Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham United - Match Report

Alex Song powered home a last-gasp header to end Arsenal’s frustration at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

For 88 minutes, it seemed to be one of those afternoons for Arsène Wenger’s side. Although not at their best, they created a plethora of chances only to be kept at bay by a mixture of wayward finishing, bad luck and, most importantly, West Ham keeper Robert Green.

The England man made decent saves from Song and Sebastien Squillaci in the first half and even better stops from Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas in the latter period.

It looked like being enough until Gael Clichy angled in a cross from the left and Song stooped to crash home his fourth strike of the campaign.

The goal – and the points – kept Arsenal right up with the title pace.

Wenger’s men are still second and doing all they can at the moment. Of course they have not been faultless this season but they have won at tough grounds, beaten a title contender and built up a strong home record. Today they did something else - squeezed a result in tight circumstances when they were not so fluent.

They will have to do much more of the same to lift the Premier League trophy in May but dogged determination is a key part of any title-winning season.

And Arsenal displayed that in abundance this afternoon.

The heavens opened minutes before kick-off. It was a soggy end to a week that had given Arsenal inspiration and aspiration in equal measure.

They had won 3-0 at Manchester City last Sunday and followed that up with a 4-0 drubbing of Newcastle in the Carling Cup. For the latter game, Wenger had played a stronger side than usual but there were still significant changes.

Compared to the Eastlands game, Wenger made one alteration this afternoon. Laurent Koscielny replaced Johan Djourou to complete an all-French backline. Despite their midweek heroics, Theo Walcott, Wojciech Szczesny and Nicklas Bendtner were on the bench.

Jack Wilshere sat out the last game of his suspension. Robin van Persie (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) were not ready but are set to return to full training next week. Abou Diaby (ankle), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Manuel Almunia (elbow) are a little further away from fitness.

This was a meeting of in-form versus no form, second top versus rock bottom. However you could not have told in the opening 15 minutes.

Yes, Arsenal had ample possession, threatening when Song nodded over and Arshavin’s shot was deflected wide.

However West Ham’s ambition was far above their League position. Mark Noble troubled Lukasz Fabianski into punching away a couple of free-kicks, Luis Boa More fired over and Frederic Piquionne made one jinking run to the byline that the keeper snuffed out.

The game was pacy and passionate enough but it was ‘bity’. By the midway point, neither side had really fashioned a ‘move’.

That changed in the 24th minute and it so nearly saw Arsenal take the lead.

Song threaded a ball through for the overlapping Bacary Sagna in the right-hand channel. He stretched to the byline and cut the ball back into the area towards Fabregas. The captain’s contact was good but Green threw himself to his right and plucked the ball out of the air.
The chance changed nothing. Arsenal were on top but there was a tension in their game. West Ham seemingly sensed that and broke with invention.
Nine minutes from the break, Noble raced clear once again and thundered a shot into the chest of Fabianski.

Just before the whistle, Song exchanged passes with Fabregas on the right of the area but the Cameroonian’s low shot was blocked by Green. From the resulting corner, Squillaci saw his header was tipped over the bar.

It was stale-mate for Arsenal at the break. Wenger’s men had been out of sorts but, in fairness, West Ham had done their best to put them in that position.

There was a general unease at Emirates Stadium as the team went into the tunnel.

However Arsenal would emerge for the second half with much more purpose. In the opening minutes, Arshavin dragged a shot across the face of goal and then Nasri looked to extend the best scoring run of his career by smashing a drive against the bar from 25 yards.

The home side were trying to up the ante.

Just before the hour, Fabregas and Denilson both saw shots blocked in a frantic ping-pong passage of play on the edge of the West Ham area. The Spaniard’s drive thundered straight into the face of Scott Parker, who needed a few minutes of treatment before he recovered.

Midway through the half, Arsenal won a free-kick and Wenger took the opportunity to bring on Walcott. After the ovation had died down, Arshavin floated in the ball and, for once, Chamakh could not convert his header when well-placed.

However Walcott would soon make his mark.

Fabregas swivelled a wonderful pass into his path on the right wing. The England winger roared clear of his marker to face Green. His low cross-shot beat the keeper’s outstretched right hand, hit the base of the post and then bounced back into the grateful arms of the West Ham No 1. A huge let-off.

The second half had been much more one-sided than the first. But West Ham were still prepared to chance to their arm.

In the 74th minute, Manuel da Costa’s powerful downward header was clutched among the flailing legs but Fabianski.

Shortly afterwards, only Clichy’s cover header prevented Valon Behrami converting a left-wing from Herita Ilunga. 

Those chances prompted Wenger to throw on Bendtner. Arshavin made way.

Eight minutes from time, Green made another super save, this time from Walcott’s deflected drive.

The England keeper made another fine stop shortly afterwards when he turned aside a close-range shot from Fabregas.

It seemed that Green would be Arsenal’s tormentor until Clichy’s cross found Song.

It was a rapturous finish to a game that had seemed to be slipping from Arsenal’s grasp.

Arsenal Vs West Ham United - Match Preview

 
For years, Arsenal fans have been able to see the potential their side possess. According to Arsène Wenger, they may be about to start seeing the silverware as well.

You can forgive the manager for glazing over when the phrase “five-years without a trophy” is tossed towards him in press conferences.

Of course, it is a cast-iron fact but the Frenchman has always rightly responded by pointing out the Club’s forward movement throughout that period – on and off the pitch. Plus, the little matter of a decade in the upper echelons of European football.

However a trophy is still a trophy. Football should be about glory and, in reality, that means winning. Right now it is clearly the be-all and end-all for Wenger. On all-fronts.

A stronger-than-usual Arsenal side progressed to the Quarter-Finals of the Carling Cup on Wednesday and, next week, they hope to secure passage to the Knockout Stages of the Champions League with victory at Shakhtar Donetsk. In between, on Saturday, they entertain rock-bottom West Ham at Emirates Stadium.

When Arsenal lost at Chelsea at the start of October, it was suggested their failings were all too familiar. However they end the month looking stronger than ever and with the results to prove it.

“There is more waiting to come out of the team because we are looking like we are improving on all fronts,” said an ebullient Wenger at Friday’s press conference.

“I feel the ingredients of teams I had before, who were successful, are in there. It is just how much we can get them out.

“If you look at the UEFA [co-efficient] table you will see Arsenal in the top eight in a very strong position. And you look who is around us - what money they lose and spend every year - you will see we have not done too badly.”

Goals are always a reasonable barometre of Wenger’s Arsenal. This season they have hit 26 in six home games and 12 in their last 270 minutes of football overall.

“Yes we scored five, three and four in our last three games,” said the manager. “It shows that we have the potential.

“The secret is that we play for each other. We play united. And if we manage to do that anybody in our team can score because we are always going forward a lot. The basic target for us is to keep playing for each other.”

