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Vermaelen pens new Arsenal deal

Thomas Vermaelen has signed a new long-term contract with the Club.

The Belgium international has been a star performer in Arsenal’s defence during his 54 appearances for the Club and has now put pen to paper on a new contract.

Arsène Wenger said: “We are absolutely delighted that Thomas has signed a new long-term contract. Our plan is always to sign top quality players and with Thomas extending his contract, we have done just that. Thomas is a special player, who has always made a huge contribution on the pitch and we are looking forward to him being a part of our future at Arsenal Football Club.”

Arsenal news round up- Sunday 9th October 2011

'Hicks & Gillett blocked my £20m Arsenal move because they hadn't sold the club' - Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina (Goal.com)

The Spaniard could have moved to the Emirates after winning the World Cup last year but was denied a transfer as he was classed as a vital presence at Anfield

Reina said, "Arsenal made their determination to sign me clear by offering £20M, a phenomenal amount for a goalkeeper" 

Liverpool and Arsenal battle to sign Chelsea striker (The Mirror)

Arsenal and Liverpool will go head-to-head in a battle to sign Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou in a cut-price deal when the January transfer window opens.


REPORTS: Arsenal’s Miss Out On £30m Eden Hazard (footballtalk.com)

It appears that Arsenal may well have missed out on long-term target, Eden Hazard, after the starlet looks set to join Real Madrid.

Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain nearly chose rugby over football (The Sun)

English football's hottest prospect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed how he could have played for the Irish... London Irish!

My senior school didn't play football. It was a rugby and cricket school and as I was on a sports scholarship I was forced to play rugby,' he revealed.

'I played scrum-half or full-back and I was all right at it. I got a trial for London Irish but couldn't do it because Southampton wouldn't let me.'

Van Persie: We can turn things around at Arsenal

Robin Van Persie is still confident Arsenal can turn their troubled season around.

The Gunners skipper and leading marksman said: “I have every trust in the things we are doing within the club.

“There is only a fine line between winning and ­losing. Just look at our last match against Spurs.

“We could have won that game with the chances we had. There is no need to panic for anyone.’’

Chamberlain Hat-trick v Iceland Under 21s

Vlog- Grant on the Tottenham game

The Arsenal Feed Blog: Arsenal on the up again!

Starting the blog in the most cliché way possible, a week is a long time in football, and this weekend it proved the saying to be be more than true in our case.

The week began off the back of what was quite possibly the worst period I have ever endured as an Arsenal fan; a Man.Utd drubbing, red cards, injuries and a own goal ridden loss to an (effectively) manager-less Blackburn. 

  

Up first was the young guns in the Carling Cup clash against Shrewsbury. Reduced to Arsenal Player live commentary after my fruitless attempt to find a live stream, I was confident a moral boosting demolition job was on the cards. However, with 45 minutes gone I was slightly relieved I didn't have to endure watching obscure footballers dancing with joy as Shrewsbury found themselves one up. United's legion of London based "supporters" had already bombarded me with abusive texts. Surely we wouldn't hit absolute rock bottom? The answer was thankfully no. The only thing we hit in the second half was the back of the net- the pick of the bunch being this Chamberlain screamer. Happy days.

The Premier League is a whole kettle of fish though and come Saturday I couldn't help but feel slightly pessimistic. Even against another team who were completely out of form, deep down I sensed another poor performance ending in a scrappy 1-1 draw. 45 minutes in, it looked to be the most likely result. However, in a week in which both matches were (here comes another cliché) a game of two half's, we turned it around spectacularly.

It was the performance Wenger dreamt about and deserved from his under-performing stars (who have caused unbelievable amounts of pressure on Le Professeur). Van Persie was brilliant, the defence were solid and Rasmsey was pulling the strings like a seasoned Premier League star as we blew away all Bolton resistance.

To make it better, Van Persie cemented his place in the Arsenal history books with his 99 & 100th goal for the club. It presents an amazing turn around for the Arsenal skipper. It's hard to imagine he's the same player as that hugely talented, but highly temperamental youngster that was stupidly sent off (and subsequently dropped afterwards) against Southampton in 2005. Who knows, if injuries hadn't plagued so much of his career he could of been celebrating goal 150 today. Hats off to one of the few remaining genuine world stars in our side.

