Just Arsenal News

Arsenal are finally starting to get some players back, after what seems like forever. Tomas Rosicky has not played for the Gunners all season, following a tendon injury he suffered while playing for the Czech Republic at Euro 2012. The 32-year old playmaker trained with his Arsenal team mates today at London Colney and his recovery will be a boost to everyone.

It is likely to take Rosicky a few weeks to get back to full fitness, but it will then give Arsene Wenger more options, which will be a relief after the blighted start the squad has endured. Santi Cazorla might even get to have a rest, or he could try his luck on the wings when Rosicky is back. .......Read the full article here

The jury is still out on whether Vito Mannone is accomplished enough to be Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, and it seems that he is about to be usurped by the returning Wojciech Szczesny very shortly.

The young Pole has not played a competitive game for the Gunners since he was ruled out with an ankle injury during a game against Southampton two months ago, but Arsene Wenger has arranged for him to play for the U21s against West Ham reserves today and has hinted he could be back in the first team squad on Saturday if he comes through okay. .......Read the full article here

Vito Mannone has revealed that the Arsenal players have mixed feelings about the Champions League point that was earned in Germany last night against Schalke. The same can probably be said about Arsenal fans, who will be relieved we did not lose, but still not particularly impressed.

“It was a really tough game. There is a mixed feeling in the dressing room, because we could have won it and we also could have lost it.”

Arsene Wenger has been coming in for a great deal of criticism lately, in the newspapers as well as on this website. Accusations of stubbornness and tactical mistakes, along with a general feeling of impatience as we Gooners face another trophyless season. .......Read the full article here

Can Martinez become Arsenal’s Number 1 in the future? by AH

Damien Martinez is currently Arsenal’s 4th choice goalkeeper, with the Argentine behind polish internationals Lukas Fabianski and Wojiech Szczseny and Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Arsenal doesn’t currently have a number one with the position going to either Vito Mannone or Wojiech Szczsney. There are some concerns over Szczsney’s fitness, with the Polish international only featuring twice for the gunners so far this season. While Mannone is inconsistent and has looked extremely shaky in recent weeks. .......Read the full article here

At the Arsenal training session today was the welcome sight of our Polish keeper, Wozciech Szczesny, after missing six weeks out with injury. Arsenal have not said if he is ready to play tomorrow against Reading, but it would be a great boost if our number one was to run out for the Gunners at Old Trafford on Saturday.

I think that Vito Mannone has tepped into his position manfully, but you always want your best players in the team, especially when you are facing Manchester United. Alex Ferguson’s team have been weak defensively this season, but have made up for it by scoring plenty. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal vs Schalke match preview, predicted line-up and score prediction by KJ

We are finally back to the Champions league now which will be a much needed break for the players. They have lost 2 of the last 3 Premier League games and have fallen 10 points behind leaders Chelsea. Hopefully we can finally build some momentum against a very good Schalke side to carry us over the winter period.

This is going to be one of the most difficult games for Arsenal at the Emirates. People seem to underestimate how good a side this Schalke team is. They have class players in: Huntelaar, Draxler, Afellay, Holtby, Papadopolous etc. They are going to be difficult to break down and proved against Dortmund at the weekend that they will punish the big teams. .......Read the full article here

A growing number of Arsenal fans are becoming concerned about the reliability, or lack of it, exhibited by our Italian keeper Vito Mannone. With both Polish stoppers, Wojciech Szczesny and Lucasz Fabianski, still in the treatment room there have been calls for Arsene Wenger to give Damien Martinez an opportunity in the first team.

Wenger has rejected this idea and is determined to show confidence in Mannone. The manager has discussed things with the young keeper and is doing what he can to bolster his confidence. Mannone must be aware that he has made some bad mistakes recently, but losing confidence could make things much worse for him and for Arsenal. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal vs. Norwich – analysis by DS

Hi, my name’s Dominic and this is my first article for JustArsenal.com.

Yesterday I managed to persuade a number of my mates to come with me down to a pub to watch the Arsenal vs. Norwich game, promising goals galore a la Southampton and Coventry style.

However I was let down completely by a flat, uninspiring performance, the likes of which I don’t associate with Arsenal. There was no va va voom and even Cazorla looked bereft of ideas when he (occasionally) got on the ball. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal started with the attacking trio of Giroud, Podolski and Gervinho to take the fight to Norwich and take advantage of their fragile confidence. Ramsey got the nod alongside Cazorla and Arteta in the middle with plenty of options, including Wilshere, on the bench.

Chris Houghton had his players fired up and they set out to work hard and press Arsenal with a high tempo. The Gunners ettled in to their passing style and kept patiently probing for an opening. There was hardly a chance to speak of until the 19th minute when Arsenal allowed Tettey room to have a shot. Mannone was deceived and spilled it into the path of Holt for a simple tap in and suddenly we were behind. .......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

Should Arsenal buy a new goalkeeper in January? by KJ

Arsenal have suffered an array of injuries once again to key players at the start of the season. The likes of Rosicky, Sagna, Wilshere, Diaby, Szczesny, Fabianski, Frimpong have either made very few appearances or have yet to feature for the club this season. It’s very worrying, especially when looking at our goalkeeping department.

It has been reported today that Fabianski was injured in training today and has now got ligament damage in his ankle. This could see him out for 3 months. .......Read the full article here

Vito Mannone has played almost every match in goal for Arsenal this season due to Szczesny’s injury, and he has been immensely impressed with the way we have played. So much so that he fully believes that the Gunners have what it takes to go all the way and lift the Premiership trophy for the first time since 2004.

“We have a good solid squad and I think we can go for it. I have no doubt that if we keep our focus and we keep our mentality, it’s not a doubt that we are going to challenge for the title. .......Read the full article here