Arsenal will be without Kieran Gibbs for “a few weeks” after the left-back damaged knee ligaments at Newcastle in midweek. Robin van Persie (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) return to full training next week. Abou Diaby (ankle), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) and Manuel Almunia (elbow) are still absent. Jack Wilshere will see out his suspension for being sent off against Birmingham in the last Premier League game at Emirates Stadium

His dismissal was a disappointing end to an otherwise redemptive afternoon. Defeat at Chelsea, followed by a shock 3-2 reverse against West Brom at Emirates Stadium, had left Arsenal in need of a win – any size, any shape.

The mood is very different now but the memory has lingered with Wenger.

“It was a lesson learned and it confirms to me that if you are not 100 per cent focused, you will drop points against any team in this league,” he said. “In fairness to my team, West Brom is the only game since the start of the season where we didn’t perform well and that is credit to them. But as well, it shows that, just once, if you are not completely there you are caught. I think we have got the lesson now.

“We focus highly on tomorrow and go step-by-step to try to put every energy in every single game. The success of our season is as well how intelligent we are and tomorrow is a good opportunity to show it. Let’s go for it 100 per cent.”

Wenger’s words were in response to a prevailing press room mood. The one that labelled West Ham a ‘gimmee’ in the same way it had the West Brom game a few weeks earlier.

Roberto Di Matteo’s men have since backed up their performance at Emirates and climbed the table. West Ham can go in no other direction. They have made the worst start in their 115-year history. In nine games they have scored seven goals and gained six points – both are the lowest in the division.

Despite that, Wenger believes there is a way back.

“I see them getting out of the drop zone because they have quality players,” said Wenger.

“If you lose one or two games you will quickly be down there. The difference in the league now is not too big. I think they can get out of there.

“The basic target of any manager is to have success with the resources he has at the club and, on that, Avram Grant has done well.”

Meanwhile, Wenger’s resources have developed in the past week. At Newcastle, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner returned with goals while Wojciech Szczesny showed himself to be a capable keeper. Right now, it seems Arsenal have depth.

You sense this is a crucial little period for Wenger. In the next three Premier League games they face the bottom two sides plus a Newcastle team, who were reasonably represented in the 4-0 drubbing on Wednesday. In between they can put to bed Champions League H.

The ‘big’ periods in fixture lists are viewed as a flurry of big name teams. But, of course, dropped points in highly winnable games will be just as costly.

This season has hardly been plain-sailing but Arsenal have been successful enough and put themselves in position to finally kick-on for that elusive trophy.

If they maintain their recent poise, they might just find it.

Arsene Wenger Explains Summer Transfer Decisions

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed he didn’t buy a midfielder during the summer in order to give young players like Jack Wilshere a chance at first team football.

Speaking at a Shareholders Q&A on Thursday night, Wenger explained his reasoning behind his decision to overlook the midfield area when making additions to his squad and highlighted Wilshere as an example of the kind of young player he wanted to show faith in.

“I believe that I always wanted to develop the players I have,” said Wenger. “For example we have Diaby, we have Song, we have Denilson in this position, we have bought Aaron Ramsey - 18 years old – in this position, and now Jack Wilshere develops in this position.
“The problem when you develop a young team, for example we have Jack who was born in 1992 – 18 years old – is that if I don’t make room for him he will go somewhere.
“People will say to me: ‘Why did you let him go? Look at what a good player he is.’ But if you don’t play him [he will go] and that’s the tricky situation of developing young players. First you have to scout them, then give them a good education but the final part is to be strong enough to say ‘I will give this boy a chance to play’.
“The first two stages are not too difficult but the third stage you have to be strong, to face the critics and the people who want always the best players in the world and to say ‘No, I believe in you, I will give you a chance.’ And I believe if we can be proud of one thing we did in recent years, it is that we have done that very well with a lot of support from the Board.
“But it is time now for us to keep these players together and to develop them and to win. Then we can say we have created something special with a style of play we wanted to create, that is unique, with the values that we want to put forward at the Club, and as well with an expectation level to have a team together for a few years.
“That is why we were absolutely adamant to keep Fabregas as well because we have worked hard in the last five years to get this team together.”

Arsene is telling us what we already know, that he chooses to develop the young players at the club instead of buying expensive established stars and i am fully supportive of this strategy, as long as the young players he plays show sufficient quality and progression to warrant first team football for Arsenal FC.

In my opinion players like Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, Song and to a certain extent Abou Diaby and Carlos Vela, all deserve a chance at first team football at a young age because they have the obvious talent to make it if given the opportunity. So given the choice of signing a £10m 27-year-old or playing Jack Wilshere, i’d pick Wilshere every time. But there are certain players in the Arsenal squad who get game-time and it’s clear to most that they will never go on to great things. This is when i have a problem with ‘project youth’.

Give the real talent a chance and drop the rest. If that gives us space in the squad for a couple of world-class players then great. But one thing if  for sure…I’m really excited by our new midfield trio of Song, Fabregas and Wilshere!

Gunners Simply Too Good

Not a betting man myself, I had to admit that I was sceptical at the halftime odds projected by bet365.com. A husky voiced Ray Winstone directed my attention to the 14/1 odds for a 6-0 Arsenal victory. Wrongly assuming that the Gunners would take their foot off the gas come the second half, I was pleasantly surprised. As the old cliché goes, it’s a game of two halves. In this case, it certainly was: two halves of Arsenal dominance.

Despite an excellent weekend performance, I was nonetheless apprehensive before kick-off. Braga, an unknown quantity to the average Gunners fan, looked a strong, athletic outfit, and could easily have provided a shock to a complacent side.

However, once Fabregas slotted home a well-placed penalty in the seventh minute, my doubts began to disappear. A solid performance from the ever-improving Jack Wilshere, plus a brace from the more than promising Carlos Vela, complemented a virtuoso performance from Cesc Fabregas.

Braga were accused of giving him too much time and space, perhaps rightly so; but as he has demonstrated so many times before, he can work his magic in even the tightest of spaces. Another impressive Chamakh performance begs the question: why did Wenger wait till the summer to buy him? Wednesday was most certainly the Arsenal show, and Fabregas was pulling all the strings.

This performance will doubtless draw comparisons with Tuesday night’s Barcelona victory. However, with the fluidity, speed and accuracy of passing eclipsed the Catalans. Braga, Champions League debutants have certainly got a few things to mull over on the flight home. I say watch out Barca.

Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Hails 'More Composed' Theo Walcott After Brace Against Newcastle United

 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has praised the improvement Theo Walcott has made since the start of the season.

The 21-year-old starred as the Gunners progressed to the quarter-finals of the League Cup with a 4-0 win over Newcastle United.

Walcott grabbed a brace in the clash at St James’ Park, while a Tim Krul own goal and a Nicklas Bendtner strike secured the victory for Wenger’s men.

The Frenchman believes his winger has become "more composed" this season and has hailed the progression of the England international in recent months.

"[He is] more composed in front of goal, the timing of his runs has always been good but his first touch has improved and his intelligence is improving," he told Sky Sports.

"He has worked hard since the beginning of the season. [He was] flying at the start of the season but the injury he had [prevented him progressing]. It was a strong start and you could see today he is ready."

Wenger was forced into an early change as Kieran Gibbs limped off with a knee injury, and the Arsenal boss hopes the left-back is not set for another long-term lay-off.

