Stuttgart V Arsenal 30th July

Stuttgart 1-3 Arsenal

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Highlights

Credit:arsenalist

Match Report here

Wenger's Post match comments here

Fabregas backs Gallas

Cesc Fabregas has backed William Gallas to retain the captain's armband at Arsenal next season.

The Frenchman's position is under threat following a bizarre tantrum during the 2-2 draw against Birmingham in February, a game which saw the Gunners' title dreams begin to fade.

Spain international Fabregas admits that Arsenal's dramatic collapse last season was sparked by the St Andrews debacle, but feels that Gallas is still the ideal candidate to lead the club next term.

However, the ambitious 21-year-old did admit that he would relish the responsibility of skippering the side in the future.

"Maybe that is where all our problems started," he told FourFourTwo magazine.

"We had a month-and-a-half after that game where our heads were not right.

"William is a great captain, I really respect him, and the longer he is giving us the benefit of his experience, the better."

Fabregas added: "I've shown I can take that responsibility and if I was made captain I would give even more - I don't know where I'd get that little extra from but I'd try to find it.

"But I'm only 21. Right now I just want to win something for Arsenal."

Fabregas also revealed that Euro 2008 glory with his country has given him a taste for silverware which he hopes will be satisfied during the 2008/09 campaign.

"Before the Euros I didn't know how it felt to win," he said.

"But now that I have experienced it I know what it takes. You need to have tasted it. Look at Chelsea, they hadn't won anything in many years.

"They got experienced players in, won the league and that gave them experience and confidence together and others followed.

"Sometimes that is the key. Everyone said before last season that we weren't even going to finish amongst the top four and we proved them wrong. But we were halted at the gates of success and that's hard. It has to serve as a lesson this season."

The young Spaniard also has complete faith in Arsene Wenger's transfer policy of buying potential, as opposed to the finished article.

"We sign what we need," he said.

"Sometimes teams pay a fortune for a player with experience, who knows how to win, who at key moments can win you a game - and that's important.

"But at Arsenal there's a different policy and we have to respect that.

"The day we win something with these players, with this policy, this atmosphere and style, there will be a big change - almost a revelation.

"People tell me that we are on course to do that, but we need that stepping stone of winning something, of knowing how to win."

Portuguese midfielder Amaury Bischoff joins Arsenal

Arsenal can today confirm the signing of midfielder Amaury Bischoff.

The French-born Portugal Under-21 international, 21, was a youngster with French clubs SR Colmar and Strasbourg before moving to Werder Bremen in 2005.

Bischoff, who can play either in the centre of midfield or on the right, was a regular at youth levels for Werder Bremen. His one senior appearance for the Bundesliga club came against Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup in 2007.

Amaury has played for France's Under-18 team, however in 2007 he elected to train with Portugal and to date has appeared for their Under-21 side.

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club would like to welcome Amaury, who will wear squad No 28, and will join up with his team-mates for pre-season when the squad returns from their training camp in Austria.

Burgenland XI v Arsenal 28th July

Burgenland XI 2-10 Arsenal


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Highlights

First Half

Second Half

Credit: Iker91,Mie and rd.leo23

Match Report here

Cesc: Time not right for Real deal

Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas admits he is keen on a move to Real Madrid, but has poured cold water on claims he may quit the Gunners this summer

Reports in Spain suggest Madrid president Ramon Calderon, resigned to missing out on Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, has prepared a big-money offer for the 21-year-old.

But while Fabregas, a product of the Barcelona youth academy, revealed he could move to Madrid in the future, he insists he wants to stay at the Emirates Stadium for the time being.

"I didn't tell Ramon Calderon no," he told Spanish sports daily Marca.

"I told him that now wasn't the time to go to Madrid.

"That you are wanted by Madrid, one of the biggest teams in history, is important."

Fabregas enjoyed a great summer as he helped Spain end their 44-year wait for a trophy at Euro 2008.

Domestically, however, for the third year on the trot, the midfielder ended yet another season empty-handed.

And the young star, who feels he would be certain to lift a trophy should he opt for the Spanish champions, admits another season without any silverware could see him head for the exit door.

"To be four seasons without winning any titles would be too much for me," Fabregas added.

"Real Madrid are the favourites to win La Liga this year."

Arsenal's trophy-less season was made even more painful as rivals Manchester United swept all before them at home and in Europe.

Fabregas is in no doubt that the man who made the difference for United would be a big success at the Bernabeu.

"The league and the Champions League that United won this season was because of Cristiano," he continued. "At Madrid he would help them win titles."

Rosicky trusts Wenger over transfer policy

Tomas Rosicky has played down fears that Arsenal may not be such a force in the Premier League following a number of high-profile departures.

Mathieu Flamini left Emirates Stadium at the end of last season and Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva have both followed in recent weeks.

There has also been speculation over the future of Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas, but Rosicky is not worried by the situation.

The Czech Republic international trusts Arsene Wenger in the transfer market and is confident that Arsenal will be able to mount a strong challenge, just as they did last season after Thierry Henry's exit.

"It is something similar to the last season, when everybody was writing us off," Rosicky told deniksport.cz.

"Now, it will be the same. Some players have left but I trust the coach over this.

"He knows what he is doing. Personally, my ambitions are not smaller and I think this counts for the rest of the team.

"Definitely it was an excellent midfield and it is a pity that we have not remained together as we were attuned on the same tune.

"On the other hand, if the guys wanted to leave, it is only their decision."

Samir Nasri has arrived this summer and is expected to fill Hleb's role, but Rosicky does not expect Wenger to sign a replacement for holding midfielder Flamini.

Rosicky believes Abou Diaby could be entrusted with the key role and he has tipped the Frenchman to make a big impact this season.

"I don't know if the coach will bring someone in," said Rosicky.

"I think that Diaby will be given a big chance to play often in Flamini's position. He was playing on the left when I was injured, but he is more a centre midfielder, the same type like Patrick Vieira.

"I expect a lot from him as I know from training that it is difficult to play against him. He has long legs and really is very similar to Vieira. In my opinion, he is able to do very well."

Clichy stakes claim for captain's role

Gael Clichy has told Arsene Wenger he is ready and willing to be Arsenal’s full-time captain for the coming season, having gained a taste of the responsibility in recent weeks.

With current incumbent William Gallas absent in the opening two games of the club’s pre-season schedule, and deputy Kolo Toure sidelined with malaria, Clichy was handed the armband against Barnet and Szombathelyi.

It was a significant moment for the Frenchman who is a cast-iron fans’ favourite at Emirates Stadium thanks to the way he has replaced Ashley Cole with such energy and commitment in the past two seasons.

Clichy, along with Toure, is also one of only two remaining veterans from the 2003-2004 ‘Invincibles’ season and having signed a new long-term contract in North London, is likely to be an established member of the side for years to come.

