Just Arsenal News

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

It is fair to say that Andre Santos is not in line for Arsenal Player of the Year this season. After some terrible performances and the van Persie shirt swap fiasco, together with the form of Kieran Gibbs, it seemed likely that he would be moving on. Then we heard that Galatasary had bid around £3 million for the Brazilian at the start of January.

When the transfer failed, it was thought that Arsene Wenger had rejected the offer, either because it was too low or because he still had plans for the left back. Today, however, the Mirror reports that it was the 29-year old player who vetoed the move. Apparently he is keen to try to win back a more regular role in team. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal definitely missed the talent and experience of Mikel Arteta while he was on the sidelines for a month, but it could have been worse if we didn’t have players like Diaby, Coquelin and Ramsey in the squad. The Gunners were unlucky with injuries to Diaby and Coquelin as well, but have come through a tough month still in the FA cup and still in touch with the top four, and Arteta believes that the ability to rotate players will be very important for the rest of the season.

“You have to do that. I think Santi’s played a lot of games, as I did before I got injured. The last thing you want is (him injured) for a few weeks now important games are coming up. .......Read the full article here

All self-respecting Arsenal fans are extremely disappointed with the performance of Arsene Wenger in this transfer window, but at least he has had the intelligence to understand that Andre Santos is simply not good enough to play for the Arsenal reserves, never mind the first team.

Nacho Monreal may not be an internationally renowned superstar, but he has made seven appearances for Spain which must count for something? And Wenger is definitely keen on buying players from cash-strapped Spanish clubs. One thing we would all agree on is that Nacho was probably a last-minute panic-buy after Kieran Gibbs got ruled out for at least the next three weeks, but according to Wenger he has been tracking him for some time. .......Read the full article here

There may be quite a few managers glancing nervously at their phones today, wondering if they are going to get a call from Arsenal. The injury to Kieran Gibbs is going to keep him out for about three weeks apparently, but his last period on the sidelines dragged on longer than expected, and Abou Diaby’s three weeks turned into three months.

With the youngster Meade also injured, Arsenal are left with just Andre Santos as a specialist left back. That is why the French club Valenciennes were on the phone to Arsene Wenger this morning offering to sell Gaetan Bong, according to the Daily Mail. The 24-year old Cameroon international has been a regular fixture in the Valenciennes side this season, sometimes playing as a left sided centre back when needed. .......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

The draw between Arsenal and Liverpool last night, especially the first hour of it, could be one of the most important games of the season. If it forces Arsene Wenger into the transfer market on deadline day that is. Wenger has never liked the January window, claiming it is the last refuge of desperate teams and should be abolished. Well, Arsene, we are pretty desperate in case you didn’t notice.

The ease with which Arsenal are exposed at the back was clear for all to see yesterday. Whether this is down to the defenders or the lack of a strong, defensively minded player in front of them, probably both, it should have set alarm bells ringing in Wenger’s head. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal are utterly shambolic as the same old problems resurface by Adam Kemp

Arsenal has had thirty days to spend the hordes of cash accrued over years of profit takings. I am beginning to think that there is a genuine fear to spend money from the manager, as his obsessive compulsive tendencies illustrate. Wenger is the ultimate saver and he does the bare minimum to achieve the bare minimum. The opening goal at the Emirates tonight typifies what Arsenal has become over the years. A combination of leaderless, gutless, overhyped and overpaid losers depicting consistent inconsistency! Granted Arsenal on their day can beat anyone, but equally they can lose to anyone. Arsenal can score five goals or fail to net in any given match. This inconsistency is unacceptable for a club who claims to be genuine title challengers. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal 2 – 2 Liverpool, terrible defending leaves a bitter taste in my mouth by KJ

We started off very tentatively (which is becoming a boring recurring theme with us) and were punished by a shambles of a goal. Sagna managed to slip on the edge of the box allow a cross to come in which Szczesny saved. However, we failed to clear it from Vermaelen’s embarrassing attempt and Ramsey completely mishitting. Eventually, the ball fell to Suarez who managed to score in that scruff of a box. 0-1. .......Read the full article here

Andre Santos had another shocker for Arsenal yesterday, but will it be the last time we see him in an Arsenal shirt? The Brazilian left back has been poor all season, but the worst thing, for Arsenal fans, is his attitude. His passion and drive for the club are just about the opposite to that of Jack Wilshere, but Arsene Wenger has already rejected a bid for him, so he is probably going nowhere this January.

Of course Arsenal need cover for Kieran Gibbs, but surely we could do better. Apparently Galatasaray offered around £2.5 million for him at the start of the window, but we turned them down. I know that would mean a loss of £5 million but there are times when you have to cut your losses. .......Read the full article here

With no Jack Wilshere on the pitch, Olivier Giroud took up the mantle pf pressing Brighton, chasing down defenders from the first minute. The midfield and defence seemed to give the Brighton players too much space. Santos seemed to have no intention of tackling unless he had to.

Diaby made a great run early on and Giroud did well to get on the pass and link up with Chamberlain who produced a good cross. Rosicky was also starting to find space and look dangerous, causing Lopez to bring him down and get booked. .......Read the full article here

Arsenal are desperate to win a trophy this season, and the FA cup is clearly the best chance of that. Today the Gunners face Brighton at the Amex Stadium, which has become something of a fortress for the Seagulls. Gus Poyet has a talented and flexible side who can play different formations and even switch during the match.

As Mikel Arteta has suggested, Arsenal may need to be patient in breaking down their resistance, but our possession should be able to wear most teams down towards the end of matches. What we cannot afford to do is start badly or make basic defensive errors and let Brighton build confidence and enjoy the game. .......Read the full article here