When asked if the injury was serious, he said: "We hope not. It’s the knee, let’s hope it’s not a twist of the medial ligament. You never know, I’m cautious and the way he walks now doesn’t look too good."

Arsenal dominated the early stages against Newcastle and could have scored in the opening minute through Carlos Vela and Wenger feels his side could have taken their first half chances but says they were always a threat on the counter-attack.

"We had good performances, we had chances we didn’t take. We were lucky to score just before half-time. [In the] first half Newcastle defended well, we were dangerous because we had a lot of pace," he added.

"I felt Newcastle got many men behind the ball, for us it was more to be patient and wait for good counter-attacks and wait for our chances."

With Bendtner and Walcott both getting on the scoresheet, Wenger hopes his attackers can keep up their good run of late in front of goal.

The Gunners boss added: "You’re always happy when your strikers get goals, they got through without any injury. I think they’ll have a few days to recover."

Wenger has played strong line-ups in comparison to previous years for the League Cup this term and could do the same if his side remain injury free.

"It depends on the injuries we have. If everybody’s available we can field strong squads," he said, before playing down his side’s chances of ending their five-year trophy drought with League Cup success.

"If you don’t perform, you don’t win. Let’s be realistic, [keep our] feet on the ground. Let’s see who we get in the draw. You have to perform again in the next round."

Newcaslte United 0 - 4 Arsenal - Match Report

Arsenal marched into the Quarter-Finals of the Carling Cup with a convincing win at Newcastle on Wednesday night.

Four goals - one crazy, one controversial and two classy – did the trick to leave Arsène Wenger’s side just two steps from Wembley.

Goalkeeper Tim Krul’s bizarre own goal on the stroke of half time gave Arsenal an advantage they just about deserved and Theo Walcott’s cool finish doubled their lead as Newcastle screamed for an offside decision against Nicklas Bendtner.

The Dane settled matters on his own with an unerring strike into the top corner and Walcott raced clear to give the scoreline some gloss with two minutes left.

Arsenal are no strangers to the last eight of the Carling Cup but, with so many big names already out of the competition, they may never get a better chance to lift the trophy.

On the strength of this performance they look determined to do just that.

Before the game Arsène Wenger declared that he would use the “core” of his first-team squad for this test on Tyneside. He was true to his word. The Frenchman made wholesale changes from the weekend win at Manchester City but, more instructively, just four from the team he picked to face Tottenham in the previous round of the Carling Cup.

Two youngsters, Wojciech Szczesny and Craig Eastmond, were given their chance while two forwards, Walcott and Bendtner, started their first matches since returning from injury. Meanwhile Cesc Fabregas and Andrey Arshavin lurked among the substitutes – make no mistake, Wenger had his eyes very much on this prize.

The manager expected a “hot atmosphere” at St. James’ Park but, with one tier of the ground almost entirely empty, the Newcastle fans were quieter than usual.

Arsenal should have silenced them in the opening seconds.

Only 22 seconds had elapsed when Carlos Vela sped down the left and fizzed in a low shot. Krul turned the ball aside for a corner.

When that came over, Bendtner had three bites of the cherry. His first shot was blocked, his next attempt appeared to strike a defender’s hand and, after the ball had bounced back to him, the Dane fired straight at Krul.

That was just the first minute. And Arsenal didn’t let up.

Emmanuel Eboue was next to threaten, cutting inside from the right and shooting with his left. Moments later Walcott raced down the right and crossed only to see the loose ball elude Tomas Rosicky. Then Bendtner got goal-side of his marker and scuffed a left-foot shot wide. And Kieran Gibbs got in on the act too with a fizzing low shot that swerved off target.

Eight shots in seven minutes: a flying start if ever there was one. But too many of those shots were straight at Krul and Newcastle survived. And occasionally thrived.

Their big dangerman was Nile Ranger – an Arsenal fan but very much a thorn in Arsenal’s side.

He brushed past Johan Djourou in the opening stages and then raced through on goal on the quarter-hour. Szczesny dithered, decided to come and was beaten by Ranger, only for Laurent Koscielny to make a vital block.

Sczzesny soon redeemed himself. From the resulting corner the ball landed at Alan Smith’s feet 30 yards from goal. He let fly and Szczesny flew to his right to fingertip the ball onto the bar. A wonderful save.

The tie calmed down after that frantic opening and there was one piece of bad news for Arsenal as Gibbs limped off after a challenge with Wayne Routledge. Another slice of bad luck for the England left back.

Newcastle matched their guests for a while but Arsenal regained a semblance of control as the half came to a close.

Bendtner weaved into the box but his shot lacked power. Then Eboue, now at left back, raced down the left and fired into the side-netting from a narrow angle when he should really have picked out a team-mate inside the box.

Bendtner had another try four minutes before the break, exchanging passes with the impressive Denilson before hitting a first-time shot straight at Krul.

That had been the problem really – too many shots straight at the Newcastle keeper. But that was all it took to give Arsenal the lead seconds before the half-time whistle.

Walcott’s corner from the left was half-cleared, Rosicky nodded it back into the danger area and Bendtner rose to head goalwards. The Dane’s effort was hardly thunderous but it went under Krul. Ryan Taylor tried to clear off the line but his header hit Krul and rolled in.

It was certainly ‘Krul’ on the home side – but Arsenal had their lead.

James Perch almost profited from another left-wing corner early in the second half but nodded just over the bar. And that was as close as Newcastle got to making a game of it - within four minutes they were two adrift.

If Arsenal’s first goal was crazy, this one was controversial. Bendtner was yards offside when a ball was played over the top but Walcott ran through from an onside position and lifted the ball over Krul.

Newcastle’s players were up in arms – they felt Bendtner was interfering with play – but the goal was allowed to stand.

The hosts threw on local hero Andy Carroll in an attempt to peg Arsenal back and he screwed one left-footed shot wide from just inside the box.

Taylor forced a low save from Szczesny down at his left-hand post as Newcastle pushed on and Koscielny and Djourou stood firm as another sub, Jonas Gutierrez, curled in a string of teasing crosses.

Wenger looked to shore things up by replacing Carlos Vela with Fabregas 20 minutes from time and, although the home side persevered, Arsenal looked dangerous on the break.

And with eight minutes left they settled the issue.

Bendtner collected the ball on the corner of the box, steadied himself and lashed a shot into the top corner for his second goal in two games.

Taylor forced a fine save from Szczesny and Carroll shot just wide once more but Walcott had the final word with another slick finish on the counter-attack.

Carling Cup Preview: Newcastle United - Arsenal

Newcastle's attitude towards the League Cup was evident as they made 10 changes for their clash with Chelsea last time out, a thrilling match they won 4-3 thanks to Shola Ameobi's last-gasp winner.

While the club's priority this season is to stay in the Premier League, the momentum of a good cup run could build confidence around St James' Park as they look for their first ever League Cup triumph.

Newcastle have played Arsenal more than any other club and have won 65 of the 165 matches between the sides – one more than Wednesday's visitors.

