Just Arsenal News

Wenger should fire up Benteke! by NS

I’ve just finished watching the Chelsea vs Spurs game. I am so relieved. Like a man who ate a curry in Bombay and went on a 37 hour bus journey. I needed that relief.

That draw was good for Arsenal and despite my anger at Adebayor playing like Pele simply due to the fact he wanted to upset us, I am most pleased.

So, Neil? What’s all this Benteke stuff?

Well, the Chavs play Villa at Villa Park on Saturday evening. Villa are not yet safe. Villa have 10 points from their last six home games. Not too bad. .......Read the full article here

Attempts to keep Benteke away from Arsenal are unconvincing. by FD

Of all the players linked with a summer move to the Emirates, Benteke, the Aston Villa striker, is one of the more interesting. For a start, he’s demonstrated his ability to score goals in the Premiership. And he’s done that while playing in a struggling side so could surely do an even better job at Arsenal? .......Read the full article here

When Arsene Wenger signed the Spanish international left back Nacho Monreal on transfer deadline day, I must confess I knew very little about the new Arsenal player. The 27-year old arrived from Malaga and was thrown straight in at the deep end because of the injury to Kieran Gibbs and the shocking form of Andre Santos, but he has coped very well.

The defensive side of his game has been very solid, and he looks like a player who knows what he is doing, where he should be on the pitch and seems to enjoy defending. The job of a full back in modern football is about more than defending, however, but Arsene Wenger thinks that we will now see more of him from an attacking point of view as well, following on from his vital assist for his fellow Spaniard Santi Cazorla’s winner against Aston Villa. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger (and the Arsenal fans) were put through the usual range of heartbreaking emotions as the team threw away a one-goal lead yet again, but the Santi Cazorla popped up with his usual match-winning goal and the sigh of relief was audible all over the world!

Obviously Wenger was happy after the game, but we had the usual “nervous start, handbrake, focused, etc” comments, but he highlighted the “unbelievable chances we created” without putting the ball in the back of the net.

He said: “The result was vital today because it was absolutely important to win the game, we could not afford to drop points for two reasons. The first is that we are in a catch-up situation in the Premier League and secondly we have come out of two massive disappointments. .......Read the full article here

Hello Arsenal diehards! Here is my after-match player ratings after the Villa game…by AM

Szczesny – 6/10 – he did save us on certain balls in first half but has weak concentration sometimes…

Jenkinson – 8/10 – great fighting spirit, matched Agbonlahor for speed…

Mertesacker – 6/10 – lacks speed of reaction at times…

Vermaelen = 7/10 – nice defensive display from our captain…

Monreal – 7/10 – still lacks speed to switch from attacking role to defending, several times he was taken by Weismann but has good composure and decisive passes…

Diaby – 6/10 – good work in midfield but still lacks game fitness… .......Read the full article here

Arsenal vs Aston Villa preview, match line up and score prediction by KJ

It’s been quite a disappointing week as an Arsenal fan. First we go out of the FA cup against an embarrassingly bad championship side. This result carried on over to the game against Bayern (which we inevitably lost) and I was particularly angry. However, we must carry on and try and secure that top 4 place, just in case Wenger and the board have a change of mind and decide to become competitive again. When that day happens, hopefully all that Champions league money will come into good use. .......Read the full article here

There is a very interesting quote on Arsenal.com this morning from Arsene Wenger, which all Arsenal fans who have watched Wenger promote his policy of using youngsters for the last decade will read with bated breath.

This is his quote: “You can play well for 80 minutes and lose a game because one or two players make a mistake in decisive moments against experienced players,”

“You grow with the knowledge of the game and you make your career with your qualities but with your experience as well. When the balance is not in favour of experience, of course it’s difficult.” .......Read the full article here

Arsenal will play host to Aston Villa at the Emirates on Saturday, desperate to restore some confidence and happiness in the Arsenal home fans. It is a must win game in the quest for a 16th year in a row in the UEFA Champions league, but the Gunners will have to do it without the French international defender Bacary Sagna.

Wenger has revealed that the 29-year old has got a problem with his knee that will keep him out of contention this weekend. It does not sound too serious and he will hopefully return for the North London derby at Tottenham next Sunday. Carl Jenkinson has served the suspension he picked up against Sunderland so we should not miss Sagna too much. .......Read the full article here

The only thing left for Arsenal to achieve, and avoid complete disaster, this season is a top four spot and Champions league qualification. Barring a miracle in Munich, the next 12 league games are absolutely crucial, but Thomas Vermaelen is concerned that Arsenal will not get that top four position unless everyone involved with the club, including the fans, stops apportioning blame and sticks together for the rest of the season.

“Of course we are not happy, we are disappointed.

“We have to look at ourselves and stick together in difficult times.

“Don’t look at each other. Don’t blame each other. Work hard every day to get the results back. .......Read the full article here

The England winger Theo Walcott is well aware that things don’t look good after losing to both Blackburn and Bayern Munich at the Emirates, but he is certain that Arsene Wenger is still the “right man” to get the Arsenal team back to their confident best for the game against Aston Villa this weekend.

Walcott started by praising their victors on Tuesday night: “Bayern are at the top of their game with fantastic, young players. They’re experienced and have won a lot. They’re one of the best teams I’ve faced, without a doubt. Throughout the whole 11 on that pitch on Tuesday, I felt they were very well organised. .......Read the full article here

Three out of Three? by BN

Can we end February with three out of three? I hope so and think we can.

First up we face Blackburn in the FA Cup, a home tie, and if Arsene picks the right team we will win! Arsenal are miles better then them and as long as there is no complacency we will go through. I personally would pick the strongest team available. .......Read the full article here

I know that Arsenal will be looking for a new striker or two at the end of the season, and I know that Christian Benteke has done really well for Aston Villa in his first season in the Premier league. I don’t think that means he would do well for Arsenal or that Arsene Wenger will even try to sign him, but the media certainly seem to think so.

If the 22-year old Belgian international is the man on Wenger’s shopping list, the Prof may find it harder than he expected to secure his transfer in the summer. Yes Benteke has expressed his love for the Gunners, and is believed to have made his mind up to seek a bigger club, but Manchester City have set their sights on the big man, according to the Sunday People. .......Read the full article here