Everything Arsenal

There’s not much you can say after an 8-2 drubbing against one of your biggest rivals. We weren’t good enough is probably the biggest understatement of the century! As each goal went in though, you couldn’t help thinking that surely this time Arsene Wenger would have to get his cheque book out and finally splash out on a big name signing (or two, or three, or four)!

Obviously there weren’t many positives to take out of the game apart from the fact Manchester United only managed to score 8! However, it could be the wake-up call Mr Wenger needed to show that despite our injuries and suspensions, the current squad isn’t good enough and the likes of United, Manchester City, Chelsea and maybe even Liverpool are pulling away from us.

The defence were laughable at times with Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou showing that they’re simply not good enough against the very best teams. Armand Traore was even worse and at the time of writing I’ve just learnt he’s been sold to QPR – what a way to end his Arsenal career!

The lack of creativity going forward was equally as worrying with Andrey Arshavin looking a shadow of his former self and Theo Walcott looking like he’s scared of his own shadow. Even Robin Van Persie, one of our most talented players, choked under the pressure and gave United’s keeper (who I still believe is worse than Szczesny – at last a positive!) the easiest penalty save he’ll ever have to make.

The Gunners are crying out for new players and with just one and a half days left to find them, time is running out. Park Chu-Young has just been snapped up from Monaco to add some attacking flair to the squad and although he may not be the megastar Arsenal fans have been hoping for, he should be a good addition.

Reports suggest German defender Per Mertesacker is currently having a medical at the Emirates (Tuesday afternoon), as well as Brazilian left-back Andre Santos who are sure to bolster the Gunners defence. The disappointing news is that Arsenal have reportedly ended their interest in Gary Cahill after having a derisory bid rejected last week. Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up at Spurs!

With the transfer window almost shut, it remains to be seen who else Wenger will bring in, if anyone, but the 8-2 demolition at the weekend could (and should) be the kick up the backside the manager needed.

Photo taken by Ronnie Macdonald

It was the first home game of the season and the first time I’d been at the Emirates for over 2 seasons. Living just a ten minute walk away from the ground now makes it a lot easier to get to games though!

Despite the lack of signings and the departure of Cesc Fabregas just a few days ago, I was still feeling optimistic about the clash against Liverpool and the season ahead. The pitch looked good, the crowds were flooding in (obviously I was there an hour before kick-off as usual), but there didn’t seem to be the same excitement around the ground that I was feeling.

As the Arsenal line-up was read out, I feared the worst when the name of Samir Nasri was jeered by various sections of the stadium. This was a small minority however, as most Gunners fans supported him throughout and a couple of chants (the clean ones) about him were nice to hear.

The atmosphere was actually ok, although the Liverpool fans seemed to be making more noise on a more regular basis. There was a moment just after half time however when you could hear a pin drop! At times the chants of ‘Come on Arsenal’ sounded more like a groan than encouragement, as the frustrations of six years without a trophy were plain to see.

As for the game itself, I felt neither side were that impressive, but it was probably the away side that looked more dangerous going forward. The result was undeniably determined by the sending off of Emmanuel Frimpong. It was a shame as the midfielder looked solid throughout, but the red card had been coming for a while. I’m looking forward to seeing him again after his suspension and hopefully he can keep it up the good work. From then on Liverpool dominated and just about deserved their victory.

Without doubt, Thomas Vermaelen was by far Arsenal’s best player and apart from one header at goal, he kept the £35 million Andy Carroll very quiet. It showed how much we missed him last year and how different it might have been!

All the talk seems to be about Arsenal signing a tough-tackling no-nonsense centre half and a combative central midfielder, and although a centre half would be a very nice indeed (Gary Cahill or Christopher Samba please), I don’t think an aggressive midfielder is what we need. Frimpong looked good and Song is a more than adequate ball winner to compliment the likes of Wilshere and Ramsay – although I was disappointed with the latter on Saturday.

The main concern for me was how uncreative we were going forward, as Nasri was our only real threat – quite worrying as he looks to be leaving in the next day or two! Robin Van Persie was isolated throughout and the performances of Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin were weak and lacklustre – how many more chances should they get?

Gervinho should add a bit more spark when he returns from suspension, but the lack of creativity going forward was the most disappointing thing for me. Our only real chance was when Van Persie fired at Reina’s legs in the second half when he should have done better, but one good chance at home is not good enough.

With nine days left before the transfer window slams shut, there’s never been a more crucial time for Arsene Wenger to get his cheque book out – especially with a must-win Champions League qualifier on Wednesday evening against Udinese. A centre half (as mentioned above), a creative midfielder and a striker or goal scoring winger should be Wenger’s main priority or it could be another miserable season at the Emirates.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to bolster his defence in the summer, as he looks to sign Gary Cahill from Bolton Wanderers, as well as two other young talents.

The Arsenal boss sent scouts to watch Cahill against Manchester United at the weekend, after the former Aston Villa star has impressed so far this season.

