Just Arsenal News

Why Arsenal should sign Micah Richards by LM

With the stories circulating about Bacary Sagna’s future, heightened by his poor performance in the draw against United at the weekend, Arsenal may be on the look out for a replacement right back this summer. If the rumours were to be true and we were on the market I do not believe there would be anyone more suitable than Micah Richards to be the man to fill the gap, especially as he is a Gooner himself.

Back in 2007, Richards was quoted to have said “I was a big Ian Wright fan when I was younger so I supported Arsenal. Wright and Patrick Vieira were my idols, so yeah, if the opportunity came to play for them one day I’d take it.”. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger is on the lookout for a new central defender for his Arsenal squad. With an estimated £70 million burning a hole in the Fremchman’s pocket, Arsenal fans are hoping for some big name additions in some key positions, and central defence is one of the most crucial.

The Gunners are currently operating with just three first choicers in Koscielny, Vermaelen and Mertesacker. Djourou was allowed to join Hannover on loan and everybody expects it to become a permanent arrangement. There are two promising centre backs in the reserves, Ignasi Miquel and Martin Angha, who could be used if needed this season but are probably not ready for regular first team action. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger may well be wishing he had not been so cautious in last month’s transfer window, because Arsenal now look like being without three key defenders for tomorrow’s game at Sunderland. Captain Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs and Laurent Koscielny are the players injured, leaving just Per Mertesacker as a first choice centre back.

Koscielny, who picked up a calf injury playing for France against Germany on Wednesday, will have a fitness test so there is a chance he could play. That would be a huge boost, because the options are bringing somebody up from the reserves, like Ignasi Miquel, Squillachi or Bacary Sagna, with Carl Jenkinson taking over at right back. .......Read the full article here

Towards the end of the first half against Liverpool yesterday, most Arsenal fans will have experienced a sick feeling in their stomach, accompanied by a cold, clammy sensation that smells of pain and defeat. As Kieran Gibbs left the field to be replaced by Andre Santos, we all feared the worst. The only positive is that the injury gave Arsene Wenger 24 hours to find a replacement.

“He has a thigh strain that rules him out for the next three weeks. It’s a blow for us of course.

“He was an important player for us going forward and the game we wanted to play. It’s a shame he’s out for the next three weeks.” .......Read the full article here

Is Miquel ready for first team football? by KJ

Rumours are starting to pick up that Djourou could be on his way out of Arsenal very soon. It was reported that Napoli scouts were at the Switzerland game against Iceland. They were there scouting Djourou as a possible recruit. Other teams such as Lazio are also interested in the Swiss international. What this means is that one of the youngsters is going to have to be promoted as 4th choice centre back – the obvious choice is Ignasi Miquel. .......Read the full article here

The news that one of Arsenal’s defenders could be the subject of a transfer to Serie A in Italy could be better and it could be worse. It is not Koscielny, Mertesacker or Vermaelen, so that is a great relief. On the other hand, it is not Sebastien `the Squid` Squillachi so that’s very disappointing.

The man in question is Johan Djourou, who was promised first team action this season by Arsene Wenger, has only made one appearance in a game against Coventry in the Capital One cup. That might be a little less than the Swiss international was hoping for. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger has named his 18-man squad fro the third round of the Capital One cup against Coventry City tonight. The main surprise, for me, is that Laurent Koscielny is not included. The French international central defender has been unable to get his place back to due to the excellent form of Per Mertesacker. He played against Manchester City, but only because captain Vermaelen was ill.

I had thought that Wenger would use this game to give him some time on the pitch, but maybe is being cautious. Perhaps Wenger is concerned that Vermaelen will not be fully recovered by the weekend or perhaps he does not want to risk an injury to Koscielny. .......Read the full article here

Coventry City have had a dreadful start to the season, with five league defeats in a row. Their new manager Mark Robins is desperate to avoid another dent to his sides fragile confidence and may have hoped for a young and inexperienced Arsenal side in tonight’s Capital One cup clash. He is going to be out of luck, however, as Arsene Wenger has vowed to field a strong and competitive side at the Emirates. .......Read the full article here

Ignasi Miquel talks about the influence of Bould and Banfield

Young Arsenal defender Ignasi Miquel has praised the influence of Steve Bould and Neil Banfield on his Arsenal career so far. Both Bould and Banfield have been promoted to first team coaching staff this season by Wenger. Bould, who was part of George Graham’s famous back four, succeeded Pat Rice who retired after 40 years at the club as a player and coach this season. It is believed that Bould was specially brought in to tighten up a leaky defense. .......Read the full article here

I know it is only the first outing in pre-season but the two 45 minute games at St. Mary’s in Southampton yesterday gave Gooners some real positives. Firstly, we got our hands on a trophy at last. Get used to it lads.

More importantly, Arsene Wenger gave some players a chance to push their cases for a place in the Arsenal team. Marouane Chamakh is not likely to get many more chances and did nothing to change Wenger’s mind in the first game against Anderlecht. .......Read the full article here

This question could refer to three different Arsenal players. Reports have linked Barcelona to Thomas Vermaelen, Ignasi Miquel and now Laurent Koscielny. Don’t the Spanish side know any other teams to look at?

The worry for me is that Koscielny, like a couple of other Gunners, only has a year to run on his current deal with Arsenal. The defender and his representatives are currently in discussion with the club over a new five year contract but reported interest from Barcelona could possibly throw a spanner in the works. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal could lose another player to Barcelona by BA

What is it with Barcelona? If they want a player, why do they release him only to try to re-sign him a couple of years later? The Spanish club were after Cesc Fabregas for years before they finally prised him away from Arsenal last year. This summer, Barcelona are going to try to take back another player they released from their youth system, Ignasi Miquel.

The 19-year old defender will be offered the chance to join Barcelona B, according to Talksport. They are preparing a bid of around £300,00, but I expect Arsene Wenger will tell them where to stick it. Wenger would prefer to keep the player but knows that his chances will be limited at the Emirates, especially now Johan Djourou is staying. .......Read the full article here