Questions have been asked of Gallas’ suitability for the role after his display of petulance at Birmingham last season, and Clichy is ready to take on the mantle of leading the side if required.

"It's a fantastic honour and I don't know if it will carry on like this but if the boss needs me then I will try,” Clichy told Arsenal TV. “Maybe I was the oldest player in the team so I guess it is my time.

"It is a great pleasure for me and I will keep doing it until the boss tells me. Hopefully I am doing it well and I will try my best.

"It is fantastic to work with the young players because we know when the boss brings them in they have got quality.

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"It is a pleasure to work with them and they have all got good spirit and the atmosphere is good. I hope they will progress because we will need everyone this year to win something."

Wenger is set to hand Gallas a second chance as Arsenal skipper

Arsene Wenger is set to hand William Gallas a second chance as Arsenal skipper – just to keep him at the club.

The Gunners boss has spent the summer contemplating whether to take the armband off his French defender and give it to either Cesc Fabregas or Kolo Toure.

But although he has yet to confirm his final decision it seems that Wenger will choose to ignore the demands from Arsenal fans and officials to replace Gallas.

And the Arsenal manager’s mind was made up last week amid news Paris St Germain want to add Gallas to their ranks.

The French club are waiting in the background and ready to pounce at the first sign of unrest from Gallas.

And Wenger can ill afford to upset the centre-half and risk losing him so close to the start of the Premier League season.

When asked about interest in Gallas at the unveiling of new signing Claude Makelele from Chelsea, PSG president Charles Villeneuve said: “We would be happy to be given a ring by William Gallas, very pleased. But for the moment there is no news.”

The issue of Gallas’ leadership has been under the spotlight ever since he lost his rag at Birmingham in February after a last-gasp penalty denied Arsenal victory and led to his bizarre one-man protest in the centre circle.

Despite Wenger publicly defending the former Chelsea star’s actions at the time, privately he gave him a severe dressing down and warned him his position as captain was under review.

A significant number of Arsenal fans have voiced their view that Gallas should be stripped of the captaincy in favour of Ivory Coast star Toure, while the matter has also been debated at recent board meetings.

But, while viewing Fabregas as the ideal long-term solution, Wenger is concerned the Spanish superstar, at just 22, is still too young.

And Toure facing a race against time to be fit for August 16 after falling ill with malaria, Wenger has no option but to stick with Gallas.

However, the temperamental ace, who turns 31 next month, has been told that if he steps out of line again he will lose the job with immediate effect.

Arsenal is football - Nasri

Arsenal is the definition of football, according to new signing Samir Nasri.

In a refreshing interview, The Gunners’ new signing has hailed his new employers for their rich history and spectacular football.

Nasri claims Arsene Wenger’s systems are beautiful to watch and the playmaker cannot wait to make his debut for his new side.

“I love the game, I’m passionate and Arsenal’s football culture made me dream,” Nasri told L’Equipe.

“I had a lot of fun watching all their games last season. To me, this culture and the way they play represent what football should be.”

The Marseille icon is hopeful he will improve both tactically and physically in order to settle in The Premier League.

“When you see how they play in England, it means I need to improve on the physical level and in the air, as well in terms of intensity and regularity,” he commented.

“The team plays in 4-4-2. I had a chat with Arsene Wenger and I’m going to play on a wing because that is where their playmakers are, splitting with the full backs.”

The 21-year-old is in for something of a culture shock as he will be leaving home for the first time and has asked the club for help.

“My parents won’t be with me anymore so I’m going to have to cope with it and learn to be independent,” he said.

“In the meantime I have asked the club to have someone cooking for me and cleaning because I’m not used to being autonomous, I’ve always been living with my parents.”

Toure gets an illness boost

Kolo Toure has made a amazing recovery from his malaria battle

The Arsenal centre-back is responding well to treatment and may even start light training early next week.

Ivory Coast star Toure, 27, picked up a mild strain of the disease while back home in Africa on his summer holiday.

He was taken to hospital and underwent tests after being diagnosed earlier this week.

It is unlikely Toure will play in Monday’s friendly against Burgenland before the final leg of Arsenal’s German tour.

The Gunners head off to Stuttgart for a warm-up match on Wednesday before flying back to London for next weekend’s Emirates Cup.

Almunia: Ramsey 'Very Similar' To Fabregas

After an impressive season for Cardiff City, during which he helped the Bluebirds to the FA Cup final, Ramsey snubbed the likes of Manchester United and Everton to join Arsene Wenger’s young Gunners this summer.

The 17-year-old has earned rave reviews already during the pre-season. He demonstrated his vision and passing range to great effect during the first half against Barnet recently, giving credence to Wenger’s claim that the youngster’s future lies in central midfield.

The Arsenal manager also hinted that it will not be long before Ramsey makes the step up to the first-team, although it would seem he would have to displace Fabregas – perhaps Europe’s best young playmaker – for that to happen.

But as far as Almunia is concerned, if anyone is going to step in for his fellow Spaniard, then there are few more suitable candidates than Ramsey.

“Aaron is a very good creator of chances, very similar to Fabregas,” the 30-year-old goalkeeper told the press.

“But of course we must remember that he is still very young and he has to learn from people like Cesc, Abou Diaby and the rest of the players that have been here for more time.”

Bendtner Targets Starting Spot

The Danish striker joined the Gunners in 2005, and through his loan spell at Birmingham City and his international exploits has become known as one of Europe’s hottest prospects.

However, the 20-year-old has failed to truly break through to date. He was little more than a bit-part player last term, as he was stuck firmly behind Emmanuel Adebayor, Eduardo da Silva and Robin van Persie in the Emirates pecking order.

But with Adebayor’s future hanging in the balance, Eduardo still recovering from a double leg-break and Van Persie courting interest from the Juventus medical team, Bendtner could find himself starting much more regularly during the coming campaign.

And that would suit the young Dane just fine, as he hopes to feature prominently while Arsenal push to break their title drought.

“I know everybody talks about winning things,” he told the club’s official website. “But that is what it is all about this year. I want to try and take a trophy home.

“I do set myself targets [in pre-season]. The main thing for everyone I think is to play a lot and of course I want to get more regularly into the squad.

“Then I want to progress in my own game. I want to prove to everyone what I can do.”

Sagna to prove he’s no one-season wonder

Bacary Sagna may have enjoyed one of the best debut seasons in recent years but he is not resting on his laurels.

The right back is well aware of so-called “second season syndrome” and hopes to inoculate himself by winning a trophy with Arsenal in the coming campaign.

Speaking from the team’s training camp in Austria, the muscular 25-year-old intends to barge aside any lingering doubts with the same positive attitude that helped him excel last term.

“When I arrived people told me that the first season would be very difficult and you had to adapt,” he said. “But why wait? Why not play straight away?