Wenger will have to fight for the defender though, with Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Manchester United all interested in signing the 25-year-old.

The Gunners have also agreed a deal to sign 15-year-old Leander Siemann from German side Hertha Berlin, according to reports in Germany.

The centre-back spent a week on trial with Arsenal last month, as Wenger looks to strengthen his defensive options for next season. It has been reported that the teenager impressed the manager enough for him to splash out £220,000 to bring him to North London.

Siemann told German newspaper Bilt: "It was always my dream to become professional. Arsenal is a huge opportunity."

Hertha Under-16 coach Frank Vogel believes Arsenal are getting a top prospect. He said: "He has the strength to be a good player in England. For us he is currently a regular player and now his family wants him to develop, not just in footballing terms.

"Leander is very dynamic, robust and strong in the tackle. He now needs to mature further, which is what he must do in England."

The Gunners are also set to sign Charlton left-back Carl Jenkinson after the youngster rejected the offer of a new contract with the Addicks.

The 19-year-old recently broke into the Charlton first team and Wenger looks like he is eyeing him up as a possible replacement for Gael Clichy if the Frenchmen leaves the club in the summer.

After a host of defensive errors this season, it looks as if Wenger is acting quickly to strengthen the Gunners back four and the likes of Cahill are sure to do just that.

By Steve Alexander

So it looks as if Jens Lehmann has made a sensational return to Arsenal after the injury to Wojciech Szczesny, so Gunners fans can expect some entertainment in the Arsenal goal between now and the end of the season.

The 41-year-old has come out of retirement to return to Arsenal after leaving the club almost three years ago after a five-year-stint in North London, but he could prove to be an important acquisition in Arsenal's quest to win the Premier League title.

Lehmann hung up his gloves nine months ago after playing for German side Stuttgart, but will be returning to Arsenal until the end of the season to ease their goalkeeper crisis, which has left Manuel Almunia as the clubs only fit senior keeper.

The former Germany international will compete with Almunia for the number one spot at the Emirates possibly reigniting an old feud between the pair.

Life was never dull with Lehmann between the sticks (see video above), who was booked a ridiculous amount of times for a goalkeeper during his time at the club.

The veteran is hoping to help the Gunners clinch their first piece of silverware for six years, but knows it will be a difficult task after seeing Arsenal go out of three competitions in less than three weeks.

Lehmann is perhaps not the keeper the majority of Arsenal fans would have liked to be brought into the club, however he could prove to be a valuable addition as the Gunners look to win the Premier League title.

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It was a disappointing night for Arsenal fans on Tuesday after seeing their side dominated by an excellent Barcelona side and crashing out of the Champions League, but it's crucial the Gunners get back to winning ways on Saturday against Manchester United.

The manner of the Barcelona defeat was also hard to swallow after the unbelievable red card given to Robin van Persie after shooting at goal a mere 0.4 seconds after the referees whistle was blown.

Despite that, Arsenal offered almost nothing going forward all evening and although it's impossible to predict what might have happened if Van Persie had stayed on the pitch, it's hard to disagree that Barcelona deserved their 3-1 victory on the night.

Just to rub it in even further, Arsenal fans had to watch bitter-rivals Tottenham Hotspur earn a 0-0 draw against AC Milan on Wednesday evening to progress to the quarter finals of the competition.

Arsenal's Champions League elimination means they only have the Premier League and the FA Cup to play for this season after talk of the quadruple just two weeks ago.

The Gunners travel to Manchester United on Saturday in the FA Cup in what is now a crucial clash against the Old Trafford club.

It is more important than ever that Arsenal put their Champions League heartache behind them and put all their efforts this season into winning the Premier League and FA Cup, as six years without silverware will be too much for Arsenal fans and possibly some key players to take.

If the Gunners want to hang on to the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin and Van Persie they must not end another season empty-handed.

If Arsenal can manage to do this then the Barcelona defeat will be a distant memory come May.

By Steve Alexander

Robin van Persie is a shock inclusion in Arsenal's Champions League squad for their crunch game against Barcelona on Tuesday evening.

The striker limped off in Arsenal's Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham last weekend and was expected to be out of action for up to four weeks.

The Dutchman however, has made a sensational recovery and is now in line to return to the Gunners starting XI after taking part in training on Monday.

Van Persie has now travelled to Spain with the rest of the Arsenal squad in what is a welcome boost to the squad as they take a 2-1 lead to the Nou Camp.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has also revealed that captain Cesc Fabregas has a '90 per cent' chance of featuring against his former club following a hamstring problem.

It's not all good news however, as Alex Song has been ruled out and is not named in the squad.

Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen are still on the sidelines for Arsenal but Wenger is able to call upon everyone else who featured against Sunderland on Saturday.

If Arsenal avoid defeat they will progress to the quarter finals of the Champions League as they look to end their six years without silverware.

By Steve Alexander

After losing to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final last Sunday, Arsenal must now turn their attention to the Premier League and the Champions League - but which one should the Gunners concentrate on more?

