Just Arsenal News

The young Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has confirmed his arrival at Atletico Madrid on their official website, and says he is “eternally grateful” to Arsene Wenger for looking after him since he arrived at the Emirates, but the the Spain U21 international believes that his style of play is much more suited to La Liga than the Premiership.

“There are circumstances in life,” he said. “I was very comfortable at Arsenal, but with the interest of Atletico I did not hesitate. I talked to my agent and I told him to deal with such an offer.” .......Read the full article here

Just six days to go until the transfer window opens and any Arsenal transfer news is being tempered by the deafening silence from Arsene Wenger.

Despite acres of wood being cut down to feed all the Cesc Fabregas stories in the papers, we have not had one word out of Wenger. Even the loyal Sol Campbell, who has been rousing the troops since the end of the season, has decided to talk to Celtic about a possible move in the face of Wenger’s silence. .......Read the full article here

Just to start with, it looks like the expected departure of Fran Merida on a free to Atletico Madrid has finally come to pass. I consider that a real shame as he was expected to be the obvious replacement for Cesc Fabregas, and he could possibly had made his big breakthrough to the Arsenal first team next season.

Merida’s agent Joseba Diaz said: “Fran’s decision is based purely on sporting questions and not money.” Which probably means that he actually wanted to play occasionally! Oh well, good luck Fran…. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has categorically stated that he has a war chest to strengthen the Arsenal team this summer, and judging by all the transfer news in the papers lately, it would seem that a new goalkeeper is at the top of his list.

Having already been linked with Neuer, Akinfeev and Lloris, a report in todays Sunday Mirror says that Wenger is considering an £8m bid for the young Man City keeper Joe Hart, who has had a great season out on loan at Birmingham City. With Shay Given a guaranteed starter at City, Hart realises that he will have to stay away from the Eastlands to be sure of first team football, and he is young enough to become a long-time fixture at Arsenal. If Wenger can really get him for £8m it would be a fantastic investment. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida was watching from the substitutes bench as Arsene Wenger’s team were mauled by Barcelona in the Nou Camp, and he was extremely impressed (just like everyone else) by the performance of Lionel Messi.

“For me he is the best player ever,” Merida said. “I didn’t get to see Maradona or Pele.

“When Messi is at his best he is the best player in the world. He showed that. I think you can stop him, but when he is at his best it is very difficult. .......Read the full article here

The Man City boss Mark Hughes is set to name a strong team to play the Arsenal youngsters in this weeks Carling Cup quarter-final match, and insists he will have no problem picking Emanuel Adebayor to face his old club again on Wednesday.

Arsene Wenger has already said that he will be making changes for this match, but the team is facing a third defeat in a row as Mark Hughes is going all out to win a trophy this season.

Adebayor was given a three match ban after the last meeting between the two clubs for nearly causing a riot, but Hughes doesn’t think that will affect him this time around. .......Read the full article here

The latest young star to emerge from Arsene Wenger’s awesome academy is the 18 year-old striker Sanchez Watt. He made his first-team debut in the Carling Cup against West Brom earlier this season, and marked the occasion with his first goal for the club too.

He followed that up with another good game against Liverpool, and it seems he has done enough for Arsene Wenger to sign him up on a long-term deal, and it has been announced today that both he and Alex Song have committed their futures to Arsenal. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has announced that contract negotiations have begun with three more players.

Thomas Rosicky is out of contract this summer and would be free to talk to other clubs in January if he can’t come to an agreement with Arsenal, and with him now returning to full fitness, Wenger is confident that they can come to a new arrangement.

William Gallas is also on his last year, but his superb form this season alongside new-boy Thomas Vermaelen has convinced Wenger that he wants Gallas to stay on for another season at the Emirates. .......Read the full article here

The young Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida is still in negotiations with the Gunners over a new contract, and has so far refused to sign a five-year extension offered by Arsene Wenger, although the Arsenal boss says that he has agreed to the terms.

There have been extensive rumours that he was being tapped-up by Atletico Madrid, mostly put about by his agent, Joseba Diaz, but yesterday Diaz stated that Atletico has NOT approached him, and Merida is now keen to stay at the Emirates.

“I do not know what Atletico are waiting for in bidding for a player [Merida] who has half of Europe after him,” Diaz said. .......Read the full article here

Talk about scraping the bottom of the barrel! The Daily Star today has decided to revive the weekly rumour that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is worried that Cesc Fabregas will be going to Barcelona next summer, and is already lining up his replacement!

The Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil (his parents are Turkish), is currently at Werder Bremen, and with just 18 months left on his contract is in negotiations with the German giants. But the Star says that he reluctant to sign and could force a sale by next summer, with Wenger on top of his list of admirers, along with Liverpool and Man Utd. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has slammed Atletico Madrid for trying to poach Fran Merida, and says that Arsenal have already agreed a new contract with the Spain U20 star, but Merida just hasn’t signed it yet.

It has already been confirmed that Arsenal have offered Merida a new five-year contract, but according to Merida’s agent he is going to talk to Arsenal about a new contract, but only for two years.

Wenger said today: “He has an offer which he has agreed, but has not signed yet,” said Wenger. .......Read the full article here

The uproar over Fran Merida’s contract looks set to continue today, as his agent Joseba Diaz has now revealed that he is on his way to London to discuss a new contract with Arsenal.

Yesterday Diaz seemed to indicate that Merida was definitely going to move to Atletico Madrid when he said: “We only have an offer from Arsenal but Fran Merida has an illness, for want of a better word, and that is Atletico Madrid and you can’t do anything about that,” .......Read the full article here