Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas Looks Likely To Remain At The Club.

The speculation about Cesc Fabregas has almost reached a fever pitch, as the opening of the transfer window approaches. It seems that another story about him emerges every 10 minutes on Twitter or on one of the usual media outlets. Inside experts on both sides seem to be only too keen to tip off the media, or so the media would have the fans believe.

I listened to Graham Hunter on Newstalk last night, and he was keen to point out to one and all that he is not a mouthpiece for Barcelona. He followed that statement by saying he knew Barcelona's manager Pep Guardiola considers Cesc to be a vital player for him to sign. Apparently if Guardiola stays in charge of Barcelona he considers Cesc to be a huge part of their future, and he is very anxious to buy him from Arsenal as soon as possible.


Hunter also said that Barcelona's bid is only an opening gambit in their attempt to obtain their target. Barcelona have paid large sums for players in the past, but they seem to be of the opinion that they will be able to get Cesc for a sum well below his market value. Apparently their chairman has said he is not prepared to offer as much as he did last summer, but that bid was unsuccessful on that occasion.

Hunter claims to be "in the know" and he says that Cesc is so desperate to leave Arsenal that he told his agent he would join Manchester City at the end of last season if the move to Barcelona fell through. I have no doubt that Cesc is an intelligent man and he has to have a fair idea what his actual market value is. I'm sure he realises that Arsenal will not sell him to any club unless they get a fair price for one of the best players in the world.

Things are complicated by Cesc's desire to return to his hometown club, but that should not be a bargaining chip for Barcelona. How can Cesc feel about Barcelona's judgement on his abilities if they simply refuse to meet a price that is fair under current market conditions. Players who are not fit to lace Cesc's boots are changing hands for exorbitant fees at the moment, and a player of his proven ability does not come cheaply.

Hunter went as far as to say Cesc is an asset with a depreciating value, and Arsenal need to cash in now or lose even more money on him. He said Cesc only cost Arsenal one million Euros, and they should be happy with the huge profit they will make. If that isn't being a mouthpiece for Barcelona I don't know what is, as Hunter makes the exact arguments that Barcelona themselves are making.

If Cesc really wants to go as badly as Hunter says then he can join City for the price Arsenal are asking for in my opinion. I would be shocked if Cesc made that statement about City, or if he did that he actually meant it. Of course it would be a huge blow for Arsenal to sell the best player in the Premier League to a rival, but when the alternative is to allow Barcelona to dictate the price I think Arsenal need to take a stand.

Barcelona cannot be allowed to ride roughshod over the hopes and aspirations of Arsenal fans, and it's up to the club to make sure they don't. There has been a suggestion that Arsene Wenger made an agreement with Cesc last summer, and that the club wouldn't stand in the way of him joining Barcelona this summer. It would have been a similar deal to the one supposedly agreed between Manchester United and Ronaldo a couple of years ago.

However, Real Madrid paid roughly €90 million for Ronaldo when he joined them despite the fact that there were no other bidders. If that deal is indeed in place Arsenal will keep their part of it and sell Cesc this summer, but I'm sure he would have told Cesc that Barcelona need to match a fair valuation to trigger the move. At the moment Barcelona have not done so and they claim they will not either which is good news for Arsenal and their fans too.

If they fail to come up with the money Arsenal want and deserve I cannot see any option for Cesc but to return to pre-season training next Monday, and resume his role as Arsenal's captain and star player. The ball is firmly in Barcelona's court, and only their failure to do what is required to get their man will result in Cesc remaining at Arsenal if all of this is true. I hope Barcelona stand firm and refuse to raise their bid past the level which they failed with last summer, and Arsenal get to keep their best player.

Players like Cesc are very rare and it will be Barcelona's loss and Arsenal's gain if they don't take advantage of their opportunity. In an ideal world for Arsenal Cesc will stay and Arsenal will bring in the players needed to take the team to the next level. I cannot believe that he will refuse to return to training, as he is far too professional a player to stoop to such a level.

Arsenal fans all over the world want the matter sorted as soon as possible so that the team can move on and prepare for the challenges of next season, and it simply cannot be allowed to drag on until the end of the transfer window. Barcelona should be told that Arsenal will no longer be prepared to entertain any offers for Cesc once he has returned to the club next Monday. If they cannot raise their offer by then it should be the end of the matter for another year at least, and it will be obvious to one and all that Barcelona just won't pay what the player is worth.

The current situation where newspapers are revealing "exclusives" about Cesc on a daily basis cannot be allowed to continue. Yesterday The Mirror treated Arsenal fans to the exclusive that Arsenal were afraid of losing both Cesc and Samir Nasri this week. Arsenal have been afraid of losing both players for quite a while now, and to call such a story an exclusive is an insult to their fans.

The Nasri situation has to be resolved this week with the players due back, as does the situation with Cesc, and to suggest it's an exclusive to report those facts is simply a joke. The problem is Arsenal fans are desperate for news and with the club keeping their cards close to their chest the fans are grasping at straws in their search for information. Newspapers will print any sort of rubbish to sell papers or get hits on their websites, and fans need to remember that when they get their hopes up.

Neither player are the first Arsenal players to be heavily predicted to leave the club, but Arsenal have always only sold players when they decide it's the right time to do so. If the club decide Barcelona have offered an amount that is acceptable, and Cesc can be allowed to go I'm sure Wenger will have an idea of what his next moves in the transfer market should be. Arseblog chronicles some of the previous players who the media had stated were certain to leave Arsenal today in his blog, and as always it's a must read for Arsenal fans.

The current transfer window seems interminable to Arsenal fans, but it's no different to any other one in reality and it's just a matter of time before Arsenal become active. There has been no activity from Chelsea, City or Real Madrid either, and I'm sure their fans are fairly anxious too. It isn't helped by Premier League champions Manchester United spending over £50 million on new players already, but panic buying would not be a good idea for any club.

It would seem Arsenal are very close to completing deals for a few players, but these things take time and the fans need to be patient. It would of course help if Arsenal were seen to be pursuing some genuinely world class players, but hopefully they are doing so in private. I'm still relatively hopeful that Wenger will address the obvious problems in the squad this summer, and keep Cesc at the club as well.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at the highlights from Arsenal's 3-2 over The Spuds in 1984.

See You Tomorrow.

The Top Five Arsenal Transfer Rumours So Far This Summer.

With the real start of the transfer window almost upon the football world the rumour mill is churning out an increasing amount of gossip for all football fans. Arsenal find themselves in a position where they need to add some real quality to their squad, and as a result they have been linked with their fair share of players. I'll attempt to rate their chances of signing the five players who are most likely to join them this summer.

Of course there are still 65 days left in the transfer window and Arsenal are well known for leaving their business until just before the window closes. There are bound to be plenty of other players linked between now and August 31, but if Arsenal are to prepare properly for the new season they need to act fast. However, there is no point in signing players if they are not of the quality Arsenal need to improve their team.


Juan Mata is a very talented left winger who plays for Valencia and the Spanish national team. With Cesc Fabregas possibly on his way out of Arsenal to Barcelona Arsene Wenger will have to be very busy in the transfer market to attempt to keep his team in a competitive position for next season. Mata is the most recent player to be linked with them, and according to The Mail Arsenal have made an £18 million bid for him.

He's a player with real potential and he is by far the best player to be linked with Arsenal so far this summer. He could fit nicely into the current team, and his inclusion would certainly improve the overall quality of the team and the squad. However, he has to be added to the current squad and not bought to replace either Samir Nasri or Cesc, or the overall quality will decrease.

Mata only turned 23 a couple of months ago, but has more than 200 senior games under his belt and he has scored over 50 goals in those games. He has been very impressive for Valencia, but he failed to make the grade at Real Madrid as a younger player. His pace and his eye for a goal would be a real benefit to the Arsenal team and I would be quite happy to see him sign for Arsenal.

Ricky Alvarez is another target for Arsenal if the reports in The Mirror are to be believed, but I would be surprised if he was signed. He suffered a knee injury early in his career, and he has very few senior games to his name for a 23 year old. If Arsenal are to sign him it would be based solely on his perceived potential, and they have enough players with potential in their squad already.