“I just tried to do my best for the team and I was voted the best right back in the Premier League. But now I would like to achieve other things. Why not lift a cup?

“I know I have to confirm [my first-season form] but I feel confident and good in this team. I want to do a lot of things. I want to score and be more decisive now. I will try to do it.”

Twelve months ago, Sagna was a rookie in a position where Arsenal already had options, could he have imagined his first campaign going any better?

“No,” he replied flatly. “I did not know anything about English football when I arrived, only what I saw on TV. But I was not scared and adapted very quickly because of my team-mates and work of the staff.

“Everything was good for the first season and I thank the people who helped me. But now I want to fulfil more of my ambitions.”

Clichy - Winning Premier League is priority

Winning the Premier League is of paramount importance for Gael Clichy. What is more, he is confident Arsenal can achieve just that.

The Frenchman is one of just two players in the current set-up to have tasted title glory with the Gunners. In 2004 he made just 12 league appearances, becoming the youngest player to collect a Premier League winner’s medal, but now Clichy looks set for a major roll as the Club aim for the top once again.

Arsenal’s last pre-season was awash with silverware but, come May, the team was left empty-handed. Understandably, Clichy would sacrifice a repeat of last summer’s success for the more illustrious trophies. At the moment though, the Frenchman’s aims are all short-term.

“For now we don’t talk about anything,” Clichy told Arsenal.com. “We are just focused on pre-season and getting ready for the start. As we get closer then we start talking about objectives and what we want to achieve.

“For me personally the championship is really important. I think it is the same for the boss, and I know we have the quality to do it. We can’t go through another season without winning something.

“[Pre-season success] is important in terms of progressing well before the actual campaign starts, but you see from last season we won both tournaments we entered, then come the end we had no trophies. If I could swap and avoid winning those cups and win something during the season that would be fantastic.

“But of course to win those tournaments would be great, especially against the great teams like Real and Juve, and in Amsterdam.”

Clichy - At 23 I'm one of the old men in the Arsenal side

Gael Clichy feels he’s an “old man” in the Arsenal side now — even though he’ll only be turning 23 on Saturday.

The left back will celebrate his birthday this year at the team’s training camp in Austria.

With perhaps a decade of high-class football ahead of him, it may seem odd for the French full back to feel he is getting on. However, with 146 games under his belt, Clichy has the third highest number of Arsenal appearances in the current squad after Kolo Toure (285) and Cesc Fabregas (198). Also, some of his team-mates are now six years his junior.

“Even last season I felt a bit like this,” said Clichy. “Now I feel it even more.

“I am 23 soon. That does not give me any pressure and if I can give advice to the younger players then that is a great pleasure for me.

“OK I don’t really feel that old myself but when you have players like Jack [Wilshere] at 16 and Henri [Lansbury] at 17 on the pitch with you then you have to say you are old. That is it.

“So maybe I don’t feel old but I don’t feel young anymore and I have to get used to it.

“But at the same time, I know I still have time in my career and I hope to achieve great things.”

Clichy - Traore is the type of player we need

Gael Clichy believes that Armand Traore could play a key role in Arsenal’s season, proclaiming that the 17-year old is an “amazing” talent.

The praise seems warranted. Traore has all the traits of a modern full-back but, with Clichy seemingly entrenched for the foreseeable future, the fleet-footed Traore has been pushed further up the flank. And the Frenchman wasted little time in showing his prowess on the front foot - who can forget his pin-point cross to Nicklas Bendtner in last season’s League Cup win over Newcastle?

In fact over the last two seasons Traore has turned from hot prospect to Champions League starter, shooting to prominence during the young Gunners’ run to the 2007 Carling Cup Final. Clichy hopes that the emergence of his countryman will help both players to improve.

“He is a really powerful player,” Clichy told Arsenal.com. “He is really fast and a type of player that we need. I hope he can help push me further as a player and that I can drag him up too.

“He is a really amazing player and I hope he will be focused this season because I can see a role for him. I really hope that he will make it.”

Gilberto 'sad' to leave Gunners

Former Arsenal stalwart Gilberto has revealed he is "sad" to have left the club in search of regular first-team football at Panathinaikos.

The Brazilian World Cup winner - part of the Invincibles side of 2003-04 - followed combative Mathieu Flamini and unsettled winger Alexander Hleb out of Emirates Stadium this summer.

Gilberto, 31, revealed manager Arsene Wenger had wanted him to stay at the club for a seventh season.

However, the midfielder maintains he felt it was the right time for a new challenge.

"I feel a bit sad, you know. I like many, many people at Arsenal and it has been fantastic this last six years at the club," Gilberto told Arsenal TV Online.

"The good thing between us, me and Arsene, is that we have been clear in our conversated to play, which is normal because in the season before I played a big part.

"He told me in case I decide to leave he wouldn't stop me. It was my decision, he wanted me to stay, but at the end I didn't know, to be honest, if I would have a chance to play.

"Then I had this opportunity at Panathinaikos and I felt it was a great one in terms of playing games and a contract.

"I have three years there, when I only had one year left at Arsenal. I considered all these things to get this opportunity.

"It is fantastic because even though I haven't played much this year, at this stage [of my career] I have this opportunity to play in another club.

"It means over the years I have done the job well and people still believe in me."

While youngsters Aaron Ramsey, the Wales Under-21 international, and Samir Nasri have arrived this summer, Wenger is looking to add an experienced head before the transfer window closes next month.

However, the Arsenal manager would not go into specific targets, with wantaway England international Gareth Barry - booed by Aston Villa fans in their friendly at Walsall - said to be on his wishlist, although rated around £18million, which could prove too high a price tag for the Gunners.

"We will need one more body in there," said Wenger, after his side's 1-1 draw with Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas.

"If we find a reasonable target then we will do it - but there is no special name on the list.

"We have some time. We have until August 31.

Arsenal will play a Burgenland XI in Ritzing, Austria on Monday night before meeting Stuttgart on July 30 - which could see veteran German keeper Jens Lehmann face his old club.

Wenger insisted it was business as usual concerning Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who has so far sent out mixed messages over his future amid suggestions of a lucrative move away from Emirates Stadium.

He said: "We prepare as a team and we focus on preparing well. Adebayor is like everybody else."

Wenger will get it right - Henry

Former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry has backed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to construct a strong team this season, even if some faces will be unfamiliar.

Matthieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva have left, while only Premier League newcomers Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey have been signed.

But Henry remains confident Wenger will be able to get a new-look side to gel.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Arsene always does it somehow. And hopefully they will win silverware next season."

The Gunners will have to do it with considerably less experience in their squad.

Brazil midfielder Gilberto, 31, left for Panathinaikos, Hleb, 27, joined Barcelona and Flamini, 24, sealed a switch to AC Milan.

