Arsenal

[Lucky]

Van Persie set to resume full training next week

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav...ining+next+week

“Van Persie and [Abou] Diaby are not far,” he said. “From next week they will be back in normal training.”

However Wenger added that a return against Steaua on Wednesday “looks early”.

Chelsea maybe or at least against Spurs.

As for the remaining three of Arsenal’s injured midfield quartet, none are likely to return at Middlesbrough this weekend. And, the manager implied, there may be a need to wait for them as well.

“We have no-one coming back for Sunday,” said Wenger, “and to put a date on that is very difficult. If you ask me who will be the first to come back then I think it could be Mathieu Flamini.

“Cesc and Alexander Hleb are on the same line but whether they come back next week or in two weeks I don’t know.”

Please be back for the Chelsea game.

[hercules]

The way we play now we don't actually need a winger as the full backs give us the width and rosicky and hleb have really grown into their creative roles. I don't see us buying a cb as we have senderos and djourou and definately not a striker as we have eduardo, adebayor, RVP, bendtner and Walcott which is more than enough.

I still believe gilbertos time at arsenal is over, i wish denilson played against newcastle. We looked tired and lacked that spark but we still got a point and with all the injuries we have that is a big point. It just shows you how much we miss those players.

[SeanR]

wahay! even though I don't think the GFs going to want to go to any of the home games over xmas and the new year, and possibly for the rest of the season, I've got setanterdana now!

I couldn't believe it when the West Ham game went on red member sale, but it's the 1st of Jan, so there's no public transport, innit?

[Art Vandelay]

I'm not too sure about this winger talk. I'm not sure if everyone would agree, but I think Wenger has quite simply invented another formation with what he's doing at the moment, that does away with conventional wide men. Everyone in midfield, and the full backs, can fill in anywhere they're needed to - a totally interchangeable unit. It gives us options all over the place, and the movement pulls teams apart rather than the conventional tactic of spreading the field with wingers.

I'm surprised that anyone has bought up Villa's centre backs. Laursen is perpetually crocked, and Mellberg is fucking pony. I've got a lot of mates who support them and they can't wait for him to leave at the end of the season.

Give Eduardo a chance, he really is the full ticket and will go on to prove it. His record is impressive for us even at a cameo level. A dreary night up North isn't the ideal proving ground for someone still adjusting.

[Petrousgyre]

I'm not too sure about this winger talk. I'm not sure if everyone would agree, but I think Wenger has quite simply invented another formation with what he's doing at the moment, that does away with conventional wide men. Everyone in midfield, and the full backs, can fill in anywhere they're needed to - a totally interchangeable unit. It gives us options all over the place, and the movement pulls teams apart rather than the conventional tactic of spreading the field with wingers.

I'm surprised that anyone has bought up Villa's centre backs. Laursen is perpetually crocked, and Mellberg is fucking pony. I've got a lot of mates who support them and they can't wait for him to leave at the end of the season.

Give Eduardo a chance, he really is the full ticket and will go on to prove it. His record is impressive for us even at a cameo level. A dreary night up North isn't the ideal proving ground for someone still adjusting.

Personally I feel we lack pace in wide positions but don't think we should fundamentally change the way we play in midfield. We could do with someone who's good on the ball and can run into space - like Ljungberg in his prime. A shame the Ribery deal didn't come off in the summer.

Eduardo certainly looks better for Croatia, but his movement has been poor at Arsenal. I don't think he's a bad footballer, not by any means, but I wonder if he'll ever 'get' how Arsenal play, I felt the same about Baptista last season and Reyes before that - also good footballers but they seemed utterly bewildered by Wengers style of play.

[Daley]

I'm not too sure about this winger talk. I'm not sure if everyone would agree, but I think Wenger has quite simply invented another formation with what he's doing at the moment, that does away with conventional wide men. Everyone in midfield, and the full backs, can fill in anywhere they're needed to - a totally interchangeable unit. It gives us options all over the place, and the movement pulls teams apart rather than the conventional tactic of spreading the field with wingers.

It's a fair point. The few times "proper" wingers have played for us, they have stuck out like a sore thumb. Pennant (on the very few times he played) would run down the line and whip it in and Henry was 5 yards outside the box waiting for a cut back. Reyes also looked out of place, but I think his bigger problem was the physical nature of the game. Maybe we just need a left footed version of Hleb/Rosicky, someone a bit more comfortable on the left.

I'm surprised that anyone has bought up Villa's centre backs. Laursen is perpetually crocked, and Mellberg is fucking pony. I've got a lot of mates who support them and they can't wait for him to leave at the end of the season.