I haven't seen too much of Alvarez, but he is far too inexperienced to be expected to make an immediate impact in the Premier League. If Arsenal are going to have a chance of winning trophies again they need to sign players who are the real deal, and I don't think Alvarez is anywhere near that level yet. I can't imagine that he would be signed if Mata joins, but Arsene Wenger needs to keep his options open which is probably the reason why he is interested in Alvarez.

Gervinho has been another target for Arsenal for the last few weeks at least, and according to The Mirror again he will be coming to the club very soon. He has had a very good season in France with Lille, as his goals and assists helped them to a domestic double. His club claim not to have received any concrete offers yet, and with Champions League football next season they will be anxious to keep their best players.

Eden Hazard was another star of that Lille team along with Gervinho, and I think he would be a far better choice for Arsenal this summer. However, it seems like Lille are more determined to keep Hazard, and Arsenal might have to settle for Gervinho instead. Like Alvarez I don't know if he will be good enough to prosper in the Premier League, but at least he has a lot more experience than Alvarez. 

Gervinho is probably the most likely of the three attacking players to be signed by Arsenal, as Wenger has a long history of signing players from France. Like both Mata and Alvarez he can play on the left side of the front three or in midfield and it would appear all three might be lined up as potential players to replace Nasri. If I had to choose between them I think Mata would be the best player, but Gervinho is a much better option than Alvarez.

Gary Cahill has only one year left on his contract at Bolton Wanderers, and if the reports in The London Evening Standard are to be believed he is eventually going to sign for Arsenal. Arsenal's defensive woes from set pieces were well chronicled last season, and Cahill could possibly be the man to cure those problems. Arsenal aren't the only team interested in Cahill and if a bidding war ensues it could end anywhere.

Arsenal could sign Cahill on a free transfer next summer and use the money to buy a defender from elsewhere this year. I would be very surprised if Wenger broke Arsenal's transfer record to sign Cahill, but if he feels he is the right man for Arsenal he will pursue him. If Cahill can become the man to win headers and marshall Arsenal's defence at set pieces it will be money well spent.

Christopher Samba has been linked with Arsenal for quite a while now, as their need for a central defender with Premier League experience is well known. The Lancashire Telegraph is the latest paper to report Arsenal's interest in the player, and apparently they're not the only ones prepared to take a chance on him. Like Cahill he is seen as a ball winning centre back, and his height would be a real boost for Arsenal's inability to defend set pieces.

He's 27 years old which means he's at the prime of his career for the next few years, and Arsenal need players who are in their prime. If Arsenal can sort out their defensive problems from set pieces they can expect to have a real chance of winning trophies next season. Samba has the necessary attributes to sort out those problems, but whether he possesses the skill or pace to play against the top teams is another matter.

I would be reasonably happy if Arsenal signed either Cahill or Samba, but if Wenger can find an experienced international centre back I think he won't sign either of them. It's not an easy task  for him, but I'm sure he has his scouts searching for the player he needs. Neither Cahill or Samba has any Champions League experience and internationally they're not exactly experienced either which will probably lessen their chances of signing for Arsenal.

Of all the transfer rumours for Arsenal so far this summer I think they are the five players most likely to sign, but I would be surprised if Wenger signs so many players. There have been just as many rumours about players leaving Arsenal, but they're something to deal with on another day. 

Arsenal have some very serious business to do in the transfer window, and if they're not careful their team could emerge in a much weaker position. The additions of some defenders might help to strengthen the team, but if both Nasri and Cesc leave it will seriously affect the team's attacking capabilities. Some of the players linked to them have plenty of potential, but I do not consider any of them to be a match for either of those players.

There are plenty of Arsenal fans who feel both Nasri and Cesc should be sold, as they have not shown loyalty to the club in their opinions. If Arsenal sell those two players and replace them with Mata, Alvarez, and Gervinho I cannot see how it will do anything but make the team worse. They would be selling two players approaching their prime, and replacing them with potential.

The current opinion among Arsenal fans is the club needs to replace potential with the finished article, but those three attacking players would all be the opposite of that. I sincerely hope both Cesc and Nasri stay, but if they are sold Arsenal need to replace them with real quality. I will only be really excited about potential signings when the players linked are good enough to improve the team.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at what Mata can do.

See You Tomorrow.

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Arsenal's Transfer Targets Mount As July 1st Draws Closer.

As the crucial date of July 1st draws nearer the rumours involving Arsenal and potential targets are hotting up. At the moment transfers are only possible between Arsenal and other English clubs, but on July 1st the door opens between them and the rest of Europe. The need for new players at Arsenal has been declared by manager Arsene Wenger, and it's well known to every single one of their fans too.

Of course Arsenal are notoriously slow in completing transfers, and with only eight days to go to the official opening of the window they should really be in negotiations with players and clubs already.  

Moussa Sissiko is a player that has been linked with Arsenal in the past, and if the reports on Talksport are to be believed they are interested in signing him again. He's a central midfielder who can play either a defensive or an attacking role. At only 22 years he's not exactly as experienced a player as Arsenal might need, but he has been very impressive for his French club Toulouse.

Comparisons have been drawn between him and Patrick Vieira and it's easy to see why, as they are of a similar build and play in the same position. Arsenal's need to sign a player to cover for and compete with Alex Song is well known, and Sissoko looks to have all the attributes to do just that. His lack of experience might count against him, but there aren't too many other candidates to fill the role available to Arsenal.

Wenger has signed so many young players from France over the years that any player from that country becomes a real possibility when mentioned. I would prefer to see Arsenal sign some real quality and experience to compete with and play alongside Song at times, but if the right player cannot be found Sissoko is a real alternative. He should be available at a reasonable price too, and that always seems to be a factor with Arsenal.

Jose Enrique has a year left on his current contract at Newcastle, and he had a pretty good season at left back for them. Arsenal's current left back is Gael Clichy, but he has only one year left on his contract too and apparently he wants a move if the reports in the Mail are to be believed. I can't honestly say that I think he's any better than Clichy, but if Clichy does leave Arsenal will have to find a replacement and according to the Metro they are interested in Enrique.

It was hoped that Kieran Gibbs would be the player to step up and replace Clichy, but he has become so injury prone that his progress has been severely hampered. He needs to get a full season under his belt and that might have to be on loan at another club which would necessitate Arsenal signing a new left back if Clichy leaves. Enrique has Premier League experience and he is a better option than Gibbs at the moment in my opinion, but I don't think he is the solution for Arsenal.

If Clichy does leave Arsenal I think they need to find a replacement who can perform at a higher level than Enrique, and spend the money that is required to get a quality replacement. Clichy hasn't been at his best for a couple of seasons, but Enrique would not be an improvement and Arsenal have to look to be improving their team.

Jose Manuel Jurado has been linked to Arsenal in The Sun, and he is seen as one of the men responsible for helping Schalke 04 reach the Champions League semi finals last season. He is primarily an attacking midfielder, but he can play in a wide role or off the main striker as well. He will be 25 years old in a few days, and he would seem to fit the bill for the type of attacking player Arsenal are looking for.

He has played for both Madrid clubs and Real Mallorca in the past, but he seems to have saved his best performances for Schalke last season. He has only been with them for one season, and according to the report in The Sun Arsenal are looking to buy him for less than Schalke paid last summer. I can't imagine that Schalke would allow one of their star performers to leave for less money after only one season, but stranger things have happened in football.

Joey Barton is seen as the bad boy of English football, and it's a reputation he fully deserves. His off field actions have landed him in jail and he appears to be no more than a thug at best, but according to the Telegraph Arsenal are contemplating a move for him. Like so many other players he has only one year left on his contract, and Newcastle will have to sell him rather than let him go on a free transfer next summer.

He claims to be cleaning up his life, but I have no doubt that there is plenty more to come from Barton. It was his challenge on Abu Diaby which led to Newcastle's comeback from 4-0 down to Arsenal in February 2011, and he is a player who cannot be trusted in my opinion. Arsenal need to add some aggression to their game, but signing Barton would be a mistake in my opinion.

The aggression he would add would not have a positive affect on the team and I don't believe his off field problems are fully behind him either. I can't imagine Arsene Wenger would want to sign a convicted criminal who has assaulted a team mate as well as various members of the public in cowardly fashions.

Raphael Varane is a 19 year old defender who plays with Lens in France, and Arsenal were apparently interested in signing him. However it appears that they have lost out to Real Madrid according to the Metro, and it's probably not a bad thing. Arsenal need to sign a central defender with experience of the Premier League and not another promising young talent which is all Varane is at the moment.