But the Magpies have not beaten the Gunners in a cup tie since the 1952 FA Cup Final when George Robledo scored the only goal of the game.

Time For A Trophy
Arsene Wenger named a surprisingly strong team as Arsenal won 4-1 at bitter rivals Tottenham last time out in this competition.

It is over five years since the Gunners won a trophy and while the League Cup is far from top of their priority list, Wenger's attitude so far suggests that he sees it as a real chance to win silverware this season.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last seven cup matches against Newcastle and have never conceded a goal in any of the four previous League Cup ties between the sides.

That will bolster Wenger's confidence of progressing to the fifth round – the stage at which his team have been knocked out the competition in the last two seasons.

TEAM NEWS
Newcastle United

Sol Campbell could be handed only his second start for Newcastle against his former club as Chris Hughton shuffles his pack following Sunday's win at West Ham.

Defender Campbell hopes to be ready to return from a thigh injury that has kept him out of action for the last 10 days.

Alan Smith is also expected to return to the starting line-up while youngsters Shane Ferguson and Nile Ranger are in contention.

Probable starting XI: Krul; R Taylor, Coloccini, Campbell, Ferguson; Routledge, Guthrie, Smith, Lovenkrands; Ranger, Ameobi.

Arsenal
Theo Walcott is set to make his first start in an Arsenal shirt since August as Arsene Wenger's side travel to St James' Park.

The England winger has featured as a substitute in the Gunners' last two games after returning from an ankle injury suffered on England duty against Switzerland in September.

Nicklas Bendtner is also set for a starting role after he came off the bench to score the final goal in Sunday's 3-0 win at Manchester City, but the clash comes too soon for goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow).

Carlos Vela is ready to be handed a rare start but Jack Wilshere is serving the second game of a three-match suspension.

Probable starting XI: Fabianski; Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Gibbs; Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky; Walcott, Bendtner, Vela

Fabregas shortlisted for FIFA Ballon d’Or

Cesc Fabregas has been named on the shortlist for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or award.
The 23-year-old has had some outstanding seasons in an Arsenal shirt but 2009/10 was surely his best yet. He topped his Club's scoring and assists chart and went on to win the World Cup with Spain in July.

Lionel Messi currently holds the Ballon d'Or and Fifa World Player of the Year, but for the first time the awards have been merged so the world’s best player will be recognised by one honour.

Fabregas has been included in the 23-man list that was drawn up by football experts from the Football Committee, the Technical and Development Committee as well as by a group of experts from France Football.

The winner will be revealed in Zurich on January 11.

The following (in alphabetical order) are in contention for the award:

Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlán (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Júlio César (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Müller (Germany), Mesut Özil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Netherlands), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

Manchester City 0 - 3 Arsenal - Match Report

Arsenal climbed back to second place in the Premier League with a crucial 3-0 win at Manchester City on Sunday.

Goals from Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner secured the points in a confidence-boosting afternoon for Arsène Wenger’s side. However the turning point of the game occurred as early as the fourth minute when Manchester City defender Dedryck Boyata was dismissed for a last-man foul on Marouane Chamakh.

The red card certainly affected the Sky Blues but a highly-effective Arsenal side made them pay. They took the lead, recovered when Joe Hart saved a Cesc Fabregas penalty, withstood Manchester City pressure and then pushed on for the three points.

Make no mistake, this game was massive for Arsenal. They had something to prove to themselves as well as others after the defeat at Chelsea earlier in the month.
Although this was not exactly the performance of champions, it was the type of result champions pull off. 

At this rate, Wenger’s side WILL be part of the title race until May.

The manager made three changes from the side that has won so handsomely against Shakhtar in midweek. Jack Wilshere started his three-game suspension so Denilson came into central midfield. The fit-again Bacary Sagna was back for Emmanuel Eboue while Andrey Arshavin replaced Tomas Rosicky.

This was not a traditional ‘Big Four’ game but you could argue Manchester City had taken over the position vacated by Liverpool over the course of the last 18 months. And, of course, Wenger's men had built up a poor record in recent seasons against direct title challengers.

That simply had to change.
For all their possession at Chelsea, they had left without the points – and it was only those that would keep Arsenal in the title race.

However while Wenger's men started wonderfully in West London that day, the opening stages at Eastlands would belong to the home side. Manchester City were lively and vibrant – the exact opposite of the way they would end the game.

In the second minute, Carlos Tevez tricked Djourou in to a mistimed challenge on the right. The Argentinean scuttled to the byline and cut the ball back into the heart of the six-yard box. David Silva’s backflick was instant and goalbound. Fabianski thrust out his right hand and clutched the ball on the line.

A couple of minutes later, Yaya Toure broke down the same flank and Sagna hacked the ball away.

Arsenal had made a nervous start and needed a break.
In the fourth minute, they got one.

Fabregas sent Chamakh clear in the right-hand channel with Boyata in hot pursuit. The Moroccan poked the ball clear of the Belgian defender and was brought down just outside the area. As the centre back was the last man a red card was inevitable.

The sides swapped bookings in the minutes that followed. A tense affair was now becoming tetchy too.

Fabianski made a simple save after confusion in the Arsenal defence allowed Tevez a glimpse of goal.

In the 17th minute, Fabregas worked the ball wide to Sagna, whose cross was nodded over by the unmarked Djourou at the near post.

There was a feeling that Arsenal were settling down.

Something that was confirmed by the opening goal a couple of minutes later.

Nasri collected the ball on the right and played it to Arshavin before darting into the area. The Russian waited for his colleague to overlap then fed him the perfect pass. Nasri delayed his shot until Hart was committed and then lifted his shot over the stranded keeper. It was his seventh goal in his last six starts.

The game was now the polar opposite of the first minutes. Manchester City were nervous and inhibited, Arsenal composed.

However the home side might have been level just before the half-hour. James Milner’s ball sent Micah Richards clear on the right. The defender weaved inside and tried to curl a shot into the far corner. Fortunately for Arsenal he sliced his effort wide.

The chance was an anomaly. Broadly speaking the visitors were in command. And they had a chance to strangle the game six minutes from the break when Vincent Kompany clipped Fabregas just inside the area.

The Spaniard stepped up to take the spot-kick. His contact was decent but Joe Hart threw himself to his left to make a fine save. It was the third penalty Arsenal had missed this season.
It was also the shot in the arm that Manchester City had needed. Before half-time Kompany nodded narrowly over the bar from Silva’s corner and, just before the whistle, the Spanish striker miscontrolled a through ball when well-placed.
Both sides went into the tunnel with something to think about. Arsenal had the advantages of a goal and a man but, in reality, were not in complete control. Manchester City had limped through the first half after that double blow but they had created enough to feel they were in with a sniff.

However in the opening moments of the second half, that chance was almost extinguished. The visitors attacked with purpose down the left and, had the ball properly fallen at the feet of Fabregas or Chamakh, Arsenal would have grabbed an early second.

Mancini had made a change at the break – Wayne Bridge for Toure. Six minutes into the second half, he made another – Emmanuel Adebayor for the limping Tevez.
The latter move was guaranteed to shake up the match but it also heralded Manchester City’s best period. 