And so far this season, Wenger has only brought in 21-year-old winger Nasri from Marseille and Ramsey, 17, who played in the Championship last season with Cardiff.

But Henry pointed to Wenger's knack of unearthing little-known players and making them stars - the French striker was himself transformed under his compatriot after a torrid time in Italy with Juventus.

Henry added: "I don't know how Arsene does it when he brings in some players who make people think ‘I don't know if they are going to be ok'.

"People wonder if Arsenal are going to do anything.

"But suddenly, like last year, everyone starts raving about how Arsenal are playing and what a great team they are.

"Unfortunately for them they were really close but did not win anything last season.

"Hopefully this time they can bring some silverware back to the Emirates."

Wenger has stated that he will definitely make one more signing in the close season.

And it could be that he will need to buy a striker to replace Emmanuel Adebayor, who still refuses to commit his future to the club amid speculation he will join AC Milan or Barcelona.

You can watch the video of that interview here.

Kolo only has 'mild' malaria strain

Concerns over the health of Arsenal defender Kolo Toure have eased, following the Ivorian's malaria diagnosis earlier this week.

It is now understood that Toure has contracted a mild strain of the virus and has been able to return to the Gunners' training camp in Austria.

Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the one player he wants to sign before the new season is a midfielder.

"We will need one more body in there," Wenger acknowledged. "At the moment, we do not have Alex Song who is going to the Olympic Games, Abou Diaby was not here [against Szombathelyi] and nor was Fabregas.

"If we find a reasonable target, then we will do it - but there is no special name on the list. We have some time. We have until August 31."

Nasri 'honoured' to work with Wenger

The 21-year-old midfielder joined the Gunners earlier this month on a long-term contract following protracted transfer negotiations with Marseille, the club he had represented since he was nine years old.

Nasri also reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid and Roma, but opted for a club with a long-term project in place.

"(Wenger) personifies stability and continuity," Nasri told France Football magazine on Tuesday.

"We know that with him we're going to be working for the long term. I think he's been at Arsenal for 13 years - that says it all.

"To perfect my game I was looking for those kinds of guarantees. I didn't want to leave for a club, however legendary, where everything could change the next day.

"Working under a coach like Arsene Wenger is an honour. I know he'll help me to progress."

As well as interest from Italy, England and Spain, Nasri confirmed French champions Lyon had also tried to sign him.

"Lyon made an approach. I spoke with president (Jean-Michel) Aulas by telephone. But it didn't go much further than that," Nasri added.

"At that point my choice had practically been made. I'd given my word to Arsenal and I couldn't see myself at any French club other than OM."

Wenger - I am in the market for a midfielder

Arsène Wenger is aiming to bolster his midfield for the new campaign but, as yet, he does not have a specific target in mind.

After the Barnet game on Saturday the Arsenal manager said that he would bring in “one player certainly... maximum of two” before the window closed at the end of August. After the 1-1 draw at Szombatheyli on Tuesday he was more specific about the position but not the person.

“We will need one more body in there,” said Wenger when asked about his midfield. “At the moment we do not have Alex Song who is going to the Olympic games, Abou Diaby was not here tonight and nor was Fabregas.

“If we find a reasonable target then we will do it. But there is no special name on the list.

“We have some time. We have until August 31. We left 11 players back in Austria for this game. They will play in Stuttgart [on July 30].”

Before that, on Monday, Arsenal go to Ritzing to play a Burgenland XI. Arsenal TV Online subscribers will be able to see this game live.

Wenger - Eduardo back to watch team in Emirates Cup

Arsène Wenger is delighted that Eduardo will be back at Arsenal for the start of August but, while his recovery remains on target, the striker is some way away from first-team action.

The Croatian has been undertaking his rehabilitation in Brazil since the serious injury to his ankle at Birmingham in February 2008. The Club’s initial estimate was that the 25-year-old would be sidelined for nine months and his current progress suggests that target will be met.

He is set to return to England and watch his team-mates in the Emirates Cup on August 2 after which he will be assessed by the medical team before starting his final rehabilitation. Once he has successfully completed this final stage he will return to training with the full squad.

Speaking after the 1-1 draw with Szombathelyi on Tuesday night, Wenger said: “It is difficult to assess. He will be back for the Emirates Cup, at the moment he is in rehabilitation.

“We hoped he would be back earlier but it is very difficult to say. It will be three or four weeks more [until he comes back to England] but I don’t really know yet.”

Szombathelyi Haladas v Arsenal

Szombathelyi Haladas 1-1 Arsenal

Szombathelyi Haladas 1-0 Kenesei
MediaFire

Arsenal 1-1 Walcott
MediaFire

Extras

Denilson Hits the Bar
Mediafire

Clichy Free-Kick
Mediafire

First Half Highlights here

Credit:Arsenalist and Iker91

Theo Walcott was on target for Arsenal as the Gunners drew 1-1 with Hungarian outfit Szombathelyi Haladas at the Haladas VSE Stadium.

The England international rescued Arsene Wenger's men from a surprise defeat when he cancelled out a Krisztian Kenesei opener three minutes before the interval.

The hosts had taken a deserved lead in the 25th minute when former Hungary international striker Kenesei broke through a static Gunners defence and chipped delicately over the on-rushing Manuel Almunia.

Justin Hoyte believed he had hooked the ball clear on the line but he was over-ruled by the assistant referee.

To rub salt into the defender's wounds, he then sliced a volley over from five yards just minutes later with the goal gaping.

But Arsenal equalised in the 42nd minute when Walcott - urged by manager Wenger to stake his claim for a regular place this season - rifled the ball home.

The former Southampton forward collected Nicklas Bendtner's short pass on the edge of the area and slammed a low shot across the goalkeeper and in off the far post.

An inexperienced Arsenal team struggled to create many clear-cut chances after the break, although Gael Clichy fired a free-kick narrowly over with 12 minutes remaining.

Toure contracts malaria

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has contracted a mild strain of malaria, but is not expected to miss the start of the new Premier League season.

It is thought Toure, 27, contracted the disease while on holiday in his native Ivory Coast.

Reports on Wednesday stated that Toure was diagnosed with malaria during Arsenal's pre-season tour of Austria and Hungary.

Toure is now receiving treatment but should be fit for The Gunners' opening game of the new season against West Bromwich Albion on 16th August.

Arsenal in Austria

The Club's official photographer sent back these exclusive pictures from Arsenal's European base:

Wenger issues his instructions

Senderos, Van Persie and Fabianski

Robin and Philippe stretch their limbs

The players go through their exercises

New signing Samir Nasri joins in

The Frenchman settles in at Arsenal

Theo Walcott begins another drill

Carlos Vela holds off Justin Hoyte

Denilson breaks clear of a challenge

Van Persie waves to the watching fans

Nasri explains long transfer

Samir Nasri has insisted there was nothing sinister behind the delay in his transfer from Marseille to Arsenal.