There is still no further firm news on other supposed Arsenal targets such as Gervinho, Christopher Samba, Gary Cahill, and Peter Odemwinige, but speculation is rife that one or all of them will be signed within a matter of hours, days or weeks depending on what you believe. As always Wenger will play his cards close to his chest, and all transfers will only be absolutely certain when they are announced on Arsenal.com. It does look like it will be a very interesting and busy transfer window for Arsenal fans though, as soon as the ball gets rolling.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at young Arsenal player Ryo Miyachi's first goal on loan at Feyenoord.

See You Tomorrow.

Arsenal News, Fixtures, And Transfers Update.

Since the season ended things have been a little quiet on the Arsenal front, but slowly that is starting to change as the return to pre-season draws closer by the day. The Premier League fixtures were released last week, and Arsenal's new kit for 2011/12 went on sale the week before that. There is still talk of exits for up to eight different Arsenal players, as well as numerous players being linked with a move to Arsenal.

The only actual transfer so far has been the acquisition of 19 year old right back Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic, but there is a distinct possibility of the arrival of two more players this week. Arseblog News has today run a story where Arsenal are said to have inquired about the availability of Queens Park Rangers star player Adel Taarabt. He was the Championship player of the season last season, and he will be plying his trade with QPR in the Premier League this season unless he is sold.

I'm sure QPR will do all they can to keep him, as it would make no sense to sell their best player after getting promoted to the Premier League. I have seen him play a couple of times and he is certainly a very talented player, but whether he would be good enough to play for Arsenal or not is another question. I'm sure Arsene Wenger has spread his net as far as possible, and Taarabt is only one of many players he is considering for Arsenal.

The rumours about the possible arrivals of Gary Cahill, Christopher Samba, Joey Barton and Jermaine Defoe still abound, but I can only see Arsenal signing either Cahill or Samba. I would be very surprised if Wenger had a real interest in Barton or Defoe, but you never know what will happen when it comes to football transfers. I cannot see how either player could improve the current Arsenal squad, and in my opinion the money Arsenal have could be spent better elsewhere.


If the rumours in the Daily Mirror are to be believed Arsenal will make their first major signing of the transfer window in the next couple of days with the arrival of Gervinho from French double winners Lille. He's a player who could possibly do quite well in the Premier League, but personally I would prefer to see Arsenal move for his team mate Eden Hazard. Both players are capable of playing in a wide role and Gervinho can probably slot in as a striker too if needed.

With the return to pre-season training approaching rapidly I expect Arsenal to start adding the players they need to their squad very soon. In only 23 days time Arsenal their first friendly, as they play against a Malaysia XI in Malaysia. It's a change from their usual routine of training in Austria, but they are aware of the need to make an appearance in Asia to appease their large support in that part of the world.

Only three days after that game Arsenal will play a game in China before returning returning to Europe to play Cologne. After that game it's the Emirates Cup and then a trip to Benfica a week before the Premier League campaign starts. Arsenal will have five games in August as they play Newcastle United, Liverpool, and Manchester United in the league, and they have the two legs of their Champions League qualifier sandwiched between those games.

The trip to Newcastle is a good chance for Arsenal to lay the ghost of last season's 4-4 draw to rest. That game was probably the one which started their decline last season, and a commanding performance and win on the day would be a great boost for morale.  Arsenal have not lost an opening day Premier League fixture in 10 years, and hopefully they can extend that by another year against Newcastle.

The games against Liverpool and United will be early indicators of Arsenal's title chances, and with their two Champions League qualifying games in between those two games it will make things hard for Arsenal. After the United game there is the first international break of the season before Arsenal play at home to Swansea, and I'm hoping to make a trip to London for that game myself. The TV games haven't been picked yet, but once they are announced I'll be looking to book my flights and hotel with the match ticket to come as soon as they're available to Red members.

It would appear Cesc Fabregas will be staying at Arsenal for at least one more season, as Barcelona have confirmed they will not be increasing their offer from last year. In their bizarre world they reckon that his value has actually decreased because he is a year older. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Barcelona only have a chance of buying Cesc if they offer the going rate, and that must be in the region of €50 million in my opinion.

They can talk all they want of Barcelona DNA in Cesc, or of how they don't really need him, but unless they stump up the money he will remain an Arsenal player. Even if they can get over themselves and offer a realistic amount for Cesc Arsenal can still turn them down, and there is every possibility of that happening. Cesc's statistics from last season proved he was yet again the most creative player in the top five leagues in Europe, and players like that cost a lot of money.

His season may have been hampered by injuries, but when he played there was no player better than him at making chances for his team mates. Barcelona are the best team in the world, but they are kidding nobody when they say there is no place in their team for him. He might not start every single game if he joins, but he would seriously improve the overall strength of their team and their squad.

There still doesn't seem to be any move towards settling the contract issues with Samir Nasri, and it's getting very close to the stage where Arsenal will have to place him on the transfer list. If they cannot reach an agreement with him he will have to be sold, as they cannot afford to see him leave on a free transfer next summer. It would be a shame if he is sold, but it will be of his own doing, and it could be a very bad career move for him in my opinion. 

The club released three young players last week and I can only hope Mark Randall, Thomas Cruise, and Roarie Deacon can find new clubs for themselves as soon as possible. There's a fine margin between becoming a successful professional footballer and sliding into oblivion, but I hope all three of them can make a good career for themselves elsewhere. With more players coming through the Arsenal academy every year room has to be made in the reserve and youth team squads, and those three players were the ones to suffer.

There have been plenty of reports of interest in Nicklas Bendtner, Gael Clichy, Denilson, and Carlos Vela, but as it stands Arsenal have not sold any of their first team squad. It's possible that Sebastien Squillaci, Emmanuel Eboue, Manuel Almunia, and Tomas Rosicky could be on the move too, but it all depends on the right  clubs making the right offers for the players. With Arsenal's squad players earning so much money it might not be easy to offload some of those players, but hopefully some business can be done over the next few weeks.

If most of those players are not at the club next season I don't think it would be a bad thing, as I genuinely can't see what most of them can add to the first team. I can't imagine that they will all be sold though, and it wouldn't surprise me if most of them still remain and make the occasional appearance next season too.


Finally for today according to the Telegraph and other papers Arsenal are apparently considering a move for Inter Milan and Cameroon star striker Samuel Eto'o. He would be a real fantasy signing for Arsenal if they could manage to capture him, but I don't see how they could afford to pay his wages. I hope I'm wrong and he signs very soon, but personally I can't see it happening. 

That's it for today.

Here's  a look at how good Cesc is.

See You Tomorrow.

Five Defenders Linked To Arsenal This Summer.

Arsenal's defence had it's fair share of problems last season, and it's obvious to one and all that reinforcements in that area are needed for them this summer. As a result quite a number of defenders have been linked to them this summer, and I'll attempt to run through the talents of some of those. I will also try to rate their chances of joining Arsenal, and what impact they might have on the team if they do sign.

Christopher Samba:
Christopher Samba has been linked with Arsenal on numerous occasions since the season ended, and if the rumours on Sky Sports among others are to believed Arsenal are currently very interested in signing him. The logic behind Arsenal's interest would seem to be that Arsenal need a tall, ball winning centre back, and Samba fits the bill perfectly. He has plenty of Premier League experience, and his strength in the air is there for all to see.

Blackburn Rovers have already sold one of their centre backs in the current transfer window, and they might not be keen to sell another. However, Samba would surely see a chance to join Arsenal as a real progression in his career, and I would be surprised if he decided to stay with Blackburn. He's 27 years old and he should be right at the peak of his career at the moment.

Arsenal showed some interest in Samba in the January transfer window, but he extended his contract at Blackburn despite earlier stating his desire to leave them. If Arsenal were to sign Samba he could be the player they need to strengthen their defence from set pieces, and his ability to add a few goals of his own would be much appreciated too. I don't know if he would be the ideal player to play in Champions League games, but against the more agricultural Premier League teams he would be a real asset.

Gary Cahill:
Gary Cahill has only one year left on his contract at Bolton Wanderers, and if they don't sell him the chances are he will leave on a free transfer next summer. He has been linked to Arsenal in The Mirror along with quite a few other publications, and like Samba he's seen as a ball winning centre back. He's a couple of inches shorter than Samba, but his ability in the air can't be doubted.

