Just Arsenal News

Arsene Wenger has a very large squad to choose from right now and the Frenchman will have to start rotating them with a glut of four games coming up in the next ten days. Arsenal are definitely without Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott for the next couple of weeks but has the returning Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna who could continue their return to fitness with cameo performances tomorrow.

It is certain that Mannone will start in goal, and I have a feeling that Wenger will choose Koscielny to play alongside Vermaelen to save Mertesacker for the midweek game against Schalke. Santos will replace Gibbs on the left and Jenkinso will start on the right. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal are now just three points behind Chelsea in the coveted fourth place in the Premiership, so a win is an absolute must this weekend at Sunderland, but with the (perhaps more important?) Champions League tie against AC Milan coming up in midweek, Wenger will be considering his team selection very carefully.

Wenger has so far avoided resting Robin van Persie, but as he has Thierry Henry, Ju-Young Park and the now-returned Marouane Chamakh in the squad, perhaps it may be prudent to make sure that the Dutch international doesn’t get injured this weekend. .......Read the full article here

The Moroccan international striker Marouane Chamakh has finally spoken out about the Arsenal transfer rumours suggesting he will be leaving the Emirates in January, and denies there is much chance of that happening, but it will be a different story next summer.

Chamakh has only started one game for the Gunners this season, and he told the press that if this situation continues then he will have to consider any offers that come in in June, but he wouldn’t go back to Ligue 1 except with Bordeaux.

He said: “I am 27 and I need to play. I cannot stay like this forever. I won’t leave in January but I will take an important decision in June. .......Read the full article here

Theo Walcott has held talks with Arsene Wenger about switching positions from right wing to a central striking role and believes he can offer so much more to the team in such a role.

Speaking yesterday Walcott said, “I had a meeting with the boss and explained my point of view. He knew the conversation would come up and was very happy to talk about it. He says he’ll give me a chance there at the right time, and I’m dying for it to happen, but he knows exactly what he is doing and obviously I trust him. .......Read the full article here

Arsene Wenger may be missing Robin Van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott as options in Arsenal’s strike force today, but he says that he is happy with the choices he has left in the squad, which could mean a start for Carlos Vela in place of Walcott.

“I’m happy with the options,” Wenger said. “We still have Carlos Vela coming back now in a good shape along with Chamakh and Arshavin.”

“We have offensive players like Fabregas, Rosicky and Nasri so we have plenty of players who can score goals,” he continued. “They are all creative players in midfield.” .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal and Spain midfielder has only been used as a substitute at the World Cup so far, and is desperate to get some playing time as his country faces Germany in the World Cup tomorrow.

Fabregas said: “All I want is to play football. It’s the semi-final of the biggest tournament in the world and I just want to play. I want to enjoy things and do well for the team and show everyone how I can play.”

He was then asked if he finds it harder to concentrate after coming off the bench, but he thinks it makes him want to play even better. .......Read the full article here