Just Arsenal News

Why I personally don’t rate Giroud by KJ

Arsenal under the Wenger era has been blessed with some of the best strikers the world will ever see. The likes of Ian Wright, Theirry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and even the traitor Robin Van Persie. As a result of this, whenever I watch Olivier Giroud on the pitch, I can’t help but feel disappointed with how far we’ve dropped in quality in that position. .......Read the full article here

Thierry Henry has legs like sticks of rock. If you cut one of them in cross section you would see the word Arsenal running through them. The French striker was talking about the Gunners earlier this month and admitted that Arsenal were the team he follows in his heart. It looked for a while that the 35-year old could be about to have a third spell with the club, but it never happened, despite him training with the players for a while. .......Read the full article here

Forgotten Heroes : Solutions to Arsenal’s woes by MLH

Arsene Wenger, the man who created “The Arsenal Invincibles”, but it wasn’t only him. We should not forget David Dein, a fine man and a guy who had an eagle eye for talent. It was him who brought in Dennis Bergkamp, the guy who was the catalyst for Arsenal’s success, and with Wenger he brought in Viera, Pires, Henry, Van Persie, Fabregas, etc. .......Read the full article here

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY FOR ARSENAL by NU

The dwindling fortunes of Arsenal date back beyond the past eight years. I saw it coming when, even during the times of the “Invincibles”, and by deliberate club policy quality and experience were eased off the squad or encouraged to leave on approaching the age of 30.

These quality players took their skills and experience to other clubs where they helped these other clubs to win trophies or at least assisted them to improve their positions on the table. I can mention Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Barcelona and even Portsmouth . .......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

Thierry Henry was talking not just as a former Arsenal player, but as a fully fledged Gooner when he spoke about the club. For him, Arsene Wenger is intrinsically linked with the Gunners, and the criticism the manager has received recently has hurt his former protege.

Henry also said that he would love to come back to the Emirates when his playing career is finished. With two years left on his contract with the New York Red Bulls, the striker has not decided on what he will do when he stops playing, but you would assume that his passion for the game will not allow him to simply walk away from it. If he does decide to go into coaching, youth development or management, then I am sure that there will be a place for him in North London. .......Read the full article here

There was optimism and some concern when Arsene Wenger made Olivier Giroud his second Arsenal transfer of the summer. The big Frenchman had fired Montpellier to the French title and top scored in the league, but the Gunners did not have a great recent history with strikers from Ligue 1, as Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho had both scored well in France then struggled at the Emirates.

Giroud did get off to a slow start, taking time to adapt to the English Premier league and getting over his nerves. He was playing well but missing chances, but then started to find the net and his performances steadily improved as well. In 2013, his form has been much better again and his finishing is markedly improved. The striker has been speaking about how being at Arsenal is helping him improve, and he is confident that this will continue. .......Read the full article here

Alisher Usmanov is the second biggest shareholder in Arsenal Football club. He first joined the club by buying the almost 15 percent stake of David Dein in 2007. Six months later his company, Red and White holdings had 29 percent of the club, one percent more would have meant he had to make a formal offer to take over. Peter Hill-Wood then blocked any takeover and made it a rule that shareholders needed to give board members first refusal before they sold. This led to the takeover by Kroenke, which was allowed, but is now seen as having done nothing for the progression of the club. .......Read the full article here

There are rumours that Arsenal and Theo Walcott have agreed terms on a new contract that will keep the 23-year old at the Emirates for the next five years. Some pundits have declared that Walcott is not worth the reported £90,000 a week that he will receive but Arsene Wenger believes that the England international will go from strength to strength after signing his name on the new deal.

Walcott has been the subject of criticism for years because he was seen as never fulfilling his earl promise. Some commentators have claimed that he has not got an understanding of the game and is purely a fast runner. Wenger obviously had doubts himself about Theo’s ability to become a striker as the great Thierry Henry did before. .......Read the full article here

Africa in Arsenal by Ed

The Africa Cup of Nations is upon us, placing the spotlight on the African game as well as the continent’s role in the sport’s history. Just Arsenal wishes to reflect this focus by presenting a series examining the relationship between Arsenal and Africa, profiling the stars of the continent who have contributed to the Gunners’ past and present.

Christopher Wreh – Liberia, 1997-2000, 46 games, 5 goals

Something of a cult hero at Arsenal, Wreh was predominantly used as an option from the bench, replacing Bergkamp, Wright, or Anelka to provide fresh legs and invention late in games. His appearance stats are testament to his role as an impact option for Wenger; out of 46 appearances for the club, only 18 were from the off, whilst a further 28 came from the substitutes bench. .......Read the full article here

Walcott Signing Ever Closer! by AH

Today it’s being reported that Arsene Wenger, Ivan Gazids and Theo Walcott, as well as his representatives will sit down to have one final talk about the terms of the contract Arsenal are offering him. The club is ready to make Walcott among the highest paid players at the club with a big money contract, which could be boosted further by add-ons implemented over the years.

It’s understood that the latest contract offer is £90,000 a week with a first year payment of £3 million signing on fee. The deal is a five year contract taking the total offering to £26.4 million and Walcott and his representatives are reportedly happy with this deal. .......Read the full article here

Why Arsene is right not to splash the cash! by DW

It is now January 8th 2013 and the transfer window has officially got underway. The gates to the overpriced and usually disruptive time of the season are open. An often overworked set of players in each team, reeling from the rigors of the Christmas and new year fixtures, are subjected to the media’s speculation of grandeur and the chance for them to apparently play for the potential top four teams, causing managers to squeeze their eyes shut in prayer that their star players show some loyalty over the stupidly high wages that are presented to them at the likes of Man City and Chelski. .......Read the full article here