He would also help to improve Arsenal's chances of reducing the amount of goals they concede from set pieces, but I would be surprised if they cough up the money Bolton are currently asking for. He has a buy out clause of £17 million in his contract, but if Bolton try to hold out for that fee they might not be able to sell him. Arsene Wenger waited for an extra year before signing Marouane Chamakh so that he could get him on a free transfer, and he might well be tempted to do the same with Cahill.

I think Cahill would be a valuable addition to the Arsenal squad, but I think Wenger will only sign one experienced centre back. Like Samba he has plenty of Premier League experience, and that's exactly what Arsenal are looking for at the moment. I would be surprised if Arsenal will meet Bolton's valuation for the player, but if they can come to a compromise he might be an Arsenal player very soon.

Mamadou Sakho:
Mamadou Sakho has been linked with Arsenal for a while, and according to The Daily Mail he could be a target in the current transfer window. Sakho is a tough tackling central defender who can also play at left back if needed, and he would seem to have all the right attributes to play in the Premier League. He has been very impressive for PSG in France, but at only 21 he might not have the experience which is essential to Arsenal.

If he is a target for Arsenal he would probably have to compete with the current crop of centre backs at the club, and he might not fit the bill as a ball winning centre back. I have no doubt that he is very talented and he will be a real star of the future, but Arsenal need players to make a difference to their team immediately.  Despite his young age Sakho has been a regular first team player for PSG for three seasons, and he has been very impressive for them.

I don't think Arsenal will sign Sakho this summer, but if they do it will be as a player to be gradually brought into the first team. Arsenal have three very good central defenders already, and Sakho's lack of experience will probably mean Wenger decides against signing him.

Leighton Baines:
Leighton Baines had a very good season at left back for Everton, and he was linked to Arsenal in The News Of The World, as well as other publications. He managed five goals and11 assists in the Premier League last season, and he is seen s a possible replacement for Gael Clichy. Clichy is in the last year of his contract and it seems he might decide not to sign another one.

If Clichy won't sign a new contract a replacement will have to be found for him, and quite a few Arsenal fans think Baines is the man to fill that role. The majority of his assists were converted by Tim Cahill's head, and Arsenal don't really have a player like Cahill. In my opinion the most important job for any defender is his defending, and I'm not sure Baines is up to scratch in that department.

Baines is the right age to fit the profile for Arsenal and he's an Englishman too, but he is no taller than Andrey Arshavin. I would prefer to see Arsenal sign a left back with better defending skills and who is at least three inches taller than Baines if Clichy leaves. Kieran Gibbs would hope to be promoted to the role, but it would be a big risk to depend on a player with so little experience and who is also so injury prone.

Alexander Milosevic:
Alexander Milosevic is a 19 year old left back who plays for AIK Solna in Sweden, and according to The Sun Arsenal are favourites to sign him.  He has only played for AIK's first team for one full season and he hardly fits the bill for experienced players that Arsenal need. If Arsenal are going to sign him I can only imagine it is as a player for the future.

It would be asking an awful lot of Milosevic to expect him to step up to play for Arsenal's first team, but he certainly looks to have all the necessary attributes to make it in the Premier League. If Clichy leaves I think Arsenal will sign an experienced left back, but they might also decide to sign Milosevic as one for the future. He should be available at a reasonable price, and that's the sort of money Arsenal will be prepared to spend on a potential star of the future.

The chances are Arsenal will sign either Cahill or Samba as the central defender their team needs so badly at times, and they might possibly sign Milosevic too in my opinion. I would be surprised if Baines was a real target for Arsenal, and I just don't know if there is any truth behind the rumours about Sakho.

Arsenal should have Thomas Vermaelen available for next season, and that should be a real boost for their defence, but it still needs some real strengthening in my opinion. Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny both have loads of potential, and they both looked very good on a number of occasions last season. However, Arsenal need to bring in players to improve their defending at set pieces and their options in defence too.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at how good Vermaelen was in his first season at Arsenal.

See You Tomorrow.

What Does The Future Hold For Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas?

Cesc Fabregas is Arsenal's captain, star player, and highest earner, and as usual this summer the rumours about his future are in full flow. He left Barcelona as a 16 year old in 2003 to join Arsenal, and ever since his emergence as a World Class player they have wanted him back. It's easy for them to forget that they weren't overly concerned at losing him at the time, or he would have stayed with his home town club which he loved.

However, Cesc left Barcelona  to join Arsenal in September 2003 as a 16 year old, and at the time he would hardly have guessed how quickly he would make an impact. He became the youngest player ever to play for Arsenal only a month later, and he followed that by becoming Arsenal's youngest goalscorer before the turn of the year. His league debut came the next season, and he also became Arsenal's youngest ever league goalscorer.

He gradually made himself a vitally important part of the Arsenal team, and even though he only turned 24 last month he has already played more than 300 times for the club. He has also played over 50 games for Spain despite having some of the best players in the world to compete against for a place. There is a commonly held view that he would only get to sit on the bench if he signed for Barcelona, but the amount of his appearances for Spain would suggest otherwise.

Cesc has made no secret of his love for Arsenal, and his appreciation for the part Arsene Wenger has played in him becoming one of the best players in the world. He wants to win trophies at Arsenal, but since his FA Cup medal of 1995 the cupboard has been bare. I'm sure Cesc would love to stay at Arsenal, and win a host of trophies for himself and the team.

Unfortunately from Arsenal's perspective Cesc also has a love for his former club, as he has supported them since he was a child. His family are all Barcelona fans too, and the draw of playing for the best team in the world has to be enormous for him. If he had the opportunity to rejoin Barcelona I'm sure he would take it, as long as Arsenal sanction the move.

He has given everything he has to Arsenal for the last eight years, and his commitment cannot be questioned in my opinion. His return for the last two seasons has not been quite up to the standard expected, but that's down to the terrible run of injuries he has had. When he has played he has given everything he has to the cause, but he needs the rest he is getting this summer if he ios going to continue his progress.

Having played in international tournaments with Spain for the last three summers Cesc has had no chance to rest, and it has led to a host of niggling injuries over the last two seasons. He only just managed to recover from a broken leg to play in the World Cup last summer, and then Spain went on to win the tournament. It meant he had virtually no break from football, and he only managed to start half of Arsenal's games as a result.

Barcelona spent all of last summer doing everything they could to unsettle Cesc, and it looked like it might have worked too. They made Arsenal an offer for his services, but Arsenal deemed the offer insufficient, and told them Cesc was not for sale at any price. Cesc took the decision from Arsenal very well, and he gave everything he had when he played for them.

They have already started their campaign to unsettle him again this summer, and the chances are they will make another offer well below his actual value. If Arsenal are going to sell Cesc to Barcelona it will only be for the price that the market decides, and that market is on an upward spiral at the moment. Cesc is still a few years away from his peak, and he has plenty of time left on his contract so Barcelona will have to offer at least €50 million in my opinion.

Even if Barcelona offer the going rate Arsenal can still decide to keep Cesc, and I would be surprised if Cesc objects to any decision the club makes. Arsenal can make it easier for him to stay if they go out and sign the players they need to sustain their challenge right through to the end of next season. At the moment the club are talking about doing just that, and hopefully they can find the right players at the right prices.

For the good of Arsenal the decision on Cesc's future has to be decided very soon so that plans for next season can be finalised. Wenger has said Cesc is going nowhere, and the club will do all they can to keep him as an Arsenal player. Hopefully Barcelona will get that message and back off, but I doubt it very much.

The best scenario for Arsenal might just be if Barcelona put in a realistic offer for Cesc, and Arsenal still reject it. It will leave Barcelona in doubt about Arsenal's intentions, and maybe everybody can move on then. However, I doubt if anything will make Barcelona go away, or if they will actually come up with a reasonable offer.

There are some Arsenal fans who think Cesc should be sold and the money should be used to strengthen the team, but I would like to know who they think the money should be spent on. There is no player in the Premier League I would prefer to have in the Arsenal team than Cesc, and there are very few in the whole world. Those that are good enough to adequately replace him are either out of Arsenal's price range, or Arsenal cannot afford their wages.