Laursen has been injured but I thnk him or Mellberg could do a job as a squad player. That's what we were talking about and I think they would fit the bill, especially as they would be cheap, as their contracts are nearly up.

Give Eduardo a chance, he really is the full ticket and will go on to prove it. His record is impressive for us even at a cameo level. A dreary night up North isn't the ideal proving ground for someone still adjusting.

No doubt. I'm suprised he played him the other night. I'm confident he will come good.

[hercules]

Eduardo will come good, he's still settling into life in london. I remember RVP a few years ago wasn't really doing much in those sort of away games. Look at the difference a few years makes! It is just a case of learning the fluency of the team then he kick ass.

In wengers system we don't need wingers he has these central minded midfielders playing out wide which means they cut inside alot but our full backs give us alot of width. Plus it also means that our midfielders swap postions all over which makes it very hard for the opposition to pick them up. When we have a full strength team it is devastating but at the mo we have a few injuries so we have lacked that fluency.

[Dude Ranch]

I wouldn't mind us buying someone really tricky and pacey, like a Ronaldo. Someone to really put the fear into defenders. I was hoping Rosicky was gonna be that player but he's either not playing in the right position or he's not up to it. As much as I like him I think he should give us more. He rarely takes a game by the scruff of the neck and actively makes things happen like Hleb and Cesc do.

[hercules]

I wouldn't mind us buying someone really tricky and pacey, like a Ronaldo. Someone to really put the fear into defenders. I was hoping Rosicky was gonna be that player but he's either not playing in the right position or he's not up to it. As much as I like him I think he should give us more. He rarely takes a game by the scruff of the neck and actively makes things happen like Hleb and Cesc do.

He done that alot last year esp as cesc struggled alot last year. But he has had alot of injuries and is yet to hit peak form, when he does i reckon he'll be the man. He is very fast but keeps pulling his hamstrings which is a big prob which he is working on, i just hope he starts picking up soon cos we need it.

[mop]

Not like this, not like this.

Really don't deserve a thing from this.

[Dude Ranch]

Really don't deserve a thing from this.

Very true.

That put everything into perspective. No spirit, no ideas. Boro aren't a good side but they deserved three points today.

Diarra, Gilberto and Rosicky were a waste of time. Same with Eduardo, I'm really disappointed with him. Bendtner was never gonna change that game and Theo wasn't really in it.

We've had a real soft centre over the last couple of games. Please God can one or both of Cesc and Flamini play the next match.

[Mars]

What a load of shit. It looked as if no-one cared.

[mop]

What a load of shit. It looked as if no-one cared.

That's very true and what makes it all the more of a pisser. Since the 2nd half of the Villa game we've been poor and we really need to pick ourselfs back up come the Chelsea game.

I pray we have at least Van back for that game. Or Flamini. Or Cesc. Or Helb.

Or two of them.

Or all of 'em

[Salsa Party Animal]

Villa trash Boro, Arsenal beat Villa, Boro beat Arsenal. Funny old game.

[SeanR]

Villa trash Boro, Arsenal beat Villa, Boro beat Arsenal. Funny old game.

Yeah, HILARIOUS...

[TehStu]

"Funny old game" doesn't imply humour, like your post.

Shite result today :/

[hercules]

Well it was coming! Villa owned us in the 2nd half, Newcastle were in control for most of the game but yet wenger didn't bring in fresh faces, i have to admit i'm very suprised that he didn't. How Walcott didn't start any of these games is beyond me, he is looking good at present and until he came on today we looked shit. For me this performance shows that Gilberto is finished, what a waste of time! With all those players missing we lack real creative flair. Rosicky tried to take the game but on the left you can't really do that, Gilberto and Diarra just couldn't get to grips with the game and as a result we lost. For me Denilson, Bentdner and Walcott should've started today. We'd already had 2 hard away games and some players needed a rest.

Lets just hope we don't go on a slump now, we need RVP, Cesc, Flamini and Hleb back ASAP

[SeanR]

Just watched MOTD2. was the grass REALLY long or something? Perhaps a bit muddy?

[Daley]

That was poor but it was coming. A combination of the injuries and too many games contributed but well played to Boro, they deserved it and at least they didn't kick the shit out of us to achieve the win as has been done in the past by others. Not sure why Eduardo is being picked ahead of Bendtner or Walcott, especially in games like this, but hopefully he comes good. Yesterday and Wednesday were both poor performances (not really helped by Adebayor but that's another story).

Right let's look ahead.

Mathieu Flamini could return for the crucial Premiership clash with Chelsea on Sunday and Arsène Wenger remains hopeful about the chances of Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby being involved in the squad. However he was not prepared to be so optimistic about Cesc Fabregas and Alex Hleb.