In the 57th minute, Silva darted into the area and, from an acute angle, let fly. It would have found the far corner but for a wonderful touch by Fabianski.

The Arsenal keeper was starting to be over-employed. A couple of minutes later, the Pole missed his punch and Adebayor nodded over the bar.

You sensed it was now or never for Manchester City. They had been chasing the game ever since the sending off and had to redress the balance at this point.

In fact Arsenal would double their lead.

In the 65th minute, Nasri and Fabregas combined on the right of the area and tried to slip in Chamakh. However Bridge got a toe on the ball and it turned into a perfect lay-off for Song, who fired first-time into the top corner.
The goal pretty much sucked the life out of Manchester City. They nearly got an immediate response when Adebayor’s header was brilliantly palmed away by Fabianski. Neither knew the chance had been flagged offside. Apart from that, the visitors were now exerting proper control.

Tomas Rosicky’s dangerous-looking cross toward Denilson was touched aside for a corner and Chamakh thundered a shot high over the bar.

Two minutes from time, substitute Bendtner raced clear on to Nasri’s through-ball and slotted his first goal of the season past Hart.

Fabianski saved wonderfully from Boateng to preserve Arsenal's first Premier League clean-sheet away from home for almost 10 months. In injury time, Sagna steered a shot inches past the far post. .

At the whistle, the home fans threw their anger at referee Mark Clattenburg. However this afternoon the official had got the key decisions right.

All Arsenal had done was take full advantage.

‘We never spoke about Adebayor incident'

Emmanuel Adebayor's behaviour dominated last season's game at Manchester City - but Arsène Wenger hasn't given that a second thought ahead of Sunday's reunion with his old striker.

Adebayor was banned for three matches following a stamp on Robin van Persie during last September's encounter and received a fine and a suspended ban for a provocative celebration after scoring in City's 4-2 win.

Inevitably last year's controversy came up at Wenger's pre-match press conference but Adebayor has not been on the manager's mind.

"Frankly, we never spoke about that incident," he said. "I am sure we have forgotten that.

"We are all focused on putting in a good performance on Sunday. We have played so many games since that we don't even care about that now."

Adebayor was roundly jeered by the travelling fans at Eastlands last September amid accusations of disloyalty to Arsenal. But Wenger has no animosity towards the Togo striker - after all, it was ultimately his decision to sell Adebayor in the summer of 2009.
"Yes [Adebayor did show loyalty] because when you accept to sell a player you cannot accuse him of not being loyal," said Wenger.

"A manager tries to influence the club's life but as well the life of the player and when you can help a player to have a successful career and a happy life, you think you do your job."

Sagna returns for Manchester City trip

Bacary Sagna is back for the trip to Manchester City on Sunday.

The right back has been missing since injuring his thigh at Chelsea on October 3 but is fit for the weekend.

Laurent Koscielny (back) has a minimal chance of being included but Manuel Almunia (elbow) is still definitely out.

Elsewhere, Robin van Persie (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) will not be seen until November. The same is true for Thomas Vermaelen. Wenger admitted concern about the centre back’s on-going Achilles injury but brushed aside suggestions it was a long-term problem.

“For the weekend, we could have Sagna available,” he said. “That is basically it. Sagna will come back, all the others will be out.

“Manuel Almunia is very, very close but he is not yet completely confident on the stretch of his arm. He must be able to go with force into contact and he still has some pain there.

“Koscielny has a 20 per cent chance to be available.

“Vermaelen is ruled out for the weekend. He will still need two or three weeks. His injury is not a long-term concern but at the start we thought it was a question of days and now it is six weeks.

“You can’t say it is not a concern at all. We are a bit concerned but he has had a final treatment that we think could kill it.”

Russian midfielder Andrey Arshavin believes that young Arsenal teammate Jack Wilshere is already a better player than him after the 18-year-old repeatedly impressed in the opening forays of the Premier League.
The teenage playmaker has been hailed as the vanguard of a new generation of English talent and despite being sent-off last weekend has been tipped in all quarters for a bright future at the top of the game.
Speaking to the Arsenal official matchday programme ahead of another sparkling Wilshere performance against Shakhtar Donetsk, Arshavin reflected on the progress of Arsene Wenger’s latest protégé.
“Maybe we’re similar in height and build, but we have different styles.
“I think he’s better than me even now, he’s playing so well at 18-year-old.
“Everyone knew he had big talent and now he’s at an age where he can show it more.”
Looking back on Wilshere’s recent red card against Birmingham City, the Russian insisted that it was merely part of the learning process for any youngster.
“I think everyone does things like this early in their career and I include myself in that. I’ve been sent off two or three times myself although never for a straight red card.”

Arsenal 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk - Match Report

Arsenal took an almighty stride towards qualification to the Champions League Knockout Stages with a fabulous 5-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night.

Alex Song, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh got the goals in a game that had been billed as Group H decider but turned out to be a cruise.

Shakhtar, who arrived on a run of seven straight wins, had endeavour early in each half but defensive frailties always undermined their ambition.

An omnipotent Arsenal plundered goals as and when they needed them. It was a pleasing night all-round.

Even Shakthar’s late consolation drew hearty applause. Eduardo half-volleyed home from close range and, as he had promised, did not celebrate the strike.

You could not have blamed him if he had, Shakhtar can take little else from this evening.

Arsenal have gathered nine points and 14 goals in their first three group games. They could secure top spot in Donetsk on November 3.
At this rate it is only a matter of time.

The main news pre-match was the return of Fabregas. The Arsenal captain had not been seen since injuring his hamstring in the act of scoring at Sunderland just over a month ago.

Wenger had spent last night mulling over the return of the Spanish midfielder. In the end, he decided against leaving him on the bench. However his inclusion left Abou Diaby among the substitutes.

Tomas Rosicky replaced Emmanuel Eboue numerically but actually played on the right. Samir Nasri took the Russian’s regular role on the left wing.
Before tonight, these two teams had taken six points out of six in Group H. And the first 15 minutes suggested both sides were facing higher standard opposition.

Shakhtar were as neat and tidy as their reputation had suggested. As a result, Arsenal lacked their usual incisiveness.

In fact they needed a bald-faced mistake to take the lead.

In the 18th minute, Nasri’s flashing cross was touched past the far post by the Shakhtar defence.

Chamakh nodded on the corner and, under little pressure, keeper Andriy Pyatov dropped a regulation catch. Johan Djourou stabbed the ball from under him and Song flicked the ball over the line.

Arsenal’s 1-0 lead had been not so much stolen as smuggled.

In the 25th minute, they nearly registered a much more authentic strike. Rosicky sand-wedged a ball to Chamakh, whose nod down was leathered goalwards by Nasri. This time Pyatov made the save.

Rosicky had a half-shout for a penalty soon afterwards. Had that been given and converted, Shakhtar might have been sunk. The Ukrainians seemed to lose their nerve after conceding the goal. Mentally they were there for the taking but Arsenal did not take charge.