Of course if Cesc does go the club will go on, but I think the team might have to adapt to a different style of play without him. That may not necessarily  be a bad thing, as the current style hasn't brought about any real success. No player is irreplaceable, but that's not a good enough reason to sell Arsenal's best player.

Cesc has shown over the last eight years how committed to the Arsenal cause he is, and he has earned the right to leave the club if he so wishes. I just hope he feels he has enough unfinished business at Arsenal to encourage him to stay and fulfill his potential and that of the team too.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at the great goal Cesc scored against The Spuds in 2009/10.

See You Tomorrow.

Five Arsenal Youngsters Looking To Make The Breakthrough Next Season.

A lot has been made of the need for Arsenal to buy some experienced players this summer to strengthen their team for the challenges ahead. Yet again last season Arsenal failed at the final hurdle, and it seemed like the team just didn't have the experience required to keep their challenge going. I'm sure Arsene Wenger will do his utmost to tackle those issues this summer, and bring in the players the squad obviously needs.

It has to be remembered that Arsenal have a very strong youth set up, and there are plenty of young players looking to make the breakthrough into the senior squad too. Last season Jack Wilshere, Wojciech Szczesny, and Johan Djourou all played very big parts in the first team, and they had 110 appearances between them. Each of those players would have been seen as players with potential at this time last year, and when their chances arrived they all too them.

Arsenal have quite a few young players who could be currently viewed in the same light as those three were at this time last year, and I will attempt to judge the chances of five of them making their breakthrough in 2011/12. Of course each player Arsenal sign will hamper the chances of those youngsters to make the step up, but I hope they can still do enough to make a name for themselves.

Ryo Miyaichi:

Ryo Miyaichi joined Arsenal straight from school in Japan in January 2011 after impressing on trial with them. He was very quickly loaned out to Feyenoord in Holland, and in the 12 games he played for them last season he was very impressive. He managed three goals and four assists in those games, and his style gave rise to the Dutch media calling him "Ryodinho".

He is only 18 years old and he still has a lot to learn, but his raw talent looks like it could take him a long way. As with any player from outside the European Union there might be difficulties obtaining a work permit, but if Arsenal can sort out the paperwork he could make a big impact next season. Arsenal are in need of a winger who can take defenders on and beat them, and Miyaichi fits the bill perfectly.

Hopefully the Arsenal fans will get to see him ply his trade in the Premier League next season, and thrill them as he turns defenders inside out.

Henri Lansbury:

Henri Lansbury is a very highly rated midfielder who joined Arsenal from Norwich City at a very young age in 1999. He spent much of last season on loan to Norwich, and he helped them to gain promotion to the Premier League in the process. He is now 20 years old, and he's approaching the age where he needs to make the step up to the Arsenal first team squad.

His progress was hampered a couple of seasons ago by a bout of glandular fever, and despite making a relatively quick recover it's possible that it is still affecting him slightly. Over the last three seasons he has racked up almost 100 appearances on loan to Scunthorpe United, Watford and Norwich, and he managed 14 goals and 14 assists in the process. He is definitely the most experienced of the five players, and this quite simply has to be his breakthrough season.

He played once for the first team last season, and he was by no means out of place as he scored in a 4-1 Carling Cup victory away to Tottenham Hotspur. I think he should be given some opportunities as part of a full strength team where he can show how easily he can fit in with Arsenal's style of play.

Kyle Bartley:

Arsenal signed Kyle Bartley from Bolton Wanderers in 2007 when he was only 16 years old, and he has gradually progressed over the last four years. He is a tall and strong centre back who can also play in a defensive midfield role if required. Over the last couple of seasons he has been loaned out to both Sheffield United and Glasgow Rangers, and he has impressed at both clubs.

He learned to play football the hard way at a struggling Sheffield United, but he was still impressive in his central defensive role. When he was loaned to Rangers he was deployed in a defensive midfield role, and he was making a great impression when his season was ended by injury. A few teams are keen on taking the 20 year old on loan next season, but he has made it clear he feels it's time for him to progress at Arsenal.

If Arsenal fail to find suitable cover for Alex Song he could be the man to take the role despite his lack of games in that position. He has the physicality needed to play the position, and he was very impressive in doing so for Rangers. Like so many others his chances might just depend on how Arsenal fare in the transfer market, or on injuries to other players at crucial times.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas:

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas joined Arsenal when he was only seven years old, and now at the age of 20 he is another player who will feel it is time for him to make an impression in the first team. He has spent much of the last two seasons on loan at Blackpool, Doncaster Rovers, and Blackpool, and he has impressed at times with those clubs. His attitude has also been called into question at times too, and he needs to work a lot harder on his game if he is to be a star of the future.

He started last season in spectacular form for Arsenal's reserves with 10 goals in his first six games, and he seemed destined to make an impact in the first team. Unfortunately his first team appearances were restricted to brief cameos as a substitute, and his form for the reserves seemed to suffer as a result. In January he was loaned to Cardiff, and he went on to make 16 appearances for them as they lost out in the promotion play offs.

He is a very talented player with bags of potential, but there have been rumours of attitude problems at times. If he can get his head down and work really hard there is no reason why he cannot make a huge impact for Arsenal. However, if he doesn't get his chance this season he might possibly decide that his future lies elsewhere.

Francis Coquelin:

Francis Coquelin is a 20 year old midfielder who joined Arsenal in 2008 from Stade Lavallois in France. His appearances for Arsenal have been few and far between so far, but on his last appearance at right back against Stoke City he looked out of his depth. Since then he has spent a season on loan with Lorient in France where he made 25 appearances.

Most of those games were played in midfield and he would look to be the most likely player to cover for Alex Song next season. At the moment Arsenal have no experienced cover for Song, but Emmanuel Frimpong was thought to be the man to fill the role last season. His season long injury means he has not played in almost a year, but Coquelin spent that time gaining valuable experience in the top flight of French football.

If Arsenal decide to keep Coquelin at the club next season he is the man most likely to fill in when Song is injured or rested, as he has the experience of playing that role at a high level already. It's up to the player to show what he can do when the chances come his way, and if he can do that Coquelin could have a long and fruitful career ahead of him at Arsenal. However, like so many other players he will know that his future at Arsenal will be in serious doubt if he fails to take the chances when they arrive.

And Finally:

Arsenal won the FA Youth Cup in 2009, and four of those players were part of that team. The only player not involved in both games was Miyaichi, as he was still playing in Japan at the time. That Arsenal team were very impressive in the winning the trophy, and it's getting to the stage where some of the players from that team need to make an impression in the first team.

Jack Wilshere was also a member of that team, and he played 49 times in Arsenal's first team last season. He will be seen as the yardstick for any of those players to measure themselves against, but he will be a hard act to follow. I hope all five of them can make a real impression on the first team next season, and give Wenger some real selection headaches.

That's it for today.

Here's  a look at why JET is rated so highly.

See You Tomorrow

10 Games That Defined Arsenal's Failure In 2010/11.

With the season now three weeks over it's time for me to look at some of the games which defined Arsenal's failure in 2010/11. Arsenal suffered 14 defeats in their 58 games, and some of those games defeats were very hard to take for a number of reasons. Not all of the games I will look at were defeats, as there are two draws and even one victory in there too.

1: Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal (Premier League Feb 5 2011)
 
This was the game when Arsenal's season started to go wrong in my opinion. It showed the good side of Arsenal, but also the bad side too. I still find it hard to come to terms with the events of that day, and hoe both teams went down in Premier League history.

Arsenal played beautiful attacking football throughout the first half, and cruised into a 4-0 lead with Newcastle looking dead and buried. The football Arsenal played in that first half was some of the best they had played all season, and goals from Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou, and a brace from Robin Van Persie looked like they had secured an easy away win. The second half started off much the same, but things turned when Djourou limped injured in the 49th minute.

Alex Song wasn't playing that day, and Abu Diaby had performed admirably in his position in the first half. However, shortly after Sebasten Squillaci had replaced Djourou things changed when Diaby took exception to a typical bone crunching over the ball Joey Barton challenge. Diaby pushed Barton in front of the referee, and he was given a straight red card with no action taken over Barton's challenge which also should have been a straight red in my opinion.

Arsenal still managed to hold out for another 20 minutes, and halfway through the second half they were still 4-0 up. A few years ago Arsenal mastered the art of winning when they were down to 10 men by hitting their opponents on the break, but the current Arsenal team don't have that mental strength. Newcastle pulled their first goal back through a penalty in the 68th minute, and the fear was visible in the eyes of the Arsenal players.