All five players missed the trips to Newcastle and Middlesbrough this week. Those games saw a previously strident Arsenal pick up only one point.

Arguably they could do with as many of these players to return for a massive weekend in the Premier League season. Some, but not all, are likely to be back.

“The one who has a realistic chance is Flamini,” said Wenger after the defeat at Middlesbrough. “One who could be in the squad is Van Persie. Diaby could be in the squad aswell. We don’t know about Cesc and Hleb.”

Mixed news. We really need either Cesc or Hleb back. We looked really clueless in the final third without them two.

[SeanR]

Still, at least Eboue's ballet lessons have come in useful...

[Mars]

He was a fucking embarassment this weekend. Get Theo out there instead.

[Lucas]

The whole team were an embarassment.

[hercules]

Yeah Theo needs to start, i'd be tempted to start him against chelsea

[BlinkyBear]

Yeah Theo needs to start, i'd be tempted to start him against chelsea

You'd be tempted to start him against every team we've played so far this season.

Eboue is a disgrace to the shirt.

And yes, we still need two wingers and a centre forward. Though I'm a massive Eduardo fan.

[Lucky]

I don't think we need to go overboard with this defeat. It's our first of the season and we are still top. Are there any Asenal fans that wouldn't have taken that at the beginning of the season?

Yes we were shit the other day, there were a lot of things wrong, like Adebayor being unable to control the ball once out of about 15-20 attempts, Gilberto looking like he has become a bad player overnight, Almunia rushing out of his goal when he didn't need to for the penalty and reminding us that really we need a keeper, Toure making a rash tackle when he didn't really need to make a challenge at all and giving the penalty away, Eboue being a c*nt and Eduardo looking lost.

BUT we did have Cesc, Hleb and Flamini out, surely our 3 best players this season, and RVP is still out.

When these 4 players are back soon we can get back to normal.

Man utd lost to Bolton last week and Liverpool last to Reading at the weekend so these results do happen occasionally. As long as we don't make a habit out of it I don't think we should be panicking just yet.

[KRP]

I think Almunia's been excellent the last couple of games. I reckon Denilson has got to start ahead of Gilberto and obvioulsy Bendtner before Eduardo.

[TehStu]

Nah, it's not the end of the world. I think going for 49 (was it?) matches undefeated and then finally being brought back down to Earth was more of a kick in the teeth. Really solid start to the season and a loss down. It happens, just need to buckle down and show the usual determination.

[Daley]

<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1779" target="_blank">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1779</a>

Mathieu Flamini is set to be rewarded for his excellent start to the season with a new five-year contract.

About time too.

And...

http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8...2960461,00.html

Arsenal are reported to be one of a host of clubs keen on signing AC Milan star Yoann Gourcuff.

The France under-21 international was linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in 2006 before opting to make the move from Rennes to the San Siro.

However, Gourcuff has not featured regularly for the European champions and the Gunners are preparing a £15million bid for the man touted by many as 'the next Zinedine Zidane', according to Italian daily Gazzeta Dello Sport.

The newspaper claims Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti wants to offload Gourcuff as Brazilian teen sensation Alexandre Pato will be eligible to feature for the first-team from January 3rd after his move from Internacional.

Who?

[Lucky]

Jens Lehmann will make his return to first-team action against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday.

The German keeper last played for Arsenal at Blackburn on August 19. He was initially kept out through injury but, latterly, manager Arsène Wenger has favoured Manuel Almunia.

“You will see Jens Lehmann in goal tomorrow,” said the Frenchman at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference. “This was decided three weeks ago so it is independent of anything else.”

Wenger described the attitude of the 38-year-old as “fantastic” during his absence. “This man is super-professional and an example for everybody,” he added.

Didn't think we'd see him in an Arsenal shirt again to be honest.

Robin van Persie is also going to be involved. The Dutch striker has not been seen in an Arsenal shirt since October 7 because of a knee problem.

“He is OK,” said Wenger. “He will be in the squad tomorrow. I have not yet made a decision if he will start but he could play some part.

“The other players who were out before are still out except Abou Diaby. He is in the squad and maybe he will play a part in the game.”

Superb stuff, unless he gets injured tomorro that means he'll be involved agaist Chelsea.

The remaining absentees are Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Alex Hleb (Achilles) and Mathieu Flamini (thigh).

Hope that means they are being saved for the Chelsea game.

[Dude Ranch]

Jesus, we've really missed van Persie. He can give us something different up front and make something from nothing. Hopefully the rest means he'll come back super hungry and eager.