Four minutes before the break Henrik Mkhitaryan’s deflected shot looped over the bar. It caused Lukasz Fabianski a worrying moment as did the subsequent corner. But given that is noteworthy, in reality, Donetsk were offering little.

And, a minute or so later, they were 2-0 down. Song exchanged passes with Emmanuel Eboue on the right and sent a deflected cross into the middle. Nasri cushioned the ball past Darijo Srna to create space for himself and then blasted home. It was his sixth goal of the season in only his ninth game.

Shakhtar made one change at the break but it was Douglas Costa and not the one for which the Arsenal fans were calling – Eduardo.

In the opening seconds, Mkhitaryan’s penetrative throughball released Luiz Adriano but Fabianski stood his ground to make a fine save.

There seemed to be more purpose about the visitors in the second half. And were just about to add to their firepower with Eduardo when Arsenal got their third.

Nasri curled over a free-kick from the right and Adriano tussled Djourou to the floor. Fabregas’ penalty was unstoppable – high and into the top corner. He then revealed a T-shirt wishing his mother a Happy Birthday.

The goal was the captain’s last meaningful touch. He was brought off for Denilson.

As the Brazilian waited to come on he shared a brief hug with Eduardo. The Croatian replaced Adriano seconds later and was greeted with rapturous applause.

It lightened the mood of the home supporters but did nothing for the lethal ambition of the team they were supporting. In the 66th minute, Wilshere raced onto Chamakh’s touch, exchanged passes with Rosicky and lifted his shot over the advancing Pyatov.

Shakhtar were now shell-shocked. They had been punished punitively this evening and it was not over yet.

In the 69th minute, Nasri scooped a pass over the visiting defence to the unmarked Chamakh. The Moroccan was so clear he could not believe he was onside but replays proved that was the case.

He gathered his senses – and the ball – before slotting home his sixth goal of the season.

Arsenal were now in party mood. Substitute Theo Walcott, seeing his first action since August 28, tried to arrow one in the top corner.

Eight minutes from time, Shakthar grabbed a goal.

Jadson hooked a high ball into the area from the right wing and Eduardo beat Fabianski from close range. It was a quality finish, the type that had first attracted Wenger's attention back in 2006.

He kept his word and did not celebrate the goal. The Arsenal fans repaid respect with respect.

The strike also threw up a notable question – was the first player to score at Emirates with three different clubs?

Costa tried a curler at the end. But the game had long since been lost.

Eduardo took time out to applaud the fans at the final whistle. Again, they responded in kind.

His smile suggested he was happy to be ‘home’ even though his new side had been swept aside on the night.

GROUP H

Pos.	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.	Arsenal	3	3	0	0	14	2	9
2.	Shakhtar Donetsk	3	2	0	1	5	5	6
3.	Braga	3	1	0	2	2	9	3
4.	Partizan Belgrade	3	0	0	3	1	6	0

Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone joins Hull City on loan after falling to fourth in the pecking order

 Arsenal have confirmed that young goalkeeper Vito Mannone has joined Championship side Hull City on loan until January.
The 22-year-old, who moved to Arsenal from Atalanta in 2005, has fallen down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium this season after being overtaken by bright young Polish keeper Wojceich Szczesny.
The goalkeeping situation at Arsenal has been subject of much debate following a series a calamitous displays by the club's custodians. Mannone himself suffered at home to Birmingham and at West Ham last season.

Ready to roar: Vito Mannone has joined Hull City on loan until January

Having turned in man of the match performances against Fulham weeks earlier, the Italian youth international dropped a routine cross allowing Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer to steal in and score. He then dealt poorly with a West Ham free-kick that resulted in Arsenal dropping two points.
However during his eight appearances Arsenal never lost and Mannone, who signed a new deal in January this year, earned Under 21 recognition for Italy in 2010.
Earlier this month he said: 'I don't get regular playing time at Arsenal. I would consider a six-month loan deal just to play.
'I am happy in London. I love the Premier League. But I get annoyed when I don't play, it's not as if the other two (Almunia and Fabianski) do that well. But if I've signed a contract extension until 2014 it is because they must value me.'

Paying the penalty: Lukasz Fabianski has at last started to convince fans he's worthy the Arsenal No 1 jersey

The stopper will immediately join up with Hull City and will stay on loan with Nigel Pearson’s side until January 3.
Arsenal's current incumbent of the No 1 jersey, Manuel Almunia, is sidelined with an elbow injury, opening the door for Lukasz Fabianski who has so far impressed.
Calls remain, though, for the Gunners to sign a more reliable No 1 with a bid for Fulham's Mark Schwarzer likley to rekindled in the winter transfer window.

Wenger - Cesc is fully fit but may not start

Cesc Fabregas will be at ‘full fitness’ for the Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night – but he still might not start the game.

The Arsenal captain hobbled off at Sunderland just over a month ago with a hamstring injury and has been missing ever since. He was set to return for the visit of Birmingham on Saturday but his reappearance was delayed by a small setback. On Tuesday, no such problems are being anticipated however the Spaniard may still begin on the bench.

Theo Walcott did not finish Monday’s training session because of a small toe problem. But that is not expected to keep him out against Shakhtar. The ankle that had sidelined him before Saturday is fine.

However Laurent Koscielny (back), Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Manuel Almunia (elbow) are still out.

“Cesc is available,” said Wenger at Monday’s pre-match press conference. “He is good and has prepared well.

“He had a little setback but got over the hurdle and is ready to play at full fitness.

“I do not know yet whether I start him or not but he is available. It will be [determined by] whether I take a gamble or not, because he has been out for a long time.

“I have to make up my mind tomorrow but physically he is ready, fit and wanting to play.”

The manager was also going to consider Walcott’s involvement overnight.

 “Theo has a toe problem,” said Wenger. “But his ankle is all right and he is in the squad. It would be difficult for me to tell you who will start because I do not know yet.

“But Koscielny, Vermaelen and Van Persie are all out and not available.”

Eboue: It's always about the team

Emmanuel Eboue knows people think he is "crazy" - but the utility man is deadly serious about helping Arsene Wenger's side achieve their goals.

