Just Arsenal News

Could The Ox Be Arsenal’s New Fabregas? by FD

What is it with modern day footballers? They all seem to want to play in the centre of the park. What happened to all the dashing wide players of yore? Nowadays it’s as if players are trying to stay as far away from the pitch side fans as possible.

If it’s not Bale the spud one minute insisting to all and sundry that he’s really a central striker, it’s our own Theo the next, bemoaning his lack of opportunity in the middle of the Arsenal attack. Perhaps Theo’s thinking is that if Arsene Wenger was able to transform Thierry Henry from a winger to an inside forward with such success, he could do it again with him. Maybe. But whilst the Arsenal boss has seemed reluctant to commit to Theo’s wishes on a consistent basis, he looks to have fewer reservations about playing Oxlade-Chamberlain in the middle. .......Read the full article here

Most Arsenal fans seem to agree that the Gunners definitely need a top top top striker, a hard defensive midfielder and maybe a new goalkeeper to improve us for next season, but if Wenger finally actually manages to get rid of most of our deadwood this summer then we may need more than a few players to make up the numbers of squad players.

Just as an example, I have been looking at the midfielders that Wenger had in the squad at the beginning of the season after selling Alex Song, and here is the full list: .......Read the full article here

A Case for the Arsenal defence by Dan S

When Per Mertesacker twice inexplicably played Spurs onside to score against Arsenal at the beginning of March, few thought he would end up one of our heroes in the race for 4th. Nor Laurent Koscielny, who was on the bench at White Hart Lane having spent much of the season as our third choice centre back.

That result in the North London Derby left many writing off our Champions League hopes, coming so soon after domestic cup defeats and a first leg drubbing at the hands of Bayern Munich, few thought we had the spirit or character to put the run together we would now need to close the seven point gap between ourselves and Tottenham. .......Read the full article here

Jack Wilshere is heading for a small operation in the summer to remove a pin from his ankle, but is still expected to play some part in today’s game against Newcastle due to the injury to Mikel Arteta.

He admits that this game is so crucial that there may be a few nerves amongst the Arsenal players, but says they just have to calm and professional to make sure of the three points, no matter what happens in the Tottenham game.

“The mood has got to be one of excitement because we know that if we win, we’re going to be playing in the Champions League or the Champions League qualifier at the beginning of next season,” Wilshere said on Arsenal.com. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has been talking about who will replace the injured Mikel Arteta in Arsenal’s crucial match against Newcastle tomorrow, and although he says that Jack Wilshere is the obvious replacement, he will leave it up to the player himself to decide if he can handle the pain.

Wenger said: “That is one of the things I have to evaluate before Sunday and talk to him as well,”

“He will have the final say in that because you cannot force a player, they have to be comfortable. I will only do that if he feels completely comfortable with the idea. .......Read the full article here

Do Arsenal need more steel in their side? by FD

I was reflecting on a recent comment by Wigan Chairman Dave Whelan, in which he’s quoted as saying that he thought Arsenal were “a wonderful club to play”. He was probably referring to the overall experience at the Emirates, rather than just the actual match, but it had me wondering how other teams might consider the experience of playing against the modern day Gunners.

There can’t have been many players, other than, perhaps, Roy Keane, who relished the prospect of facing Patrick Vieira or Emmanuel Petit in their physical prime. And ex Gunners such as Sol Campbell, Tony Adams and Steve Bould wouldn’t have provided many pleasant memories for opposing forwards. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has not announced his Arsenal team sheet for the crucial last game of the season yet, but it does no take a genius to work out that Olivier Giroud will come straight back into the starting XI to face Newcastle United. The big French international was sent off against Fulham and the FA rejected the Gunners appeal, even though it was clear from the replays that he had got the ball and slipped.

Lukas Podolski has grown into the role in the three games Giroud has missed, especially with his double against Wigan, but he will be back out on the left again on Sunday, if he plays at all. The manager is usually cautious about saying whether a player will be in the team but, when he spoke about Giroud today, he used the word will rather than might. .......Read the full article here

Why All The Surprise At Wenger’s “Hair-Dryer” Outburst? by FD

There’s been a lot of media talk since Arsenal’s victory over Wigan at the Emirates on Tuesday about the apparent rocket Arsene Wenger delivered to his under-performing players during the half-time interval. Theo Walcott was quoted in the Guardian as saying: “We got a rocket,”

“We’ll keep that in the dressing room. But it’s great that the manager has that passion and it got a bit more out of the players. We all knew how big it is, not just for the manager but the fans, the players and the club itself. It’s massive to be in the Champions League. The manager gave us a kick up the backside. I felt we did show some good play in the first half but we didn’t manage to take our chances. Thankfully we did in the second.” .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has a few decisions to make in his selection for the Arsenal team that travels north to St. James’ Park on Sunday in the hope of beating Newcastle United and ensuring a top four finish, at least. The Prof will not want to change too much with the Gunners being on a fabulous run, especially with last night’s goal-fest against Wigan.

Wenger may not have the option of keeping the same starting 11, however, if the calf injury picked up by the Spanish midfielder and vice-captain, Mikel Arteta, turns out to be as bad as first feared. Wenger suggested in his post match interview last night that it would be Jack Wilshere who replaces Arteta if necessary, but that comes with it’s own problems. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal still have a top four finish and Champions League qualification in their own hands after a fantastic 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic last night. The Gunners could even snatch third place with Chelsea having just a single goal better goal difference.

We still have to win the final game away to Newcastle United on Sunday, however, and it looks like we will have to do it without Mikel Arteta. The vice-captain was substituted late in the game and it turns out that he has a calf problem, as Arsene Wenger revealed after the game. .......Read the full article here

There is no room for error for either team tonight as only a win will do for Arsenal and Wigan Athletic at the Emirates stadium. Although the Gunners would still have a mathematical chance of overtaking Tottenham on the final day of the Premier League season if we drew or lost tonight, realistically it would mean that Arsenal would be consigned to the Europa League next season.

Arsene Wenger has made just one change to the side that beat QPR 10 days ago, while Roberto Martinez starts with exactly the same side that started at Wembley on Saturday. The Spanish manager will be hoping their confidence and adrenaline from that trophy win gets them through. .......Read the full article here

It may be a crucial game for Arsenal tomorrow in terms of reaching the Champions League, but for Wigan it is even more important as they are fighting for their Premiership lives. Roberto Martinez has performed miracles to keep them in the top flight over the last few years, and he is fully expecting to do the same thing this time around.

He said: “We’ve been having a very good season in terms of performances. That wasn’t an accident against City,”

“It didn’t happen by mistake, it happens because the players have been playing like that for 10 months. .......Read the full article here