Just Arsenal News

Arsene’s Blind Spot by FD

In the early years of Arsene Wenger’s reign at Arsenal, the press liked to make fun of the things on the pitch he “didn’t see”. Although it became something of a standing joke, I doubt many Arsenal fans really minded that much.

Over the years, however, I suspect those following the Gunners may have become more than a little concerned about Arsene’s real blind spot. The goalkeeping position. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Lukasz Fabianski has suffered bruising to his ribs and could be doubtful for tonights crucial match against Everton, but he will not decide who plays for Arsenal this evening until the very last minute.

But he has made it clear that whoever takes the pitch will have his complete confidence to get the job done. He said: “I have total confidence, no matter who starts the game,”

“In the past I have shown that, that I trust these players and trust that no matter who plays, they will show their quality. .......Read the full article here

The Stoke City boss Tony Pulis pulled off one of the best transfer coups in January by securing the up-and-coming England keeper Jack Butland for just 4 million from Birmingham, and can now rest happy that they will be making a massive profit in the summer when the much improved Asmir Begovic is set to be moving on to better things.

The Man United boss Alex Ferguson is already set to bid around 15 million for the big Bosnian and can see him taking over as the main man at Old Trafford until David De Gea manages to iron out the weaknesses in his game. .......Read the full article here

Transfer Rumour: Dutch Goalkeeper Offered To Arsenal by AH

According to reports from several European countries, Arsenal have been offered Dutch international goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg. The former Ajax man has also been offered to London rivals Fulham FC who have also expressed an interest. The current AS Roma keeper has reportedly undergone a rift with the management staff at the Italian club and he has now been told he can go for a cut price of £3.5 million.

London based newspaper ‘The Metro’ reports;
‘According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Stekelenburg has been offered to both Arsenal and Fulham for a cut-price £3.5million, and a deal could be done in the next few days.’ .......Read the full article here

No match report for the Norwich game but a heavily critical piece on Arsenal’s performance. by KJ

I’m sorry for not writing a match report for yesterday’s game against Norwich. I watched about 70 mins before I had to go out. It looks like I didn’t miss much in the end as we failed to score the goals required to get the result.
I’ll give a short summary of how the match went down (if you already didn’t know).

It was a terrible performance throughout the match. Arsenal never actually carved out any real chances and never looked like we were ever going back into the match. .......Read the full article here

The young Argentinian keeper Damien Martinez has been thrust into the limelight due to the ongoing injuries to the Arsenal first-choice keepers Wojciech Szczesny and Lukas Fabianski, and although he is only the reserve to Vito Mannone at the moment, he is fully prepared to play for the full 90 minutes against Norwich if Wenger decides to make a change.

Martinez said: “The English Premier League is the best in the world. I have adapted very well here and it truly is amazing,”

“The best thing is the high level of football, pitches here are perfect. It’s unbelievable and I hope to stay in this league for as long as I can. .......Read the full article here

The Italian keeper Vito Mannone has been covering adequately for the injured duo of Wojciech Szczesny and Lukas Fabianski in between the sticks for Arsenal, despite Arsene Wenger admitting that he expected Mannone to be sold last summer but he couldn’t find a buyer.

But even though Mannone has done a good job, it seems that Arsenal are still not prepared to offer him a contract extension to the one that runs out next summer, and he could be on his way out of the club anyway. .......Read the full article here

Is Mannone good enough to remain Arsenal’s first choice keeper the entire season? by TS

Vito Mannone through hook and crook has maintained his position as first choice keeper for Arsenal. Obviously, injury to Szczesny and Fabianski has helped that process but there’s no denying that the Italian keeper has been an able replacement in goal. Mannone has credited his run in the first team due to the hard work he has put into his game.

Mannone, in his five appearances for the Gunner’s this season, has been more than adequate and the 24 year old admits that his loan spell to Championship side Hull City, where he made 23 appearances and kept nine clean sheets, was all the preparation he needed for his starting role at Arsenal. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal have never ever kept four clean sheets in a row at the beginning of any season, so yesterday’s game against relegation-favourites Southampton was a perfect opportunity to put this new Arsenal team into the record books. Vito Mannone was between the sticks for the first three games, but Wenger re-instated a fit-again Wojciech Szczesny to face the Saints.

Well we all know what happened: A long and definitely undangerous cross came into the box and Szczesny only had one of his defenders around him so had an easy catch to make. He jumped and it looked like he had it in his hands, but somehow he fell back and fumbled the ball back into play. Worst of all there was Daniel Fox waiting to poke the ball into the net and end our record-breaking chances. .......Read the full article here

Mannone says he has improved a lot during his loan spell at Hull City by AM

Mannone has said that his loan spell at Hull City has improved him as a keeper. He also says that with lots of new faces coming into the squad he, even at the age of 24, feels like an elder statesman in the squad. Vito said – “I think I have improved in every part of the goalkeeper position.

“In my mind as well, I came back stronger and stronger from my loan spell. Especially after the mistake at Olympiacos – it’s never easy to come back, but when I’ve got my back against the wall, I don’t mind. I just roll up my sleeves and try to work because I know I can do well. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal interested in Julio Cesar by AH

Reports in Italy suggest both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur (surprise….surprise) want to sign Inter Milan’s Julio Cesar. the Italian website Calciomercato claim that the two North London clubs have made enquiries about the Brazilian goalkeeper and that they could make a move for him in the upcoming weeks.

The Italian club are currently struggling with problems inside the club financially, which has led to the club terminating both Lucio’s and Diego Forlan’s contracts. The 32-year-old also looks set to depart the San Siro following the arrival of Samir Handanovic from Udinese and it appears the Brazilian is not in Andrea Stamaccioni’s plans. .......Read the full article here

Scouting For Arsenal: Goalkeeper – By JG

With Almunia, Fabianski and Mannone all forcing themselves out of Arsenal, the signing of back-up goalkeeper has become an issue of dire importance.

Arsenal scouts have been reported to have been watching young English starlet Jack Butland and a Norwegian shot stopper by the name of Kenneth Udjus. .......Read the full article here