The Gunners moved for the playmaker at the start of the summer, but it was not until July that he finally sealed his transfer.

The delay had led to suggestions that Arsenal could miss out on the 21-year-old, but he claims he had given his word to Arsene Wenger before Euro 2008.

Lyon came in for Nasri, but he has insisted there was never any chance of him playing for any other French side than Marseille.

“Lyon approached me,” Nasri told France-Football. “I spoke with chairman [Jean-Michel] Aulas on the phone. But this contact did not go forward. At this moment I had almost already made up my mind.

“I had given my word to Arsene Wenger. And I couldn’t see myself moving to a different French club than Marseille!

“I never doubted both clubs would find an agreement. There has been nonsense rumours. Both clubs just had to find an agreement to make my transfer official in L’OM’s 2008/2009 balance sheet.

“I already knew I was an Arsenal player before Euros. I passed the medical when I returned from Switzerland then we decided to make my transfer official for my return from holiday in mid-July.

“In my mind I was liberated.”

Nasri claims Arsenal’s attacking style seduced him, and he has revealed he will replace Alexander Hleb on the left wing.

“I am joining a club that plays some of the best football in Europe,” he said. “I was charmed when I watched Arsenal’s games in the Champions League.

“They achieved a tremendous first half to the season. To me England is the ideal destination and Arsenal are the perfect club!

“Arsene Wenger told me he wants to play me on a wing. But there are so many movements in the team that I’ll have the possibility to switch position.

“I was used to playing on the left wing with the youth teams. I don’t mind. Friendlies are made to find your mark.

“My mother chose my number 8. It’s a gift to make her happy. She’s not especially into football but as I’m leaving home for the first time I wanted to give her a twinkling of an eye.”

Sagna - I will be fully fit in time for the start of the season

Bacary Sagna expects to be fully fit and raring to go when the season gets underway in less than four weeks time.

The Frenchman completed 45 minutes in the Gunners’ pre-season friendly win at Barnet on Saturday, his first appearance since an ankle injury against Chelsea bought his superb debut campaign to a shuddering halt in March.

Despite the weekend run-out, Sagna remains cautious but two weeks of pre-season training has already bought about a sharp rise in fitness. He expects that trend to continue.

“I still feel my ankle a little bit, but I can run and play football normally and I am confident it will improve every day,” Sagna told Arsenal.com. “It was good to play on Saturday and it is a nice feeling to be back in front of the fans. I haven’t played since March so I was pleased to be with my team-mates as well.

“I feel better now and I hope that I can feel better and better with every new game.

“The last couple of weeks have been hard because it is the first time since my injury that I have been in training. I needed to find my performance level again and be prepared to give more than I have before. I do think, though, that I will be fit for the start of the season.”

So fitness isn’t a worry, but is he worried he may suffer a bout of the infamous ‘second-season syndrome’?

“No not at all," he replied. "I am not even thinking about that as a possibility. I only want to focus on my own game, perform for Arsenal and see what the season brings. Hopefully it will be some cups.”

Wenger - Walcott must target a starting berth

Last season, Theo Walcott showed Arsenal fans the first real signs of his massive potential. This season, Arsène Wenger will ask the 19-year-old to barge his way into the first-team on a regular basis. The Frenchman freely admits he does not yet know whether Walcott will play up front or on the wing but, he argues, there are “no limitations” on how the England international can develop.

“Theo made a step forward last season and you expect him to improve again,” said Wenger after the 2-1 win over Barnet on Saturday. “The target last year was for him to play 15 to 20 games and show quality. The target this year is to become a regular player.

“What position he’ll play in I don’t know. At the moment he looks more at ease wide than as a central striker. But we have to wait through the preparation games and see how ready he will be. The Barnet game was not a good opportunity to judge him.”

That is undeniably true. On Saturday, Walcott started up front alongside Nicklas Bendtner as Wenger fielded a more established XI in the first half and a younger one after the break. It appeared to be an “easing in” exercise for a rusty first-team squad. Arsenal trailed the League Two side at half time and had to rely on goals from Jay Simpson and Nacer Barazite to secure a comeback victory.

Afterwards Wenger spoke about the issues surrounding Walcott as a striker or a wide midfielder.

“He is not really a link player he is more a runner so you need to find a link player who can play close to him,” said Wenger. “It depends on who he plays with and you need to find the right combination. But he can play wide, right, left, central.

“Still I expect a lot from him, this season. At 19 years of age you have to improve. But how much better I don’t really know. You certainly don’t put any limitations on that."

Carlos Vela's Profile

Name: Carlos Alberto Vela Garrido
Club: Arsenal FC
D.O.B: March 1st 1989
Height: 1.78m
Weight: 72kg
Position: Striker, Second Striker

After spending the last couple of seasons on loan in Spain, young Mexican starlet Carlos Vela can finally be unleashed in the Premier League after being granted a work permit, which cleared him to play for Arsenal for the coming season. The 19-year-old striker’s route to North London has not been without fault and he has been waiting a long time for his chance in the Gunners’ first team, and the Arsenal faithful will certainly be hoping he can take it.

Starting Out

Carlos Vela was born on March 1st 1989, in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico. He is the younger brother of current Cruz Azul striker Alejandro Vela. Carlos learned a great deal from his brother as a youngster, and followed him into football by signing for Chivas de Guadalajara when he was just 12 years old.

Having never played a first team game for the club, Vela was thrust into the spotlight after being selected for Mexico’s U-17 World Championship squad to play in Peru along with fellow rising star Giovani Dos Santos. This tournament proved to be a life changing one for Vela, as he ended up with the Golden Boot award after his five goals helped Mexico to lift the trophy, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final, in which Vela scored. This tournament showed the world Vela’s raw pace and clinical finishing, and in less than a month, the young striker had become a name for the future.

Vela has always been known as being very close to his family, and as the World Championship final fell on the same day as his father’s birthday, the young forward decided to dedicate his golden boot award to his father, giving it to him as a present.

After the World Championships, his club Guadalajara decided to offer him a professional contract, and as a condition of the contract, Vela insisted that his family were relocated from the then-storm-stricken town of Cancun. Jorge Vergara, President of the club, agreed, and Vela signed on professional terms with the Jalisco based side.

After some excellent performances in the Guadalajara reserves, Vela began attracting massive interest from a host of European giants including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United and Inter Milan. Arsenal were also on the trail of the young Mexican marksman, and in November 2005, the London based club faxed through an offer of £2.5m, which the Mexican side duly accepted. After passing a medical and agreeing a five year contract with the Gunners, all Vela and Arsenal had to do now was obtain a work permit for him, however, this would not prove so easy. His application for a work permit was rejected as he had not reached the required number of games for the national side, and his application for an ‘Exceptional Talent’ visa was also rejected by the Home Office. The Gunners appealed the decision, but in vain and finally agreed that Vela should be taken on loan by a Spanish club, until he had EU citizenship.

