Just Arsenal News

Arsenal need to up the tempo against Wigan. by FD

One match nearer, and it doesn’t get any easier. After an uncomfortable evening watching Arsenal hold on for a crucial victory against QPR, thoughts turn to our next game when Wigan visit the Emirates.

At this stage of the season, it’s all about getting the points, so I’m not going to get too concerned about performances. But our display yesterday seemed to lack intensity. We’ll have to play with the kind of vigour we showed in the first half of the Man United match to prevail against a Wigan side fighting for their Premiership lives. Memories of this corresponding fixture last season should serve as a warning to all. .......Read the full article here

Dein supports Wenger to improve Arsenal this summer by PH

The ex-Arsenal director David Dein, who worked so well in tandem with Arsene Wenger before he was relieved of his duties by the Board, has revealed that he still believes Arsene is the right man to lead the Gunners to success, or at least to enable them to challenge the Big Three for a few trophies.

He also believes that Wenger is aware of the distance between Arsenal and Man United and will do something to redress the situation this summer. Dein said: “It’s a long hard season and I am a great supporter of Arsene Wenger as you can imagine. .......Read the full article here

The Man United manager Alex Ferguson has seen his team run away with this season’s Premiership title, but he has been assessing the chances of the Red Devils retaining the title next year. It seems that he thinks Jose Mourinho will be returning to Stamford Bridge and could provide the biggest challenge, but he tips Arsenal to improve and threaten to surprise their rivals.

Fergie said: “You’d expect – if José goes back to Chelsea – a big challenge there.

“Manchester City won’t go away, with the money they’ve got. And I think Arsenal will improve – there’s some indication that Arsenal are building a better squad than people think – and Tottenham have been progressing for a couple of years now. So it’s a hard league to win, there’s no doubt about that. .......Read the full article here

Should Arsene Wenger go? by KJ

It’s been an extremely disappointing season so far. We are 4 points off the chase for 4th place and we’ve been kicked out of the two domestic cup competitions against lower league opposition (Bradford and Blackburn Rovers) and we even failed to qualify first out of the group stages. There are massive questions over Wenger’s ability to push Arsenal to where they deserve to be.

I’ve noticed that this season, Wenger is making far more mistakes than usual. He failed to tactically overcome small teams like Norwich, Villa, Swansea etc. as well as failing with his substitutions (famously being too late to make an impact during the match). .......Read the full article here

The German striker Lukas Podolski realises that Arsenal have made some “stupid mistakes” in some of their games this season, and he thinks the team can avoid those in future and secure a Top Four place, although he doubts that the Gunners can still win the Premiership.

Podolski said: “First place is now very tough, but the season is long and when we fight, play our game and do not lose stupid points, I think we can go for the top four.

“We lost a lot of points where we did not play well – but still we are only two points from third place. .......Read the full article here

The Wales and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey had a nightmare return from injury last season, and he has hardly improved in this one, despite being given endless opportunities by Arsene Wenger to regain his old form.

It seems that he fully aware that last season wasn’t good, but he puts that down to being his first full season in the Premiership, and now he is hoping that he can regain his former glory before the end of this present season, or perhaps the season after….

He said on Arsenal.com: “At the beginning, I was really excited to have an opportunity to have a full season and to be involved in everything,” .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny believes that the Gunners will be much better defensively this season, and thinks that Arsene Wenger’s new assistany Steve Bould will be very influential in keeping the back line in a more solid shape.

The Polish international said today: “We’re strong offensively and Steve Bould has been doing some fantastic work with the defence. That seems to be working very well. It all makes me believe we’ll be that little bit stronger.

“We’ve done a lot of shape work in training, work on when we lose the ball and a lot of defending on crosses. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal former legend Jens Lehmann sent out a warning to Arsenal’s new signing Lukas Podolski, saying that the German will have to adapt with the Premiership pace and learn how to win if he wants to be successful at Arsenal.

According to the German goalkeeper who made history with Arsenal, Podolski might not know that participating is not enough.

“He is quick, dangerous in front of the goal, and has a good pass. I’m happy for him if he joins Arsenal soon.

“It won’t be easy, though. He will have to get used to the pace, and he will have to realise that participating is not enough. You must win. Expectations are very high.” .......Read the full article here

The web was alive yesterday with the Arsenal transfer rumour that Koln’s superstriker Lukas Podolski has already agreed in principle to move to Arsenal next season, and at least one ex-Germany star is tipping him to improve even further under Wenger in the Premiership.

The legendary Germany striker Olivier Bierhof, who scored 37 goals in just 70 appearances for his country, believes that it is time for Lukas Podolski to make his move to Arsenal, and thinks that Arsene Wenger will take the Koln striker “to the next level”.

Bierhof said: “The heart of Podolski belongs to Cologne,”

“But he’s now at an age, where he has to think about his future. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is, like Robin Van Persie, approaching the final year of his contract this summer. Although all Arsenal fans are anxious that the Dutchman signs an extension to stay at the Emirates, there is not the same sort of urgency regarding Walcott.

The Englishman started the season in excellent form but that excitement seems to have drained out of his play and opinion is now divided on whether Wenger should cash in on him at the end of the season anyway, but the manager is confident that Walcott will recover his form shortly.

“I think he is coming back now,” Wenger said. “He had a dip over Christmas. .......Read the full article here

Just three seasons ago, Laurent Koscielny’s future was looking nothing more than average in terms of footballing future, the defender having difficulties getting chances and proving his talent. However, after a move to centre-back at Tours, his career looked promising once more, and Wenger’s decision to bring him to the Emirates underlines the progression he has made.

Koscielny himself was stunned by his transition from mediocre defender to first team Gunner: “”I don’t believe any French player would have refused to come and play for Arsenal. It took me four years to go from the bench of Ligue 2 to Arsenal so it is a great achievement”. His pride and once-damaged self-belief will surely be boosted even more after tomorrow’s game against the USA. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal’s French centre-back Laurent Koscielny has set his sights on improving even more after a terrific run of form for the Gunners.

Speaking to Le Parisien, Koscielny said, “Like all the French players, I dream of the 2012 European Championship… I know that I need to keep being good to keep being called up. I have been in the squad a few times which shows that I’m on the good path. Now I need to work harder because I haven’t had my first cap yet. If it comes one day, it’s because I would have deserved it.” .......Read the full article here