Just Arsenal News

The Arsenal defender Armand Traore has been looking for a new club since Arsene Wenger told him that he could leave last month, and despite being very close to being transferred to Benfica a couple of weeks ago, we have heard nothing since.

It was reported by Sky last week that Juventus were in the process of making a bid, but it is only today that the Italian giants have confirmed their interest.

Juve sporting director Beppe Marotta said last night: “Yes, Traore is one of the players we are interested in,”.

“We will see what happens.” .......Read the full article here

It seems that the young Arsenal defender Armand Traore is very close to finalising his move to the Portugese giants Benfica, according to his agent Richard des Voeux.

He is said to be signing a four year contract with Benfica, and the 20 year-old is very keen to finally be getting regular first team football in Portugal.

Des Voeux said today: “A number of European clubs were interested in Armand but the Benfica option is more important in many aspects.

“The interest is real and we are at a sensitive stage of negotiations. Armand is aware of contacts between Benfica and Arsenal. .......Read the full article here

The young Arsenal defender was reported a couple of days by a French paper as saying that he was keen on playing for PSG, his hometown club, and would be willing to talk to them if they made an offer this summer.

But Traore has decided to make an official statement on Arsenal.com, and denies that he is anything but 100% committed to winning a place in the Arsenal team. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is looking at his lack of defenders before facing a Chelsea team that is flying at the top of the Premiership, and it looks like he will have a couple of rookies holding the fort.

Kieran Gibbs was diagnosed with a broken metatarsal yesterday to put him on the treatment table alongside Gael Clichy and William Gallas.

Gallas has started every game up until now, but his clash of heads with Andrei Arshavin during the game against Standard Liege has left him with a seriously swollen eye and he is now an unlikely starter in the top-of-the-table clash. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal defender Armand Traore has become more depply immersed in the Muslim way of life and believes it has helped him in his life and his career.

He has decided to have an operation to remove his tattoos next summer as his Muslim faith forbids them.

“I am going under the knife at the end of the season to remove the tattoos,” he said..

“I’m planning to do it in the summer. They put me under anesthetic and then do it all, and when I wake up everything will be gone. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is relieved that Robin Van Persie and Kieran Gibbs will not be out of the team for as long as was first feared, and he can now take heart that there will be at least four players returning from injury for this weekends game against Sunderland.

Fabianski, Denilson, Traore and Carlos Vela are available, and it looks like Vela, Gibbs, Walcott, Wilshere and maybe Diaby will all be ready by the following weekend for the big game against Chelsea.

“Theo Walcott is short for the weekend and so is Jack Wilshere. he said. .......Read the full article here

With Arsene Wenger waiting for the bad news regarding the extent of Kieran Gibbs injury, it seems certain that Mikael Silvestre, who has only played twice for the Arsenal first team this season, will be entrusted with covering for Gibbs.

Wenger is more likely to pluck for experience over the youthful Armand Traore for such an important game, but It is possible that Traore may get a couple of chances in such a busy period.

Wenger said last month about Traore: “He can be a big surprise because he has improved a lot,” .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seems to think that Aaron Ramsey is ready to join his first team squad, and has told him he will play 15-20 full games this season, but Armand Traore still needs to work for his place.

Traore played 20 times for Portsmouth last season and has matured but obviously not quite enough for Wenger, despite being two years older than Ramsey.

“I’ve talked with the boss,” said Traore. “He says I need to work hard and be patient and that’s what I’m going to do. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has announced the squad for tonights Carling Cup match against West Brom, and the expected return of Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin has not materialized as expected.

Walcott is yet to make an appearance this season, and Wenger told the world that he was fully recovered from his injury last week and just needed work on his fitness. This seems to be taking a lot longer than first thought.

Andrey Arshavin resumed training this weekend, but he is obviously not ready to have a run out yet either. .......Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been impressed with the improvement from Armand Traore since his loan to Portsmouth last season, and says that he is prepared to move him forward into the midfield as he will struggle to get a game as left back.

“He can be a big surprise because he has improved a lot,” said Wenger. “Technically, tactically, and mentally he is a lot more mature.”

“He does not get his chance at the moment because he’s a left-back,” said the manager. “We have Clichy, we have Gibbs, and we have Traore, so it’s very difficult for him to get a chance. .......Read the full article here

The great news for Arsenal fans is that Carlos Vela has recovered from his ankle injury at last and will be playing against West Brom in the Carling Cup in midweek.

The other Arsenal team news is that Wilshere, Ramsey, Gibbs and Traore are also scheduled to be in the team according to Arsene Wenger. Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin are also hopeful of being ready to begin there transition back to the first team in this game too. The team may be mostly reserves but with those seven stars in the side they will hardly be a weakened side of youngsters that Wenger normally puts out for the Carling Cup games. .......Read the full article here

The new rules on limiting the amount of foreigners in each side will come into effect next season, and the premise is that four players in each match squad must be classified as “home-grown”.

At the moment Arsenal have just three English players (Walcott, Wilshere and Gibbs) and one Welsh (Ramsey).

FIFA wanted to introduce the rule that at least SIX of each squad would have to be eligible to play for the home country, which would have left Arsenal, amongst others, looking around for English stars to bring in. .......Read the full article here