El Camino

Arsenal had recently formed a link with then Spanish La Liga side Celta de Vigo, and Vela was sent on loan there for the remainder of the 2005/2006 season. He failed to make much impact during his time with Celta and did not play a single game in the five months he was there. Celta planned to take Vela on loan again for the following season, but pulled out of the deal as they were restricted by a law on non Spanish players. The loan and link with Celta was cancelled and Arsenal looked for another club to take him on loan for the 2006/2007 season.

UD Salamanca of the Spanish Segunda were chosen and after a very brief settling in period, Vela became a regular in the side, scoring 8 goals in 31 games, and becoming a fan favourite in the process.

Even after the year and a half Vela had spent in Spain, EU regulations and British Work Permit laws still restricted him from becoming an EU citizen.

After his impressive displays in the Spanish Segunda playing for Salamanca, Vela had attracted massive interest from some La Liga sides including UD Levante, Real Betis, Osasuna and UD Almeria, who all made loan offers for the youngster.

In the summer of 2007, Vela agreed a one year loan switch to La Liga side Osasuna, and had an option of a one year extension to the deal, but no permanent deal was put in place, as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seemed desperate to keep hold of the talent he knew Vela had.

The season started well for Vela with Osasuna, with his impressive displays earning praise from the Spanish media, and this media attention was increased when he scored his first goal for the club against Real Betis in a La Liga league game in October 2007. The goal displayed Vela’s strengths as he played a neat one two with a teammate and with a smart, powerful finish with his educated left foot into the top corner of the goal, Vela put his side 2-0 up in an eventual 3-0 win. The young Mexican had begun to make his talent known on the big stage.

He followed that goal up with smart finishes against Athletic Bilbao and Atletico Madrid, showing that he had skill and patience to match his raw talent and pace. He finished the season with Osasuna with 3 goals in a very healthy 33 appearances for the club, in turn giving him invaluable experience in one of Europe’s toughest leagues.

Lessons Learned

Speaking to Arsenal’s club website in the summer of 2008, Vela reflected on a successful learning curve in Spain, saying, “It has helped me, first of all it taught me what it was like being away from your home country - that helped me grow up as a person and as a player. I think that the Spanish and English style of football is the best in the world. I think also that playing against the best players in the world can only help me grow as a player. The whole experience was a big lesson for me. I think that I achieved the targets I had there because I had more minutes on the pitch and gained more experience.”

His first team international career was also kick started with his displays in Spain’s top division, and he made his debut for the Mexican first team in September 2007 in a friendly against Brazil. His first international goal came against Guatemala in a friendly in Los Angeles a month later. Since then, Vela has made 5 further appearances for his country, and now has a goal scoring tally of 4 goals in 7 games, an impressive statistic for someone still learning his trade on the big stage.

Vela returned to Arsenal in the summer of 2008, and has started pre season training with the first team, after finally being granted a work permit on the 22nd May. Arsene Wenger has likened Vela’s playing style to that of current Arsenal star Eduardo, and commented on the Mexican’s talents by telling the club’s website, “He has played the whole season at Osasuna on the left wing and he had to work hard there, but for me it is not his position, he is a central striker, an Eduardo type. He is a great young player.”

Vela also spoke to the club’s website, expressing his delight at finally being able to play for the club by saying, “I am very proud to finally be here and I am truly very happy, I have been waiting three years for this moment and now I am here I will work very hard to earn my place in the first-team and I hope to be at this club for a very long time.”

Arsene Wenger has publically said that Vela, who has been given the number 12 shirt, will be part of his first team plans for the coming season, and Gunners’ fans will hope he can reach the high standards set by the likes of Thierry Henry, Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp, and eventually go on to achieve legendary status at the club.

Wenger calm on free-spending rivals

Arsene Wenger insists he is unconcerned that his likely title rivals for the coming season look ready to spend huge amounts again this summer.

Arsenal finished within four points of Chelsea and Manchester United last season but while it has been another frugal summer in North London - with the sales of Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva financing moves for Samir Nasri and Aaron Ramsey - both Sir Alex Ferguson and Luiz Felipe Scolari are plotting multi-million pound signings.

It is now no secret that United are looking to sign Dimitar Berbatov in a deal that could reportedly reach £28 million, while Chelsea have utilised Roman Abramovich's riches to sign Jose Bosingwa and Deco, with Brazil stars Kaka and Robinho also targets that could fetch a world record transfer fee.

It is a familiar situation that Wenger finds himself in, as the move to Emirates Stadium has caused the North London club to be more reserved in the transfer market in recent seasons, and despite suggestions that The Gunners are in danger of slipping away from both Chelsea and United, the Frenchman is unconcerned by the current transfer climate.

"No it doesn't bother me too much," said Wenger.

"I know at the start of the transfer market Chelsea can buy who they want, and I cannot stop that."

Arsenal could be forced into the market for a striker if Emmanuel Adebayor joins Barcelona though, as the Togo international has seen his future at Emirates Stadium plunged into doubt by a contractual dispute.

Adebayor has failed to endear himself to Gunners fans by asking for a similar wage to former captain and all-time record goalscorer Thierry Henry after his success in scoring 30 goals for the club last season.

Saturday's pre-season friendly against Barnet saw some pointed songs directed at the striker by the travelling support but his manager is refusing to judge Adebayor after reputed quotes from the player and his agent regarding his situation this summer.

Wenger - who claims he has not attached an asking price to last season's top scorer - has urged the former Monaco man to respect the club's wage structure as the uncertainty over his future continues.

"No [we have not put a price on his head], at any price if you come in tomorrow with £400 million then I will think about it! I do not want to go into any speculation, I want to keep Adebayor," Wenger added.

"I don't know what has gone on because a lot has been denied, it is very difficult to know what is true and what is said and not said, he denies 99 percent of it.

"I have never met many people who have said 'I do not have a case for a new contract'! We are always ready and I fight always to get the players the maximum wages but you have to respect the wage structure."

England's dream teen

As effortlessly as he plays his football, Theo Walcott provides a little reassurance. Ronaldo, Dwain Chambers and the England rugby players in New Zealand have supplied the feel-bad headlines of the summer. An afternoon with Walcott casts a rather different light on the life of the professional sportsman.

For a start, he pulls up in front of the Hertfordshire home that he shares with his parents in a VW Golf, which in the ostentatious world of the Premier League footballer represents ludicrous restraint. He has returned from a gruelling double session at Arsenal's training ground, but immediately busies himself fetching drinks, asking me and the photographer how we are, were our journeys troublesome, do we mind which room we sit in. He runs upstairs to change and is back down in seconds. He is not the sort to spend 20 minutes doing his hair or texting his mates and, in the three hours we spend with him, he does not use his phone once. For a footballer, it is a little bit weird. 'What did you expect?' he asks, then stops. He knows the answer to that question.