Newcastle managed three more goals in the last fifteen minutes, as Arsenal put up a defensive display worthy of a team three leagues below them. Certain players were found very wanting that day, and they will never be viewed the same way by Arsenal fans again. As a lifelong Arsenal fan I will always love and support the team, but unfortunately all but the most blind Arsenal fans knew that the current squad was capable of capitulating in that manner.

I hope I never again see Arsenal put up a display like they did in the second half of that game.

2: Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League November 20 2010).
 
This was another game which was a tale of two halves, as Arsenal led 2-0 at the interval and ended up losing 3-2. Sice Arsene Wenger took over at Arsenal in 1996 Spurs have not actually been footballing rivals to Arsenal, as the rivalry has been due to the proximity of the clubs more than anything else. In those 15 years Spurs have never finished above Arsenal in the league, and it's something the Arsenal fans are very proud of.
 
They had managed to beat Arsenal for the first time in 10 years at the end of the previous season, but that was an away game for Arsenal. They came to the Emirates and they were outplayed in the first half with the goals coming from Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh. Arsenal fans looked forward to more of the same in the second half, but it was not to be.

The second half saw Arsenal start very slowly and they just couldn't get out of that groove for the remainder of the game. Gareth Bale scored an early goal, and that was followed midway through the half by a Rafael Van Der Vaart penalty. As the minutes ticked by it became inevitable that Spurs would score, and the goal came with only four minutes left.

Like so many other Arsenal fans I was disgusted by the team in the second half, and no excuse could be offered for their failure in a game which clearly meant more to the fans than the players. I hoped it was finally the game in which lessons would be learned, and it looked like it might have been until the last few months of the season. Arsenal have since drawn away to Spurs in the league which means they have failed to beat them in their last three league encounters.

It's a situation which cannot be allowed to carry on, and the players have to be seen to be willing to die for the cause the next time the clubs meet. It may have been 50 years since Spurs won a league title and Arsenal may have won six titles in that time, but it still hurts when we don't beat them. The manner of the 3-2 defeat was completely unacceptable, and it cannot be allowed to happen again.

3: Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham City (Carling Cup final February 27 2011). 
 
This was supposed to be the game where the current Arsenal team made the breakthrough, and finally won a trophy after almost six barren years. They were without the services of the injured Cesc Fabregas, but at least RVP was playing and in great goalscoring form. Birmingham took the lead, but Arsenal fought back through that man RVP, and started to turn the screw.

As the game wore on Birmingham's goalkeeper made save after save to keep them in the game, but surely it was only a matter of time before Arsenal got the winner. However, in true Arsenal fashion things took a dramatic turn for the worse in the 89th minute. A harmless ball into the Arsenal box was destined for the arms of Wojciech Szczesny until Laurent Koscielny swung a leg at it, and deflected it straight to Obafemi Martins who had the simple task of prodding it into an empty net.

I don't think Arsenal fans will ever know exactly what happened between Szczesny and Koscielny, but it looked to me like the keeper had called for the ball and Koscielny should have left it to him. It gave Arsenal no time to recover, and their season effectively ended on that day, as the players were unable to recover from the disappointment. From what should have been joy for the Arsenal fans their season turned to despair.

4: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Arsenal (Champions League November 3 2010).
 
Arsenal had won their first three Champions League group games with ease, and they merely needed to see the last three games out to top their group. A draw away to Shakhtar would probably have been enough to secure first place, and a win would have virtually guaranteed it. However, the manager decided to play a weakened team against a side notoriously difficult to play awy to, and Arsenal took nothing from the game.

The signs were good early on, as Theo Walcott streaked away to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute, but by half time they were 2-1 down. It hurt even more when ex Arsenal player Eduardo da Silva scored the second goal, but it was no more than Shakhtar deserved. I firmly believe that Arsenal would have won their group if a stronger team had been played, and it could have made things a lot easier for them in the knockout stages.

They came into the game on the back of five consecutive wins in all competitions, but they went on to lose in the Premier League at home to Newcastle in the next game as well. The players who were rested against Shakhtar failed to do the business against Newcastle, and Arsenal suffered as a result. I hoped the manager had learned his lesson, but clearly the team picked in their next Champions League game proved me wrong.


5: Braga 2-0 Arsenal (Champions League November 23 2010).
 
Arsenal had lost their previous Champions League group game away to Shakhtar, but they still had the chance to win the group by getting a result from this game. Braga are a good team at home, and Arsenal needed a strong team to get a result from this game. A draw would have guaranteed qualification for the last 16, and a win would have almost guaranteed that they won their group.

However, the boss yet again fielded a weakened team, and once more it came back to haunt him. Arsenal had lost at home to Spurs the previous Saturday, and it was not a good idea to field a weakened team yet again in the Champions League. On the night Arsenal probably deserved at least a draw, but Braga won the game with two goals in the last ten minutes, as Arsenal were looking for a win themselves.

I could argue that Arsenal should have had a clear penalty given when the scores were level, or that they only had 10 men on the pitch after Emmanuel Eboue went off injured with all of the substitutes used already. However, the fact remains that Arsenal would have had a much better chance of winning the game with a full strength team, and the boss chose not to play one. The decision was his and his alone, and it ended up giving Arsenal the most difficult tie of all in the last 16 against Barcelona.

6: Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal (Champions League March 8 2011).
 
Arsenal had beaten Barcelona 2-1 in the home leg of their last 16 tie, and they needed to put in a fantastic performance to make it through to the last eight. There were a few crucial decisions on the night, but the most crucial one of all may have been the inclusion of Cesc in the starting 11 for Arsenal. He had picked up an injury at home to Stoke City only two weeks earlier, and he clearly wasn't fit to play.

Apparently it was his decision to play that night, and I'm sure he still regrets it now after his mistake handed Barcelona their first goal. Arsenal needed 11 players who could give everything they had for the whole 90 minutes, but Cesc had very little to offer for the 76 minutes he lasted. At that stage  Arsenal were 3-1 down and they needed to find a goal from somewhere to progress to the next round.

Of course that wasn't the only disappointing event on a night in which the darlings of UEFA proved yet again that they are exempt from the rules other teams have to play under. The ludicrous sending off of RVP by a referee who has never refereed a losing Spanish team in almost 30 games was no surprise at all, and the constant play acting and badgering the referee by the Barcelona players was a complete disgrace.

Even with so much going against Arsenal they almost got the result they needed in the end. Nicklas Bendtner had a great chance in the very last minute to put Arsenal through on away goals, but he wasted it with a poor first touch and Arsenal were out. It also has to be remembered that Arsenal were winning the tie early in the second half, and dealing with Barcelona's non stop attacking until RVP was sent packing.

After that result Arsenal's season went from bad to worse, as it seemed it was just too much for the players to take following their Carling Cup final defeat.

7: Arsenal 2-3 West Bromwich Albion (Premier League September 25 2010).
 
I chose this game because it showed what was missing from Arsenal on so many occasions throughout the season. They were playing at home to a newly promoted team, and they should have had more than enough to beat them despite a few absentees. However, Arsenal simply failed to show up on the day until they were 3-0 down with 15 minutes left.

When they did finally wake up Nasri bagged a brace of goals, and they almost rescued a point. The problem to me was that Arsenal believed they would beat West Brom, and they didn't put in the effort required to do so on the day until it was too late. On various other occasions at home against supposedly lesser opponents throughout the season they did the same thing, and ultimately it was their home form which saw them slip to fourth.

It's an attitude in the Arsenal team which has to be altered, and in my opinion it will take a couple of new players to do that.

8: Wigan Athletic 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League December 29 2010).
 
Arsenal had a lot of games in quick succession over the Christmas programme, and the trip to Wigan was right after the game at home to Chelsea. Arsenal had not beaten Chelsea in a long time, and their 3-1 victory over them looked like it might be the turning point for them. They had finally managed to get the better of Chelsea, and now they needed to keep up the momentum to challenge for the league title.

Yet again the boss decided to make wholesale changes to the team, and yet again it didn't pay off. Wigan took an early lead when a dive earned them a penalty, but Arsenal fought back to lead 2-1 at half time through Andrey Arshavin and Bendtner. They never had control of the game though, and with only 10 minutes left Squillaci scored a ridiculous own goal to gift Wigan a point.