Eboue is now something of a cult figure among Arsenal fans, having come full circle after suffering the ignominy of being replaced following a substitute appearance which saw him the subject of sarcastic jeers from the home supporters during a Premier League match against Wigan in December 2008.
The 27-year-old is often used an impact player by Wenger from the bench, utilising his pace down the flanks or to provide the team with a different dimension on the overlap, particularly in the Champions League.
However, with Bacary Sagna set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines after picking up a thigh problem while on international duty for France, Eboue is poised for an extended run in the side ahead of the visit of Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday night where victory would all but secure Arsenal's qualification from Group H after only three games.
Eboue, though, has never let himself worry about how much playing time he is given, so long as it all works out for the collective good.
"I never think about myself - for me, it is always about the team," said Eboue, signed from Beveren seven years ago and who played in the 2006 Champions League final defeat against Barcelona.
"Even if I am not brought on, I am just privileged to be among the 18 players.
"When I play, I try to do my best, but I also love to see my friends score goals and play well, it makes me happy and proud.
"I have a responsibility to the squad whatever the situation.
"When Theo [Walcott] scored his hat-trick against Blackpool, I ran straight up to him. My heart is clean and I don't think negative things about people.
"God tells us to respect everyone so that is how I behave towards players, managers, staff, everybody I meet.
"People say I am crazy because I am always laughing and trying to make everyone happy, but it is how I am - it is not only at Arsenal, it is for the Ivory Coast also and at home with my wife and kids too."
Eboue had been linked with a move away from Arsenal during the summer. However, he stressed: "I am still so happy to be playing here, with these guys and for this manager.
"It was my dream before and to make seven years will be incredible.
"I am one of the senior players now - I feel comfortable within the squad and always do what I can to help the young boys."
Eboue is a popular member of the group, and Wenger paid tribute to the Ivorian's unique character.
"Emmanuel has a good club mentality and he has a sense of collective belonging," said the Arsenal manager.
"He wants to be part of the club and is a great player.
"Usually I will rotate him and Sagna, and Sagna has had more games because Eboue can play in midfield.
"But you need two right-backs and we have two quality right-backs.
"No matter who plays - Sagna or Eboue - we always feel we have a strong right-back."
Like the Gunners, Shakhtar have maximum points from their opening two Champions League matches.
Croatia striker Eduardo joined the Ukrainians during the summer, having found himself pushed down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium following the free transfer signing of Marouane Chamakh.
Wenger admits it was not easy to see Eduardo move on, the 27-year-old having fought his way back to full fitness following an horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle at Birmingham in February 2008.
"Eduardo is at the stage where he has to play and we could not guarantee him that time, that is why [I allowed him to leave]," the Arsenal manager recalled.
"But it makes me sad twice - because it reminds me how he got injured and because he is an outstanding guy."
Wenger added: "I did not expect to see him [again] so quickly, but we are happy to see him back."

Arsenal boss Wenger: "I did not want to lose Eduardo".

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was sorry having to sell Eduardo in the summer.
The Croatia striker returns to Arsenal this week with Shakhtar Donetsk for their Champions League clash.
"Eduardo is at the stage where he has to play and we could not guarantee him that time, that is why [I allowed him to leave]," the Arsenal manager recalled.
"But it makes me sad twice - because it reminds me how he got injured and because he is an outstanding guy."
Wenger added: "I did not expect to see him [again] so quickly, but we are happy to see him back."

Wilshere - I will learn from red card

Jack Wilshere admits he deserved to be sent off against Birmingham on Saturday but has vowed to learn from the incident.

The Arsenal midfielder received a straight red card in the dying minutes at Emirates Stadium following a challenge on Nikola Zigic.

The 19-year-old was contrite when he spoke to Arsenal.com afterwards but he will still be punished with a three-game domestic ban.

“I just want to say that I mistimed the challenge on Zigic and accept that I deserved to be sent off,” said Wilshere.

“I have no complaints about getting the red card and I will learn from this. I’m missing three matches now which I’m really disappointed about, but I just want to say that I deserved the red card.”

Arsenal Vs Birmingham City - Match Report

Chamakh fires Gunners past battling Blues

Arsenal got their Premier League campaign back on track with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Birmingham - but had Jack Wilshere sent off in stoppage time for a rash challenge.
The Blues took a shock lead through Nikola Zigic after 33 minutes as once again the Gunners - who had lost their past two league games before the international break - failed to make the most of early possession.
However, Samir Nasri levelled with a somewhat controversial penalty just before half-time, before Marouane Chamakh slotted home a well-taken effort two minutes after the restart which proved enough for all three points.
The win was soured late on, however, when England teenager Wilshere showed his immaturity with a reckless challenge on Zigic which earned him a straight red and a three-match ban.
Defeat at Chelsea last time out had left Arsenal some seven points off the pace, and manager Arsene Wenger had called on his team to produce a strong response from kick-off.
It was almost that as Chamakh went close after just four minutes following a neat one-two with Wilshere on the edge of Birmingham's box, but Stephen Carr blocked his side-foot effort.
Arsenal suffered a shock 3-2 defeat against West Brom in their previous match here last month - and there was more frustration for the home supporters during the first quarter-of-an-hour following some resolute defending by Birmingham.
On 17 minutes, Sebastien Squillaci headed in Samir Nasri's chipped free-kick from the right wing, but the offside flag was quickly up.
Arsenal were presented another golden opportunity on 24 minutes when a soft back pass from former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson in his own penalty area gifted Gael Clichy a free shot at goal from 10 yards, but the full-back dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Gunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski had not really been troubled, but needed to be alert to collect an inadvertent backward header from Emmanuel Eboue, which was set for the top corner, after a free-kick into the Arsenal box.
The Blues, however, continued to look dangerous from set-pieces and it was no real surprise when the visitors went ahead after 33 minutes. A throw-in was fed back to Keith Fahey, and his sweeping cross was met by Zigic, who got up above Johan Djourou to power a header back into the bottom corner for the Serbian's first Premier League goal.
Birmingham almost snatched a second when Roger Johnson knocked the ball back across the six-yard box, but Fahey blazed over as he got in the way of Zigic.
Arsenal were then handed a lifeline five minutes before the break when Scott Dann clipped Chamakh's trailing leg and referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot. Nasri made no mistake as he crashed in his fifth goal of the season.
The French winger, though, was soon in the referee's book for barging at Liam Ridgewell, although replays suggested the card could easily have been red after leading with his knee.
Tempers were boiling over as half-time approached, with Blues skipper Carr involved in a heated exchange with the Arsenal bench and Chamakh looked to be on the receiving end of an elbow from Johnson, but it went unpunished.
If there was a touch of controversy about Chamakh's involvement in the equaliser, the Morocco striker produced the perfect response as he put Arsenal ahead just two minutes after the restart. Wilshere played the ball into the left side of the penalty area, where Chamakh ghosted past Carr before holding off Dann as he rounded the goalkeeper to roll home his fifth goal from a tight angle.
Arsenal soon settled into their usual passing rhythm, as Birmingham suddenly found themselves chasing possession for long spells, but were again guilty of taking too many touches around the box when a more direct approach was required.
Wilshere did just that when charging into the left side of the penalty area before drilling an angled drive over. Both substitute Tomas Rosicky and Nasri tested Foster from distance while the introduction of Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner for his first appearance of the season gave Arsenal a different option.
But Wilshere's red card left a bad taste in the mouth after he went in late on Zigic moments before the final whistle.

Wenger - Arsenal the only club in my heart

Arsène Wenger has stressed recent speculation linking him with a move to Paris Saint Germain is purely that, and his future is with the club he loves – Arsenal.

While in Metz for a recent France international the manager was asked about financially stricken Ligue 1 side PSG, with one French newspaper then implying he was interested in a future role at the Parisian side. Wenger has rubbished the reports.

"There is only one club in my heart, and that is Arsenal,” said the 60-year-old.

“PSG is the slightest of my worries. I am 100 per cent happy here. I have just extended my contract here - after that, I don't know what I'll do.

