Stoke offered us – full commitment, well-organised, direct. We did not always cope with it but today I felt we did.
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At first blush, the 1-1 draw at Stoke City today might be viewed as two points dropped, but with Newcastle United getting thumped 4-0 at Wigan, Arsenal actually solidified their hold on third place with todays result.
So Arsenal are now four points ahead of Newcastle, and the Gunners have two games left (Newcastle have 3). Even if Spurs and Chelsea both win this on Sunday they will be four and five points behind Arsenal with three games to go.
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Thomas Vermaelen says Arsenal are ready for a battle at Stoke – but insists they must first concentrate on playing to their own strengths.
The Gunners have only won once in the Premier League at the Britannia Stadium, but need a victory on Saturday to maintain their grip on third place.
The Belgian international admits Tony Pulis’s side will provide a stern test, but is confident of claiming the three points.
“It is always a hard game when we go there, you know it is going to be a battle,” Vermaelen told Arsenal Player.
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Arsène Wenger insists his side will do everything they can to claim maximum points from their final three matches of the season – starting at Stoke.
Arsenal travel to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday as they look to take another step towards automatic qualification for next season’s Champions League group stages.
The Britannia has not traditionally been a happy hunting ground for Wenger’s side since Stoke’s promotion to the Premier League in 2008 but the Frenchman believes his side are now better equipped for the challenge ahead.
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This is the latest Arsenal injury news ahead of this weekend’s Stoke match:
on Tomas Rosicky…
He is alright. He was sick last weekend. I think he pushed himself very hard to get on the pitch but he has recovered since and should be fit for the game.
on Abou Diaby….
He will not start. He was sick until yesterday and had a light session. He could be short again but he could be in the squad.
on Theo Walcott…
Theo is out for Saturday. He has a little chance to catch the last game but not the next two.
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