However, this excellent win will count for nothing substantial unless we can build on it. Next week is another big one for Arsenal, and nothing less than a win against Olympiakos and point against the yids will do. Lets just hope it wasn't just a false dawn for our season. Come on Arsenal!

Arsenal news round-up -26th September 2011

Wilshere out for 4-5 months

England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has undergone a successful operation on his right ankle but could be out for up to five months.


Walcott desperate to win trophies (Bettor.com)

He said, "Trophies are the thing you're gonna look back on in the history books”

The winger then talked about Ryan Giggs and how he has one of the most impressive personal trophies in the world.

"Look at [Ryan] Giggs, a great example, and the trophies he's won. You want to show your kids what you've won and what you've achieved in your life and, um, nothing so far.”

The player then admitted that the only way for Arsenal to win anything, was if the team belived in themselves and really pushed each other till the last day of the season.

"We've been so close, the Carling Cup last year when I was injured, and against Chelsea in the [2007] final, when I got my first goal. Nearly there. So it's got to be this year. It has to be. We've got to believe we can do it with the slow start we've had."


Free agent Sol Campbell tells agent to circulate his name - even to Spurs (Merto)
Sol Campbell has put a number of coaching offers on ice and instructed his agent to offer him around all Premier League clubs - even former club Spurs - as he believes he can still offer something playing at the top level.


Per Mertesacker: Arsenal’s hard work is paying off

The German centre-back has praised his side's efforts following the 3-0 win over Bolton but has admitted that his own performances can improve in the coming months"We had a little bit more time [during the week] because of the Carling Cup match [against Shrewsbury Town at the Emirates].

"Some players had a little more rest and we trained a little harder, especially on the way we want to defend. It worked and on Saturday you saw we had a better defence. We were closer together.

"After the four goals against Blackburn we lost a little bit of confidence but we were very proud of our performance on Saturday. We want to go on with this way of defending.

"I want to do a good job, especially in the defence. That is my role. If the coach praises me then that is a great thing but I have to go on and keep on working. My performances can improve."

Olympiakos manager Ernesto Valverde: " Arsenal are the best team in the group" (Goonertalk.com)

Olympiakos manager Ernesto Valverde has heaped praise on Arsenal ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash between the two sides.

The Spaniard admits the task awaiting him is a difficult one, but says that the current Greek champions ‘won’t be going to the Emirates Stadium to lose’.

Speaking to Greek news outlet Contra, Valverde said:

“Arsenal is the best team in our group, one of the best teams in Europe and the favourite to take first place in the group. That says a lot about how difficult our task is.

“We won’t go to the Emirates to lose. Our goal is to play our best and get the best possible result. We’ll try to compete with them [Arsenal] and see whether we can do it [get a positive result].”

Theo Walcott passed fit for Arsenal games against Spurs and Olympiakos

Arsenal have been boosted by the news Theo Walcott is expected to be fit for their crunch clashes with Olympiakos and Tottenham this week, after a scan on his knee problem showed only minor damage.

Whoscored.com statistical analysis of Arsenal game

Click on the picture to be directed to the full analysis!

Wenger and Mertesacker Post-match reaction

Video: Arsenal 3-0 Bolton match highlights

Full highlights of Arsenal v Bolton including Van Persie's 100th Arsenal goal. Enjoy!







bopl7565 by arsenalist
bolton105688 by arsenalist
boltonredcard36 by arsenalist
bolton205636 by arsenalist
bolton30r4y75 by arsenalist

Arsenal v Bolton live stream links

Here are the best links around for the Arsenal v Bolton game today. I will add more links as I find them!


http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/82235/1/watch-arsenal-fc-vs-bolton-wanderers.html


http://www.footydaily.co.uk/epllive.html

http://atdhenet.tv/39672/watch-arsenal-vs-bolton

http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-2/10/84/v-308425.html




If all else fails try this although it requires a download.

http://www.livescorehunter.ro/streams/ss/03.html

Blog: Sam Oliver: Arsenal’s New Signings- The end, or a new beginning?

Sam Oliver casts his opinion on Arsenal's fleet of Summer acquisitions in his The Arsenal Feed début. Be sure to rate and give feedback on the article!