“Anything else is just talk to get out of an interview where I was surrounded before the game in Metz.”

Arsenal Vs Birmingham City

Waste not, want not.

The majority of Arsenal fans will have spent the international break quietly smouldering. Their team went into that massive game at Chelsea a fortnight ago in need of an inspiration injection.

In the previous two Premier League games, they had dropped a pair of last-gasp points at Sunderland and been beaten on home territory by the adventure of West Brom. A promising start was starting to lose its shine.

Their reaction at Stamford Bridge was magnificent but the result was sadly familiar. In terms of the performance, it was about as heartening as 2-0 defeats can get however, with Birmingham City arriving at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Arsène Wenger is fully aware that the response AND the result must be right this time.

“We have taken a lot of encouragement from the Chelsea game and we want to use the positives,” said the manager on Friday. “But we are seven points behind and we cannot waste more points.

“We have had two defeats in the League recently but for me they were of a completely different shape.

“The first one was a very bad performance, the second one had a lot of regrets because we feel we were done badly. We could have taken much more out of the game.

“But that makes us realise we have a very good opportunity to do well in this League and aswell helps us correct what we did not do well on the day.

“That is why Birmingham is now a very important game for us.”

On Saturday, Arsenal will be boosted by the inclusion of Nicklas Bendtner for the first time this season. Wenger believes the Danish striker is not only over his groin problem but the fittest he has been for almost a year.

Kieran Gibbs is also back after a thigh injury and Theo Walcott (ankle) will be on Arsenal duty for the first time since his hat-trick at Blackburn on August 28. In addition, Manuel Almunia (elbow) is back in training and Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) is very close to a return.

However Bacary Sagna (ankle), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) are still out while Laurent Koscielny (back) was added to the injured list after training on Friday.

“Sagna did his injury against Chelsea in the second half,” explained Wenger. “He didn’t go with the French squad.

"Koscielny had a back problem on Tuesday morning after the Chelsea game. He had a spasm in the back. He had a try this morning but had to move out.

“As for Vermaelen, it has been five weeks now. It is still his Achilles. To start with we thought it would just be ten days. But when he’s injured, he’s injured.”

However while physical injuries are one thing, the defeat to West Brom seemed more about mental sharpness. A relentless conveyor belt of fixtures will, of course, affect both.

"A player's mind can become tired as well as his body,” said Wenger. “If you look at the Prozone statistics, surprisingly players don't drop their performance when they play every three days in terms of how far they run and the distance covered in sprints.

"But the energy available in your brain to be zippy, the mental sharpness, that is what changes.

“Against West Brom we were not mentally sharp from the start and we have to make sure against Birmingham that we begin the game with a strong attitude.”

West Brom’s win at Arsenal was their first in 27 years. Birmingham come to Emirates Stadium without a victory in the red half of north London for 53 years. Alex McLeish’s side were worthy of their top ten finish last season but, by comparison, are struggling this term. However they still have Wenger’s respect, as well as one of his former players.

“Birmingham are a big team in England with a massive potential,” he said. “Last year they did better than anyone expected. Yes, recently they have struggled with results a little bit but they remain a dangerous side.

“They are a good, organised team who added some quality with Alex Hleb, who is someone we know well. They now have even more offensive potential. So let’s have a good solid defensive performance and put a high pace into the game.

“I expect them to be committed but we will go into the game with exactly the same attitude as usual – we will try to play football the way we love it and be committed ourselves.

“It is still very tight at the top and the feeling I have is that Chelsea can drop points. It will be down to who is the most consistent team.”

Perhaps the most consistently ‘least wasteful’, if you know what I mean.

Walcott returns but Koscielny out injured

Theo Walcott is back in the Arsenal squad for Saturday’s game against Birmingham - but Laurent Koscielny will miss out.

The centre back has been struggling with a back problem and his absence may open the door for Johan Djourou to return to the side with Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) also injured.

Arsène Wenger told Arsenal TV Online on Thursday that Walcott could return from the ankle problem he suffered on international duty five weeks ago and those plans were firmed up at the manager’s pre-match press conference.

“We have Theo Walcott who is coming back and we have Nicklas Bendtner back in the squad. The team is not picked yet, but they are back in the squad,” said Wenger.

“It is good because they have been out for quite a while. Since last November, Bendtner has been in and out, and he was never really himself. Walcott has been out now for five weeks so it is good to have them back.”

Then came the bad news.

“We have lost Laurent Koscielny who is injured with his back. Thomas Vermaelen is still out, he is ten days away,” reported Wenger.

The Frenchman also confirmed that Cesc Fabregas would miss the visit of Birmingham but the captain could return to face Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium three days later.

“He has a chance for Tuesday,” said Wenger. “I thought he would play tomorrow. There is nothing specially wrong, he is just a bit short for tomorrow.”

Seaman: Arsenal have some great goalkeepers

Highbury hero David Seaman has hinted that the answer to Arsenal’s goalkeeping problem lies within the club, but made clear that he understands fans frustration because he himself feels the current crop of shot-stoppers are underperforming in competitive action.
Revealing that he still makes regular tips to the Gunners London Colney training base, the former England international told talkSPORT:
“They’ve got some great goalkeepers there. It’s frustrating for me at the moment because I see them in training and I see what they are capable of.
“At the moment they are not fulfilling their potential. They are making the odd mistake and because it’s Arsenal it’s high profile.
“Since I left and then Jens came in, they’ve not really had an established goalkeeper; they keep chopping and changing.
“It is frustrating because I’ve seen Almunia, Fabianski, Wojciech [Szczesny] and Vito [Mannone]are all good goalkeepers. At the moment they are not showing how good they are.”

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Fabregas: I have everything. I'm still happy.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas insists he was comfortable with Arsene Wenger’s decision to refuse him a move to Barcelona but maintains that he was not wrong broaching the subject with his coach as it has been a long held dream of his to return to the club where he started his career.
The dynamic playmaker moved to Highbury as a 16-year-old and almost immediately secured himself first team squad status. Central to the Gunners set-up, it is believed that Barcelona formally bid for their protégé on two occasions during the summer, only for the Arsenal board to reject the offers out of hand.
Fabregas has not tasted trophy winning success in north London since the FA Cup victory in 2005, a five year wait which he insists needs to be broken but will take a turnaround in squad mentality.
Speaking about the constant speculation which enveloped his World Cup winning summer, Fabregas told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that he has no regrets about the way things panned out.
“I maintain that I was right because (to play for Barcelona) is a dream I’ve had since childhood,” revealed the Spaniard.
“The truth is that the coach (Wenger) is like a second father to me. I told him what I thought. There were difficult moments.
“In the end, when I spoke to Wenger he told me no - he was very emphatic, that the transfer was impossible.
“I’m satisfied for all parties. It wasn’t to be and that’s that, though in my head I keep thinking it could have been a good opportunity.
“But here (at Arsenal) I have everything. I’m still happy. I’m very comfortable here, I like the club, lead the team, play football. We just need to start winning titles because we have a wealth of quality. A winning mentality is missing.”