9: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool (Premier League April 17 2011). 
 
Arsenal's season was in rapid decline when Liverpool came to visit them at The Emirates. They simply had to win the game to keep their chances of winning the league title alive, and the manner in which they threw their lead away will take a long time to forget. Arsenal played very poorly on the day, but they were thrown a late lifeline when they got a penalty in the seventh minute of added time. RVP put the penalty away to give Arsenal the lead with injury time as good as over.

All that Arsenal had to do was defend for the minute or so he referee might add for the time to take the penalty and celebrated afterwards. However, Liverpool attacked straight from the kick off, and Arsenal looked visibly frightened at the prospect of conceding a goal. Liverpool got a free kick just outside the Arsenal area, and the nerves of the Arsenal fans were fraying.

The free kick hit the wall and was cleared towards the edge of the box to the right hand side. Lucas took possession for Liverpool and Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboue was the nearest man to him. With Lucas's back to goal all that Eboue had to do was shepherd him towards the sideline, and the game would have ended in an Arsenal victory.

Eboue has never been my favourite Arsenal player because I think he is a loose cannon on the pitch. He proved me exactly right by running into the back of Lucas inside the penalty area, and knocking him over to concede a penalty. Liverpool put the penalty away, and Arsenal's took yet another turn for the worse with their third draw in a row at home in the league.

10: Arsenal 1-0 Manchester United (Premier League May 1 2011). 
 
The reason I chose a win among all the defeats and draws was because of the manner of that win in the middle of Arsenal's complete collapse. United came to visit Arsenal knowing that a win would end Arsenal's chances of winning the league, and almost definitely guarantee their 19th title too. On the day they were completely outplayed, and only some poor refereeing saw Nemanja Vidic stay on the field after a first half hand ball wasn't spotted in his own penalty area.

Arsenal showed the spirit, determination and discipline that had been missing in almost every game since the Carling Cup final, and Aaron Ramsey scored the goal to give them three points. It gave some brief hope to Arsenal fans, but it was followed by only one point in their last three games. Arsenal could easily have finished second or third if they had continued the form they showed in that game, but the reasons why they didn't are the ones which infuriate their fans so much.

It's difficult to explain how the Arsenal players were able to raise themselves in the middle of that terrible run to beat the eventual champions. If they were capable of that performance on that they then why were they not capable of it against so called lesser teams. Hopefully Wenger can find the answers to that question over the summer, and the Arsenal fans can look forward to a better season starting in August.

That's it for today.

Here's the highlights of the draw away to Newcastle if you can bear to watch them.

See You Tomorrow

Arsenal Season Review 2010/11: The Attack.

It seems like an age since I started my season review, and I finally get to finish it today with my judgement on Arsenal's attack for last season. Arsenal managed to score 119 goals in all competitions last season, and that was a fairly impressive return in 58 games. I'll attempt to run through the contribution of each of their attacking players, and see if they are good enough to play at the level Arsenal aspire to.

Robin Van Persie is Arsenal's first choice striker and when he returned from the World Cup he sat out the first couple of games of the season. He made his first start away to Blackburn Rovers, but he lasted just over half an hour before his injury jinx struck again. When he returned from injury he was eased back into the team for a while, but once he returned to full fitness he showed exactly how good he is.

He only started 19 league games last season, but he managed to score 18 goals in those games. He was only three goals away from being the outright top scorer in the Premier League despite missing half of the season, and if he can somehow play a full season the sky is the limit for him. He managed 22 goals in all competitions and it was his best total in any season for Arsenal.

I love to watch RVP play as he wears his love for Arsenal on his sleeve, and Arsenal need more players with his desire and commitment. If only he wasn't so injury prone he would be the best striker in the Premier League, and one of the very best in the world. He seems to have found the ability to find space in the box to score goals from almost any position, and he has developed a great understanding with Cesc Fabregas.

On the down side RVP's free kicks were a long way from his best last season, and I think he needs to practice them a lot more. He used to be deadly from free kicks on the right hand side, but this season they have tended to go straight into the wall. It's a very minor complaint, and I'm sure it's one he will put right next season.

When Arsenal's season fell apart towards the end of the season RVP kept playing well and scoring goals. He could do no more as he carried the team all on his own at times, as he scored in Arsenal's last nine away games in a row. Hopefully he can start next season off in the form that he finished last season.

Marouane Chamakh joined Arsenal on a free transfer last summer after he saw out his contract at Bordeaux, and it was thought he would be used sparingly at first, as he eased his way into the English style of football. However, the early injury to RVP saw him take over the role as Arsenal's main striker with Nicklas Bendtner injured as well. He played very well in those games, as his goals and link up play helped to keep Arsenal in the title race.

Around the time RVP came back from injury there was a story that Chamakh was feeling fatigued from the tough half season he had. When he did get chances for the rest of the season that fatigue looked evident, as he failed to reproduce his early season form. The goals dried up for him, and he was a pale shadow of the player on display for the first half of the season.

I like Chamakh but I am not sure exactly how good he is. He lacks pace which means he tends to cut back on the ball too often, even when he is played through with only the opposing keeper to beat. His heading ability is second to none, but Arsenal are not known for their ability to put good crosses into the box.

I think Arsenal will buy another striker this summer, and Chamakh might find his chances even more limited. If that is the case he will have to take those chances when they come his way. At least he won't be complaining of fatigue if he spends a lot of time on the bench.

Nicklas Bendtner played for Denmark in the World Cup last summer despite the fact he was carrying an injury. It meant he missed out on the start of the season for Arsenal, and he also probably missed his last real chance to stake a claim for a place in the Arsenal team. If he had been fit for those early games I think he would have got his chance in his favoured position ahead of Chamakh.

When he eventually recovered from injury he spent a lot of his time playing in a wide role, and he wasn't happy with it. He has stated his desire to leave Arsenal this summer, as he wants to play first team football. I can't blame him for wanting to leave, as I can't see the point of playing him in a wide role.

He looked very ordinary at times last season, but every so often he does something which makes him look like a very good player. I was at the game against Burnley in March 2010 when he missed five or six absolute sitters, but only four days later he scored a Champions League hat trick against Porto. If he could reproduce that form on a consistent basis he might just become the player he seems to believe he is already.

Samir Nasri was absolutely fantastic for the first half of the season, as he looked to show France they were wrong not to bring him to the World Cup. With other players missing through injury or not playing at their best he was by far Arsenal's best player up until the turn of the year. If he had continued that form for the rest of the season he might well have been voted the best player in the Premier League, but his performances dipped.

It's hard to know why he didn't maintain his excellent start to the season, but there were a few possible reasons. Arsene Wenger continually played him in a wide role, but I think Nasri wanted to play Cesc's role when Cesc wasn't playing at least. However, he was played on the left of the Arsenal attacking three even when Cesc didn't play, and it may have affected his performances.

He put in some of his very best displays filling in for Cesc, and it's hard to understand why he didn't take that role every time Cesc was out. He looks like he will become the player Arsenal hoped he would be, but unfortunately he might fulfill his potential at another club. As it stands he has only one year left on his contract, and he is holding out for a huge wage rise.

If Nasri and his agent don't get the money they want the chances are Arsenal will have to sell him, or he will be able to leave on a free transfer next summer. Arsenal cannot afford to let him go on a free transfer which only leaves them with the option of selling him this summer if the issue cannot be resolved. As the days go by Arsenal fans are losing patience with Nasri, and he will soon reach the point where his apparent greed will turn them against them.

I would love to see Nasri sign a new contract and continue his progress at Arsenal, but he cannot be allowed to hold the club to ransom. He wants to be paid as much as Cesc, and he is nowhere near as good as Cesc at the moment. If he stays I'm sure he will earn even more money if he continues to improve and show more consistency, but if he goes he can be replaced.

Theo Walcott reckons he has had his bet season ever for Arsenal, and he only missed 10 of their 38 Premier League games. Only RVP and Nasri managed to score more goals that Walcott, but despite all of that he still fails to convince far too often. At times he looks world class as he streaked through on goal and finished with ease past the advancing keeper.