I write after the unconvincing 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury. New faces are clearly needed, and I’m going to voice my opinion over all of Wenger’s new signings. There isn’t too much happy reading…  

Gervinho 

Apart form that incident with Joey Barton, I really like what I have seen form this Cote D’Ivoire international. Most of Arsenal’s attacking wide men prefer a more tip-tap approach, with the ball being meaninglessly played around the opposition’s area, often leading to nothing. Gervinho, however, is a very different style of player. He is much more direct, often looking to beat his marker and get a cross in (the type of player we were hoping Theo to develop into, although he is one of the worst culprits of our typical tip-tap passes) Gervinho has looked promising in his very early Arsenal days, with a deft finish against Blackburn showing that Gervinho may be just what we are looking for.  

Carl Jenkinson

This Finnish qualified right back has been out of his depth so far, no doubt. However, this new nineteen year old will give 100% for the team that I have no doubt about. He is an Arsenal fan from birth, and in my opinion, we need more players like him who truly love the Arsenal. However, passion only gets you so far. Sadly, I don’t see him making it for a top team. I can imagine him being on the fringes for a few seasons and being shipped off to a borderline premiership/Championship. He is clearly lacking in positional sense and he has done well considering making his début for Charlton Athletic in February, but I have massive doubts over this right back. I hope I end up eating my words and I see him develop into a great defender, because you can tell how much playing for the Arsenal means too him, but, judging by the way Man United turned him inside out before being red carded, I just can’t see him cutting it, although I really hope he does.     

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 

Another who looked out of their depth vs. United, (but lets be honest, who didn’t?) But I have high hopes for this young man. Several clubs were after him, but after some advice from his old man, Chamberlain was heading to Emirates. People have a right to be criticizing Arsene Wenger at the moment, but every football fan must admit he has done a superb job in forging our reputation as one of Europe’s best growers of footballing talent. Chamberlain will prove to be a great example. True, he was completely anonymous against United, but it wasn't the best conditions to make your Premier leagued début. But then I saw him destroy Israel for the England under 21’s. He instinctively knows when to get forward, and his passing, long or short, is superb. He got three assists and won a penalty with a fantastic dribble which took him past four defenders. Although I have admittedly seen little of AOC, I am very excited for what lies ahead for this £12 million midfielder.   

Joel Campbell 

I have the feeling this Campbell will turn out much like Vela. He’ll go on loan for three years to secure a work permit, we’ll hear great things about him, but after three years of playing for lower teams abroad, he won’t get any game time when he returns and end up leaving or spending several more seasons on loan. It’s a shame really, because I have heard great things. He is a Costa Rican striker, who is very strong. He picks his runs well and will get goals, but I can’t really see him breaking into the team. I imagine he’ll end up having a decent career with a mid table Spanish team, but I doubt apart from a few Carling cup appearances we’ll see much of him.  

Andre Santos

From what I’ve heard, a very good attacking left back. From what I’ve seen, a pretty dodgy defender who doesn't look comfortable on a football pitch. I write after the Blackburn game, and for one of Blackburn’s goals he was the furthest defender back by about two yards. It was more of a defensive diagonal than a flat line. He could maybe get away with that in the Turkish league, but the Premier League is a very different ball game. This Brazilian left back obviously has quality (he has 30 odd Brazil caps) but we can’t afford him to take too long to adapt to the English game. We need him to come out of his shell quickly, and we need big performances from this man.

   

Per Mertesacker

Funny one this. Obviously, this German giant is a good player, with 75 caps for Germany, but in the games against Swansea and Blackburn, two of the weakest attacking forces in the league, he has looked poor. He was often out of position and he has a similar turning circle to a Boeing 707. He has been exposed for pace far too often, but Sammi Hyppia and Carlos Puyol are both very slow and top quality centre backs. I think this 6 ft 6 in defender is going to be good in the premier league, as no bad player will represent Germany 75 times. But he looks like bambi on ice when strikers run at him. He also loses a surprising amount of headers for a man of his height, which is the last thing we need. But I believe after a few games in the premier league, he will develop into a superb ball winning centre back. I have high hopes for this German, but I don’t know how much patience fans will have at times like these…  

Park Chu-Young 

I haven’t seen much of this Japanese centre-forward, but I imagine he will provide good back up for our attack, and I guarantee he will give 100%. However, at his first press conference as an Arsenal player, he announced he was “stunned” we had signed him which surely is an indication as to how the quality of players we are signing is decreasing. And as he is third cousin of Manure’s Park Ji Sung, he will hopefully always score against them, as his cousin ALWAYS scores against us. I don’t think he will get too much game time but I'm looking forward to seeing the South Korea captain in action. 