Walcott is not the stereotypical footballer. He seems weary of those recent headlines - court cases, slaves, celebrity girlfriends - that have made footballers such an easy target for criticism. He sighs. 'Everyone is different, but the stuff you see some footballers doing, cheating on their girlfriends and stuff, I just think, "Why?" Why have a girlfriend, or a wife and kids if you're going to cheat?' he says. 'And drinking; when you've finished your career you can have a drink - obviously not become an alcoholic...' He trails off. 'I don't drink at all. I never have done. Back at school people would take the mick out of me for not drinking at parties and stuff, but that didn't bother me. It's only a short career and the way you are off the pitch makes a big difference.'

As we talk, the European under-19 championship is on television. England are playing the Czech Republic. Walcott glances up occasionally to check the score. 'It's weird to think I could be playing for them right now,' he says. Instead he recently made his second senior appearance for England, against Trinidad & Tobago, following a successful spell with the under-21s and a string of impressive performances for Arsenal. 'It feels like I've been around for ages,' he says, 'but I'm still only 19.'

Perhaps it is his age, but there is something refreshing about Walcott. He is unguarded in his conversation, but too smart to be drawn into saying anything silly.

Apart from that England friendly in the Caribbean in June, he has had a quiet summer. 'It's been nice to get away from football and do other things. I don't even know who's signed for who, I'm just not that interested. I don't watch that - what's it called?' Sky Sports News? 'Yeah. I'm not interested.'

What does he think of Cristiano Ronaldo's 'slavery' comments? He laughs. 'Not bad, is it, being a slave on that much a year? Anyone would do that, I can guarantee.'

Walcott says a life in football is 'a dream come true' - which happens to be the name of a charity he supports - so why worry about money and contracts? He never has done. The charity arranges 'dreams' for terminally ill children, such as snow on Christmas Day, or waking up to find cows in your back garden.

In Walcott's case the dream was more a nightmare, a swarm of paparazzi after he became the most expensive 16-year-old English footballer at £9.1m, the figure that Arsenal and Southampton finally settled on earlier this year, following his move in January 2006. He did not make an Arsenal appearance that season, but became, at 17 years and three months, the youngest England player to be selected for a senior squad when Sven-Goran Eriksson picked him for the World Cup five months after that transfer. He soon became the youngest player to have scored for the under-21s, when he played against Moldova as a 17-year-old in August 2006.

The first time I saw Walcott play he was 16 and making only his second full appearance for Southampton, against Millwall at The Den. Four days earlier he had scored on his full debut away at Leeds and already there was a ripple of excitement around him.

In the press box the whisper was, 'This kid is going places'. From the whistle, Walcott did not disappoint. The afternoon was meant to be all about Dennis Wise - on his first return to The Den since joining Southampton - but as Wisey sat on the bench, Walcott stole the show. His darting runs terrified the Millwall defence. Their only response was to floor him. Despite this attention, Walcott put Southampton ahead after 18 minutes, his second senior goal in as many starts. Walcott says he has a bad memory, but he has not forgotten that day.

'I remember getting kicked about,' he says, grinning. 'I've actually got a scar on my knee from it. Someone put a hole in my knee, I can't remember the name of the guy who did it but he had no teeth.' He laughs at the stereotype. 'Yeah, proper Millwall.'

It is staggering how much life has changed for Walcott in three years. From Championship to Premier League aged 16, from a modest home to riches - although even now his home seems free from showiness or expensive James Bond-style gadgets.

At the time of the 2006 World Cup, a major breakthrough for Walcott that became mainstream news, his family could not afford to stay in the same hotel as the other England footballers' families. 'We didn't have the funds to stay there, and anyway the prices were ridiculous,' he says. 'To be honest it was nice to be out of the way. The World Cup was an experience for my family as well as me. Mel [girlfriend Melanie Slade] had to deal with the whole Wag culture - I hate that term, Wag.'

The media went crazy for them. How was it for Walcott? 'I was just a little 16-year-old running around on the pitch like a mad person, trying to impress. I didn't take any notice of anything else. You can't, people might say something you don't want to hear, or something really good that might go to your head and then your football goes downhill.'

As quickly as the excitement over Eriksson's young selection grew, it evaporated. Walcott did not play in the World Cup and resentment set in. In his autobiography, Steven Gerrard said that Walcott 'had no right to be there'. Headlines buzzed. Walcott was and remains unfazed. 'I didn't expect the call-up. I was only just taking my driving test at the time. Everyone always says, "He shouldn't have been there, blah blah blah," but it doesn't bother me. I didn't pick the team so don't judge me. It's not my fault.

'There was a lot of pressure straight away. With most young players their development is not on the telly or spoken about, but with me it was different. The England call-up didn't help my development, because everyone was expecting something straight away. In the end it was a good experience, but at the time it was like, "Whoa".'

He says he was starstruck when first picked by England. A keen Liverpool fan, he remembers showing Michael Owen - his boyhood hero - a photo of them together when Walcott had only just started playing football. 'When that photo was taken I was 11. When I showed it to Michael I was 17 - six years later. He couldn't believe it. The whole thing was so weird.'

When Steve McClaren took over from Eriksson and called to say that Walcott would be starting in the under-21s, he felt much happier. 'I was only 17 then anyway, so going into the 21s even then was a big honour. Doing well for them and scoring goals got my confidence back and people were just judging me on that.' Walcott missed the European under-21 championship finals in 2007 through a dislocated shoulder, but his contribution in getting the team there did not go unnoticed. Slowly, Walcott's reputation was being rebuilt.

When Fabio Capello named him for the Trinidad friendly, it completed that circle and Walcott felt the difference in the reception from the other players this time around.

'Whereas before I hadn't played in the Premier League, some players were probably thinking, "What's he doing here? He doesn't deserve to be here", now I'd been doing well,' he says. 'The players made me feel welcome; they trusted me on the ball, which was nice. I felt more part of the squad.'

Eriksson's World Cup gamble was not entirely wasted, though. While England played out their triumphs and woes, on and off the pitch, Walcott was busy making a video diary of his experiences.

'They gave us cameras, so I decided to record something every day about how I was feeling. Initially, it was to keep myself entertained and to show the family, but it's quite a handy thing to keep hold of,' he says. 'I haven't shown it to anyone yet... but I'm quite clever when it comes to those things.'

