Just Arsenal News

Arsene Wenger has spoken out ahead of tonight’s crunch Champions League tie against Bayern Munich, knowing the team need to score at least 3 goals to stand a chance of qualifying for the next round.

Bayern defender Daniel van Buyten claimed his side were extremely confident of eliminating Arsenal this week, leading the Arsenal manager to respond by saying: “If I was in your position, I would doubt we can do it as well.

“Bayern has made a big impression in the first game – an impression of authority and security. We have to create the doubt in their mind and that will only come if we believe. .......Read the full article here

What should we expect in Munich? By AM

I’m sure the only thing going through the mind of all Arsenal fans right now is the second leg of the Champion’s League game against Bayern on Wednesday. In the first leg Bayern completely outplayed us at our own home ground, so it is completely understandable why some fans are feeling pessimistic about our visit to Munich on Wednesday. However, we have to forget what happened in the past and look to the future.

The game will be decided on 3 major aspects- Form, tactics and starting line-up. .......Read the full article here

The German winger Lukas Podolski admitted that Arsenal were not really surprised by the quality of Bayern Munich’s game at the Emirates on Tuesday, but he believes that in the second half the Gunners showed that they could compete with them, and he still believes it is possible to get through after the second leg.

“They’ve played a very good season in Germany,” Lukas said on Arsenal.com. “They are a good team and we are not surprised. We must look at our match and our match was not so good in the first half, but better in the second half. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal were thoroughly put in their place last night by an excellent Bayern Munich side, and itis now glaringly obvious that the Gunners can no longer compete at the top table, but (predictably) Arsene Wenger gave his side credit for their “battling” qualities, albeit after they were 2-0 down…..

He said after the game: “We played against a good team who took advantage of every opportunity they created in the first half. We had quite a good start for five minutes. You could see we were a a bit nervous, but Bayern was fully confident and we paid for it. At 2-0 down of course it became very difficult, but we put in a good battle in the second half and came back to 2-1. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has obviously been under a barrage of questions about tonights game against Bayern Munich, especially as the Germans have been in imperious form lately, while Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Blackburn.

Naturally the bookies have Bayern Munich hot favourites to get a result at the Emirates tonight, but with Wenger certain to field a completely different team than Saturday’s XI, he is hopeful that the Gunners still have the quality to get a result at home.

“We are the underdogs – you just need to read the English press to understand that,” Wenger said on Arsenal.com. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger is well aware that Arsenal have a tough task on their hands in the Champions league. Bayern Munich were last year’s finalists and probably should have won the trophy, but Chelsea held on with some last ditch defending and won the penalty shoot out. Bayern are storming along in the German Bundesliga, so it is no real surprise that they are favourites to progress to the next round at the expense of the Gunners.

Sometimes, especially in cup competitions, underdogs can thrive on that status, and use the arrogance and high expectations of the opponents against them. After Bayern’s Dutch winger Arjen Robben made some disparaging comments about Arsenal, Wenger should use his words to get the players well and truly fired up and determined to make him eat his words. .......Read the full article here

ARSENAL ATTACK MERCIFUL WITHOUT PODOLSKI By JL

In Arsenal’s most recent EPL games, we have struggled to put the ball in our opponents’ net. We could highlight some reasons for this ranging from lack of communication in attack, absence of proven goal poacher. We have a positive however, two successive clean-sheets.

The acquisition of Podolski was great news to Arsenal fans all over the world and so far, he has not disappointed in my opinion. Yes! He may not be entirely consistent and have few off-days, however, you would agree with me that he is a beast on his day. You can expect better services come next season. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal will play host to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, with the winners getting a place in the quarter finals of the FA cup. For Arsenal, with an extremely difficult double header in the Champions league against Bayern Munich, this competition surely represents the best chance of finally adding another piece of silverware to the Emirates’ trophy cabinet.

Arsenal are also involved in the battle for a top four spot in the Premier league and a place in Europe’s top competition next season. Blackburn, however, are in a similar struggle in the championship. They travelled to play-off rivals Brighton last night sitting just four points outside the play-off positions, as they seek to bounce straight back to the Premier league. .......Read the full article here

Wojciech Szczesny is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper that Arsenal have got in the squad, and since he came back from injury and replaced Vito Mannone, the Gunners have benefited and been much better defensively. There have been calls, however, for Arsenal to bring in another keeper, with more experience, to push the Polish international and help him learn from the older player in training.

Szczesny himself, despite being blessed with a lot of self confidence, is not content with his current form. The last game against Sunderland was probably his best of the season so far, and made it two clean sheets in a row for Arsenal. It also earned him the Man of the Match award voted for by Gooners on Arsenal.com but Szczesny knows that he is not on top of his game yet. .......Read the full article here

The last thing that Arsenal fans wanted to see on Saturday was Jack Wilshere signalling to the bench that he could not continue, after a series of tough tackles by Sunderland players. The fact that he did not have to be stretchered off and went to the bench rather than the treatment table was encouraging, and now it appears that the Arsenal backroom staff are confident that the 21-year old midfield genius will be back in good time to line up against Bayern Munich next Tuesday, reports the Guardian. .......Read the full article here

The only member of the Arsenal team who has started more Premier league games this season than the captain Thomas Vermaelen is Santi Cazorla, The Belgian defender also started all six of the group games in the Champions league, outlining his experience and importance to Arsene Wenger. It could be a disaster for the Gunners if he misses the next European game, in a week’s time against the runaway leaders of the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich.

For the second time this season, Vermaelen has been given an injection by the Arsenal medical team in order to bring down the swelling on his problematic ankle. The idea is for him to do some light training with the squad this week, but he will almost certainly be rested for the FA cup fifth round match against Blackburn Rovers. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger still speaks about Gervinho as a key member of the Arsenal team. He explained his decision not to scout the African Cup of Nations in January by saying that the Ivorian striker was the best player in the tournament, and we already have him so there was no point. When the 25-year old forward returned after Ivory Coast were knocked out by Nigeria, Wenger decided to give him some time off before rejoining the Arsenal squad, but he will be available from now on. .......Read the full article here