Yossi Benayoun  

A decent attacking midfielder, but clearly not up to the standard of Nasri or Fabregas. He is a premier league proven player and he is similar in how he plays to Gervinho; more direct and not as many crappy little two yard passes. He will supply backup to Gervinho and Theo (I would prefer Yossi to Arshavin) and I would quite like to see him signed permanently after his loan deal if he plays well, which I imagine he will, because he’s been a good player in the premier league for years, and he will create chances like he always has. He’s a good signing, not a great one, but he’ll do. For now.  

Mikael Arteta

Great signing! That’s what I would be saying if we had signed him in 2009, but he’s still a great player. True, he’s not the player he was, but he was a world class player, and I imagine he’ll fit in well into the hole left by Cesc. Yes, we could have used him two years ago, and he is a little like a Cesc downgrade, but his signing also means Rambo won’t need to be playing every game, which is important at his age. It’s also encouraging to here that he was willing to take a pay cut to get to Arsenal. Despite times like these, he was still willing to take less money to play for Arsenal. We need big performances from this man. You have big shoes to fill, Mr.Arteta.  

So there you have it, my opinion on are new signings, and why our 1st 11 are has undoubtedly become worse, I believe our squad depth has actually improved. Here’s what should be the 1st team. Szszesny, Sagna, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Frimpong, Arteta, Wilshere, Gervinho, Walcott, Rvp. So take a look at my opinion, agree, disagree, But let’s all get behind the team win or lose, because that’s what true fans do, win or lose.  Forward Arsenal.  

Arsenal v Bolton match preview

Arsenal welcome 19th placed Bolton Wanderers to the Emirates on Saturday looking to get their season back on track.

Aaron Ramsey (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (knee) return back into the side as Arsenal's mammoth injury list begins to shorten.

Bacary Sagna has also recovered in time after suffering a dead leg in the 4-3 defeat at Blackburn.

Benayoun (thigh) and Djourou (hamstring) have both sustained light injuries after the 3-1 Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen continue their long path back to fitness with Abou Diaby finding himself the closest to full fitness.

Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Santos, Walcott, Song, Ramsey, Arteta, Van Persie, Gervinho, Fabianski, Arshavin, Chamakh, Coquelin, Frimpong, Gibbs, Rosicky.

Did you know?

Bolton have not beat Arsenal away from home in the league since 1962. 

Form

Bolton: WLLLL

Arsenal: DLLWL

Table via http://www.whoscored.com/ check their site out!

Pre-match conference

Arsenal v Shrewsbury live commentary

There are no live streams available anywhere for today's game so here is the next best thing- live commentary!

http://premier--streams.net/audioonly

Arsenal news round up- 20th September 2011

Ivan Gazidis: 'Arsenal won't sack Wenger'

Van Persie- We must bounce back.

Robin van Persie has urged his Arsenal team mates to react quickly to the  Blackburn game as there is still a long season ahead.

“It just frustrates me, and it is happening too often. Every time we start positively we just keep making the same mistakes and that is surprising.

“There is lots of time [left this season], but at some point you need to pick yourself up and prove what you are capable of. We are not doing that at the moment and are not consistent enough,” 

“It’s very important [to get back on track]. Even before the game on Saturday I said to the boys, ‘today is a big, big day’. We have to get back-to-back wins, and we just cannot do that at the moment. That is our aim for the next couple of games, we have to win them after each other.

“We just need a couple of good weeks in the Premier League where we get a lot of points, and hopefully we can start next week against Bolton.”

Arsène Wenger to keep faith with Arsenal's coaching staff (Independent)


Arsène Wenger will rely on his coaching staff to erase Arsenal's defensive frailties, refusing to opt for a specialist to improve the Premier League's leakiest defence.

Martin Keown occupied a temporary role of specialist defence coach in 2005, whereupon Wenger's team made history by putting together a 10-game run to the Champions League final without conceding a goal.

One of Keown's more recent roles has been to act as a defence coach for a Premier League sponsor. Yet having taken steps to strengthen his back four with the recruitment of three new players in that area during the summer, Wenger is understood to have resolved to maintain his methods and manpower. That will mean Pat Rice, the former Double-winning full-back, and Wenger's long-term lieutenant, Boro Primorac, leading coaching sessions for the newly assembled backline