A comfortable 5-0 victory over Leyton Orient in the FA Cup on Wednesday helped Arsenal fans forget about their Carling Cup heartache, but Arsene Wenger has always said that their main priority is the Premier League and Champions League.

As we approach the business end of the season, the familiar sight of players on the treatment table seems to be happening again. Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song, Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen are all currently injured.

Despite this Arsenal are still in an excellent position in the two main competitions that Wenger has targeted this season ahead of a league game against Sunderland this weekend and the crucial second leg against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Gunners are currently four points behind leaders Manchester United in the Premier League, but have a game in hand and Wenger's side head to the Nou Camp with a 2-1 lead. It will be interesting to see however, which competition the manager makes his priority.

Arsenal have never won the Champions League and with a 2-1 lead it could be argued that Wenger should concentrate on Tuesday's clash against the Spanish giants. This however could mean resting players against Sunderland on Saturday - but can Arsenal really afford to do that and risk falling behind in the title race?

It is an interesting dilemna for the Gunners boss and many Arsenal fans will have different opinions on which competition they should target.

We have seen before though how resting key players can come back to haunt the side and with no silverware in six years, it is crucial that Wenger picks his best team when possible from now until the end of the season.

Do you think Arsene Wenger should prioritise one competition over the other....? Have your say below.....

Arsenal face Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final on Sunday aiming to win their first silverware since 2005.

The match however, is more than just about Arsene Wenger getting his hands on the Carling Cup trophy. It is much more significant than that.

Since the Gunners beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final six years ago, the trophy room at the Emirates Stadium has stood bare, but the chance to fill it with the Carling Cup is crucial to the rest of Arsenal's season and possibly the next few.

If Arsenal manage to triumph over Birmingham on Sunday, few would bet against them going on to collect another trophy this season. After all, they have plenty to choose from and are still in with a chance of winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Failure to beat the Blues however, could have a devastating effect on the rest of Arsenal's season. We have seen in previous seasons how the Gunners have capitulated after suffering a setback and the manager surely fears the same could potentially happen again. 

Think back to the 2-2 draw with Birmingham back in 2008, after the Gunners surrendered a two-goal lead and then arguably the Premier League title as they failed to win any of their next four league games and slipped down to third in the table.

The consequences of failing to beat Birmingham on Sunday however, could be even worse than just ending the season without any silverware.

The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie may already be frustrated at the lack of trophies they have won since being at the club and may be tempted to move away from the Emirates if they go another season without tasting success.

Just when it seems Arsene Wenger is building another great team at Arsenal, the Carling Cup final may be much more important for the club than people think.

Win and more trophies will surely follow. Lose and it could be the end of Arsenal's season.

By Steve Alexander

How do you think the Carling Cup final will go against Birmingham on Sunday....? Have your say below....

It was a very quiet transfer window for Arsenal, but one player Arsene Wenger did manage to bring to the Emirates Stadium is Japanese starlet Ryo Miyaichi.

The 18-year-old has signed for the Gunners on a long-term deal, but has joined Dutch club Feyenoord on loan until the end of the season.

Miyaichi plays as a forward and had a trial with Arsenal in the summer, in which he did enough to impress Wenger.

The Gunners boss hopes the teenager, who has been playing his football in Japan, will continue his development with Feyenoord before joining up again with Arsenal before the start of next season.

Born in Okazaki, near Nagoya, Miyaichi is a product of the Japanese High School soccer system and has been compared to the likes of Gunners legend Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo.

A key aspect of the youngsters game are his quick bursts up the field and his trickery on the ball, which has prompted the comparisons with Henry and Ronaldo.

Miyaichi is an integral part of the Japanese under-19 team and will be looking to win his first senior cap in the near future.

Wenger is excited about the talent already shown by Miyaichi and has urged the 18-year-old to begin learning English before returning to the Emirates in the summer.

With the Arsenal manager's ability to find relatively unknown talents and transform them into world superstars, it seems as though Miyaichi could be another that falls into that category.

By Steve Alexander

There's just over an hour to go on Transfer Deadline Day and after sat watching Sky Sports News for most of the day in anticipation, everything is still quiet at the Emirates.

With different players seemingly travelling around the country to discuss personal terms with various clubs, there's a tinge of jealously that Arsenal are not involved in the excitement.

But do we even need any new players?

The answer is probably yes. Even without the injury to Thomas Vermaelen it's been common knowledge for a while that a centre back should be the main priority for Arsene Wenger.

Laurent Koscielny has his good days and bad days and Sebastien Squillaci should only be used as cover but still no new defender has been brought in as the clock continues to tick down.

It seems as though Mr Wenger will have to make do with the current squad despite the injury to Samir Nasri at the weekend.

Southampton's teenage star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been the subject of much speculation but it seems as if this particular deal will have to wait until the summer.

So as we move into a busy February, the Gunners squad will be put to the ultimate test as they battle to win silverware in all four competitions.

The question is do the current Arsenal players have what it takes to go the distance? Who knows? But In Arsene We Trust.