Just Arsenal News

Don’t panic! Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo has published a list of the 50 players that could be on the wish list of Barcelona’s new manager Tito Vilanova. It comes after Vilanova told the Spanish press that he was looking for a player that could fill the position of “pivot” which is a versatile defensive midfielder, kind of like the player that Arsenal need.

Barcelona are focused on obtaining Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao but Mundo Deportivo, which has strong links to Barcelona, give us some food for thought and an insight into how they rate some of the Arsenal team. .......Read the full article here

Blackburn Rovers travelled to Austria last week for pre-season training without their defensive midfielder Steven N’Zonzi. Blackburn manager Steve Kean has told reporters the reason for this is “He asked for a transfer, hence why he never went to Austria.”

The 23-year old Frenchman has requested a move from Rovers because he does not want to play in the second tier of English football. He has also had problems in his relationship with his manager in the past. N’Zonzi is desperate for a place in the Premier league and may be confident that he will get one. .......Read the full article here

Defensive Midfielder Rumours – by JG

The buzz regarding defensive signings for the Gunners midfield is focused around two players today. Both of them are French and they have been mentioned before, but were thought to behind Yann M’Vila in Arsenal’s wishlist.

But with the M’Vila deal seemingly dead, today’s Arsenal transfer rumours reveal that Blackburn Rovers’ Steven Nzonzi has been left out of their preseason camp in Austria as he seeks a move.

The Lancashire Telegraph reported that the relegated ex-Premier League club will not stand in the player’s way but sources close to the club say they value Nzonzi at in the region of £10million. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal fans are used to Arsene Wenger pulling the occasional crazy signing out of his hat, but after being told that Yann M’Vila and Javi Martinez are top of his wish-list for a holding midfielder, they may be shocked to hear that the Mirror reckons that Wenger has decided to look closer to home and has now made a surprise £6million bid Blackburn’s Steven N’Zonzi.

N’Zonzi definitely has oodles of Premiership experience and at 6ft 4in will certainly add another dimension to the Gunners midfield, and perhaps even more importantly, he is French! .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly interested in bringing to the Emirates the player who is seen by a lot of the Premiership people as the new Patrick Vieira.

Steven N’Zonzi has become one of the most important players at Blackburn Rovers recently and interest from outside clubs, including Arsenal, keeps growing in the 23-year-old defensive midfielder, according to Sky Sports.

N’Zonzi himself admitted that he is flattered to be have been compared to the great Arsenal legend: “It’s true many people have said that I remind them of Vieira,” he told The Independent.

“He was a very good player – remember, he played with Claude Makelele, so at that time France had a really, really good midfield. .......Read the full article here

It is still largely quiet in the media surrounding Arsenal’s transfer targets, the only news available is about Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. Preston North End are the club interested but I don’t believe he will go there for a second, there are a variety of reasons and I will take you through them:

Wages: Emmanuel-Thomas had the option of going back to Blackpool for the entire season on loan but they did not agree on wages, not only is this completely the wrong attitude for a 20 year old player who has hardly kicked a ball in the first team, but it shows everything that is wrong with most young players these days. .......Read the full article here

Another day, and another couple of goalkeepers to be added to the Arsenal transfer rumour list!

This time it is Roma’s Brazilian keeper Doni, and the Daily Mail today says that Roma think he is too good to sit on the bench (!), so they are trying to sell him for £5m to either Arsenal, Tottenham or Man utd.

Surprisingly, Doni’s agent has denied their is any interest in his client from anyone in the Premier League!

“The interest of English teams?” Ovidia Colucci was quoted as saying on Sky. “I deny these rumours, there has been no contact in the market. .......Read the full article here