With the attention surrounding Walcott's emergence, there was a period when every newspaper seemed to carry photos of the young star and his girlfriend. They looked destined to follow the celebrity route. They graced the front of Hello!, appeared on the ITV gameshow Mr and Mrs, and Mel posed for the cover of men's magazine Arena. Walcott's father, Don, appeared on Celebrity Ready Steady Cook - in a face-off with Andy Murray's mum, Judy - and the whole family starred in a cameo role in the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Walcott survived the experience. He laughs about the Hello! photos. 'That was so weird,' he says. 'We look fake! It's the airbrushing. Actually we had some other ones done of us recently, no airbrushing, just us... except that Mel's ear was sticking out in one of them so she asked to have it covered up with some hair...' He looks at me quizzically. 'Girls are weird, aren't they?'

Together the two have learnt to deal with the paparazzi. They try to laugh it off. 'They want to see something go wrong, that's the thing. They want to see a reaction, and that's fine because we don't give them any. We had one who thought Mel was pregnant, it was so stupid. They were actually going to release it in the newspaper. I was like, "OK, go on if you want." I do not have a clue where they got that from. I think they were just trying to make us lose it.'

Despite all the things that make his life unusual, Walcott does not seem far removed from an average teenager. Chatting in the kitchen, he and Mel get excited about a new milkshake chain where you can get 'any flavour of milkshake you want!' Melanie is due to start a university degree in physiotherapy this year. Walcott received an art set for his birthday. 'What do you get a footballer?' he asks. In fact he loves art. He has a C in GCSE art and would like to open a gallery one day. He likes hanging out with his best friend, the Southampton midfielder Jake Thomson.

'We still go into Reading and get haircuts like we used to. We've been going to the same place for eight years. It's a black hairdressers, and I remember we took Gareth Bale with us once. They asked him if he wanted a haircut, he was like "Naaa", which was really funny. Jake and I like to make a day of it. We go to Nando's and then have a cinema day - watch two films back to back, really close to the screen until our eyes are funny.'

Outside the window, one of Walcott's dogs - they have four - starts barking. 'That's Sanchez,' he says. 'He's a pug crossed with a shih-tzu and he's always dominating the other dogs. We've had the dog whisperer round and he says Sanchez has got height issues, that's why he has to bark at everyone. One of the other dogs had his bollocks cut off the other day. Bless him, he's got one of those lampshades on his head.'

Walcott points at his Golf. 'I love that car,' he says. 'It's small and zippy. It reminds me of myself. Plus it's the R32 model, which is also my first squad number, although that's changed now.' He has just been handed the No 14 shirt, last worn by Thierry Henry. 'It's just a number in the end,' he says. 'It's just a number on the back of a shirt, that's what I think, anyway.'

It is quite some mantle, although Walcott has long been accustomed to sharing the insignia of a global sports star. He shares his initials with Tiger Woods - also his school nickname - and is often mistaken for Lewis Hamilton. Mel later confirms that he and Hamilton have exactly the same measurements. 'That's what Hugo Boss told me when I phoned up to get his suit,' she says. Instinctively you cannot help but wonder how long it will be before Walcott's achievements match those luminaries in earnest.

Where does Walcott himself think he is heading? 'In five years' time I want to be a regular for Arsenal and England, scoring 20 goals a season. That's a lot, but you have to set your sights high. I want to win the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup. That's the main thing, medals. People go on about money and contracts, but for me it's always going to be about the football.'

Source:Guardian

Wenger expects Adebayor stay

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger expects star striker Emmanuel Adebayor to still be a Gunner for the start of the new season.

Adebayor has been strongly linked with a summer move to Milan, although Arsenal have always maintained their desire to retain the Togo international.

Speaking after Arsenal's 2-1 pre-season friendly win over Barnet, Wenger stated he expects Adebayor to make his first appearance at training.

"Adebayor is under contract," Wenger told Sky Sports News. "We expect him to turn up on Monday and practice with us."

"Of course," he replied when asked if Adebayor will be with Arsenal at the start of the new Premier League season.

Wenger has lost Alexander Hleb although the French tactician was anticipating his exit to Barcelona by admitting they planned on signing Samir Nasri as his replacement some time ago.

"He had an opportunity to leave. He's done three years. I'd loved him to stay but on the other hand he was in a strong position," he continued.

"We had to accept that and we anticipated that by bringing Nasri in. So that was planned for a long, long time ago."

Arsenal have snapped up Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff this summer and Wenger has confirmed he is looking to add to his squad prior to the transfer window closing.

He said: "Yes you can expect signings. I don't know where and how many, but we're in the market. If there's a good opportunity we'll take it."

Barnet V Arsenal 19th July Friendly

Barnet 1-2 Arsenal


1-0 Gillet (15') View/ Download

1-1 Simpson (63') View/ Download

1-2 Barazite (74') View/ Download

Match Highlights here

Credit: arsenalist and Iker91



It was a match of two half's. In the 1st Half, it was the Arsenal Reserves(except a few) v Barnet and in the 2nd Half, it was Arsenal U-18 v Barnet.

It was the U-18 side that won the game for us. Jack Wilshere was the Hero for the team. He created the goal for Jay Simpson and started the move that gave us the 2nd goal(Barazite scored).He should be given the the man of the match for his impact.

First half was boring, Ramsey looked lively, passing precisely and making some in roads into Barnet's defense.He looks like a really good buy. Sagna was solid as ever. but the rest looked a bit out of sorts.They need to get match practice and will be getting it in the weeks to come.

Barnet scored from a free-kick. Almunia cannot be blamed for that. It was a well taken free-kick.

Second Half saw us make 11 changes to the side that started. Wenger replaced the reserves with the U-18 team. The kids vindicated Wenger's view on youngsters. They played brilliant football at times. Its astonishing to see even the U-18 players play similar to the way seniors team.Jack Wilshere has a very good left foot and made good use of it. The assist to the first goal and the pass to start the move for the 2nd goal was breathtaking. He looks like the one to watch out in the coming season.

Jay Simpson scored the first goal and Barazite slotted the 2nd goal giving us the winning start to the season.It always pays to start the season on the winning note.

We cannot read too much into the game as it was the first game after a long break and players were not match fit. Overall it was a good game to get some practice and build on for the new season.

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Wenger hints at key Ramsey role

Arsenal Wenger has hinted that Wales Under-21 international Aaron Ramsey could play a key role in Arsenal's central midfield.

Winger Ramsey, 17, who is set to make his debut against Barnet on Saturday, made the £5m switch to the Emirates from Cardiff last month.

And with Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva leaving, there is a need for a midfielder.

"I think in the future he will be a central midfielder," said Wenger.

"How is down to him and down to us on how well we work with him.

"In my mind though there are no restrictions on his development because he has played a lot already."

Wenger also told the club's official magazine, Arsenal, of his joy at capturing the Caerphilly-born youngster who attracted interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

"We watched him throughout the whole season," said Wenger.

"We were always on the case, but unfortunately we weren't the only ones because Liverpool, Man United and Everton were strongly behind the case.

"It was a big satisfaction for us that we were able to beat these teams to signing him."