However, on other occasions he looked like he simply didn't know what he was doing, as he ran past defenders without the ball or just ran straight into them. He does an awful lot to help Bacary Sagna out when he plays on the right, and that part of his game cannot be overlooked. He has made it known that he would like to play as a central striker, and Wenger has said he sees that as his ideal role in the team in the long term.

Walcott would probably do even better if Arsenal had more opportunities to play on the break, but opponents tend to sit deep and invite Arsenal on to them. A lot of his impact is lost when he can't get to run in behind advancing defenders, and he did well to score the 13 goals he got last season. If he can continue to progress he can possibly become the player his potential suggested he might become, but it is by no means certain.

I hope Walcott can progress to the next level, and he is still very young. He can have a better impact against some of the better sides t times, as they are more prepared to come out and play against Arsenal. I think he has made the right side of the front three his own, and next season might just be the season for him.

Andrey Arshavin is a difficult player to figure out sometimes. He can be fantastic one minute, but he can look totally disinterested the next minute. If he was more consistent he would be one of the very best players in the Premier League in my opinion.

It can be very frustrating to see him lying on the ground after he has lost the ball, as others attempt to win it back or cover for him. He looks like he doesn't want to be on the pitch at times, as he strolls around and does very little, but suddenly he comes alive and the opposition pay the price. Like so many other Arsenal players he would prefer to play in the role just behind the striker, but it's a role he rarely gets to play.

He turned 30 last month, and the chances are he won't be at Arsenal for more than another year or two at the most. He needs to get his head down and apply himself to each and every minute he plays, but the chances are he won't always be a first choice selection. When Wenger had all of his attacking options available to him last season Arshavin spent a lot of time on the bench, and I suspect next season will be no different for him.


Carlos Vela had to spend a few seasons out on loan after Arsenal had signed him before he was able to play in England. He is a player who had massive potential when he signed, but he has rarely got the chance to show what he can do in the Arsenal team. The only games he started last season were in the Carling Cup, and he only made four substitute appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal.

He was loaned out to West Bromwich Albion in the new year, but he rarely got to start there either, and he needs to get some first team action. When he does play he is usually deployed on the left side of the front three, but his best position is a central one. He has an uncanny ability to chip the keeper when he gets the slightest chance to do so, but he appears to be sliding down the order at Arsenal.

If Bendtner leaves and another striker is signed the chances are Vela will be the fourth choice striker again, and he could even be fifth choice if Walcott is given a chance in a central role. I can't see him staying at the club too much longer if he doesn't get to play, and that would seem to be his fate. I hope he does get a chance and he takes it, but I sincerely doubt that will happen.

That's it for my summary of Arsenal's forwards for last season, and my season review is almost over too. If each player is judged individually they performed well enough last season, but as a unit Arsenal just didn't perform well enough for the whole season.

Arsenal look to finally have a goalkeeper who is good enough for a team challenging for honours, and hopefully both Szczesny and Fabianski can continue to improve. Changes have to be made to Arsenal's defence and how they defend set pieces, and I hope Wenger has the ability to bring in the players needed to make that happen.

Arsenal need to find more urgency in midfield at times, and they need to play each game as if it is their most important game of the season. There can be no more games where Arsenal simply fail to perform until the last 2o minutes, and hope to undo any damage in the later stages of the game. If Cesc stays at the club and manages to stay fit for the whole season I think the midfield will find the drive it needs.

I'm not so worried about the strikers once RVP is available, as I have a feeling next season will be his season. A suitable backup for him might need to be found in case of injury, but if he stays injury free I think Arsenal will score even more goals next season.

The season just passed can only be judged as a failure, as Arsenal failed to win a trophy, and they slipped back to fourth in the league too. There was a Carling Cup final appearance, but unfortunately a last minute mishap cost Arsenal a chance of winning that trophy.

There's a long summer ahead with plenty of transfer activity expected, but it will probably be September 1st before Arsenal's chances for next season can be assessed properly.

That's it for today.

Here's a look at RVP at his best.

See You Tomorrow.

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What Will Make Arsenal's Fans Happy?

The general consensus among Arsenal fans is that the club needs to sign two or three top class experienced players this summer. So far the only player to be signed has been Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic, but he is seen as one for the future. He was signed for a reasonable price and hopefully he can learn his trade from Bacary Sagna who is one of the best right backs in the game.

Obviously some Arsenal fans are far from happy with the purchase of Jenkinson because they want to see the experienced players signed. Manchester United signed Phil Jones from Blackburn Rivers yesterday for a fee believed to be in the region of £16 million which is an awful lot of money for a 19 year old with less than 40 league games to his name. Amazingly some Arsenal fans are of the opinion that Arsenal have missed out on a player that they should have signed.

It would seem Arsene Wenger may well have offered more money and better wages than United, but the player chose to play for United instead. In my opinion Arsenal have enough players with potential and to pay that much money for Jones is a huge gamble the club should not be taking. If the problems Arsenal are suffering in defence are to be rectified they need to buy the finished article, and Jones is far from that.

If Arsenal are going to spend that sort of money on a centre back I want him to be ready to walk straight into the team and be the player to make the difference to the defence as a whole. Jones might well be the player to play that role in a few years time, but at the moment he has potential and little else. His purchase would have prevented the purchase of the player Arsenal really need more than likely, and it certainly would not have added the experienced head needed.

There have been rumours of Christopher Samba being a target for Arsenal, but if Blackburn have sold Jones to United they are hardly likely to sell their other first choice centre back too. I'm not sure if Samba would be the answer to Arsenal's problems, but he's a lot closer to what they need than Jones is at the moment. If Arsenal are really going to buy a defender for that sort of money there are bound to be many other players to fit the bill.

The general consensus among Arsenal fans would also seem to be that the central defender they need should have plenty of Premier League experience. That would rule Jones out again, but both Samba and Bolton's Gary Cahill would fit the bill nicely. Cahill has only one year left on his contract like Arsenal's Samir Nasri, and I doubt if Bolton can afford to let him go on a free transfer next summer.

I'm not utterly convinced by Cahill either, but I think Arsenal could possibly get him for a more reasonable fee due to his contract situation. At the very worst he could be purchased for a similar price to the one Jones went for, and surely he is a better bet to step straight into the team. If Arsenal were to sign Cahill they could certainly play him against some of the more agricultural Premier League teams, but they would also have Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, and Johan Djourou available as well.

Arsenal's fans have to decide if they want to sign the players needed, or if they just want to sign any player their rivals attempt to sign. Jones would be a huge gamble, and the time for gambles is over. Arsenal cannot afford to spend a large part of their transfer budget on a player who would probably be behind the other three centre backs in the pecking order.

I think Arsenal have had a lucky escape, and hopefully the manager has signaled his intent by offering so much for Jones. He now needs to go out and find the players who will make a real difference, and sign them as soon as possible. In an ideal world those players would be signed before the players return for pre-season training in little more than a month from now.

Of course Arsenal's transfer budget could be greatly enhanced if certain players were to leave the club. Both Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner have signaled their intention to do so, and Nasri still has not signed a new contract with only 12 months remaining on his. I hope he stays, but he cannot be allowed to string the club along and if he doesn't declare his intentions before pre-season he should be sold.

There is also talk that Barcelona claim to have agreed terms with Cesc Fabregas, and if that is the case it's only a matter of the two clubs agreeing a fee. Arsene Wenger said he will do all he can to keep Cesc again this summer, and I would be surprised if he has given up the fight already. Barcelona will have to pay at least £50 million to get Cesc, and I don't think they will pay that sort of money.

It's impossible to tell whether Cesc wants to leave or not, but if he does he must also know that Barcelona have to pay the going rate. He will have seen the fees which Fernando Torres, Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, Phil Jones, and Jordan Henderson have been sold for, and he will know Barcelona cannot expect to sign him unless they make a realistic offer. I sincerely hope Cesc stays at Arsenal for another couple of seasons to win the trophies both he and the fans want, but if he does go it will not be on the cheap.

If Barcelona have agreed terms with Cesc without the permission of Arsenal I think it's time for UEFA to step in and take some action, but I don't think for a second that they will. Barcelona have received favourable decisions from referees for far too long, and UEFA constantly turn a blind eye to their off field antics too. I have absolutely no faith in their ability to stand up to the darlings of football, and until they do Barcelona will ride rough shot over the rights of other teams. 

That's it for today.

Here's a look at exactly how good Cesc is.

See You Tomorrow.

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