[size=6]Bergkamp appointed Ajax youth team manager[/size]

Dennis Bergkamp has replaced Frank de Boer as Ajax's youth team manager.

The Arsenal legend rejoined his former club in 2008 and worked in a trainee role while he studied for his UEFA coaching badges.

His latest step up comes in the wake of De Boer's appointment as Ajax's first-team coach following Martin Jol's departure in December.

Bergkamp came through the ranks at Ajax before heading to Inter Milan and then to Arsenal, where he spent 11 highly-successful years.
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Good news. Hope to see him back at the club someday in the future.

[size=6]Report: Arsenal 0-0 Manchester City[/size]

By Richard Clarke

It was a night of frustration.

Arsenal dominated second-place Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday but just could not score.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas both bashed shots against the same post in a breakneck first half. The early pace ebbed away somewhat in the second period and the key moment came on the hour when the Dutchman was denied by a spectacular save from Joe Hart.

Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were dismissed in the dying seconds for a clash on the sidelines. The sendings-off sapped the final drops of spirit from a difficult game.

However, Arsène Wenger will be buoyed by the domination his side enjoyed against a direct title rival.

On the evidence of this evening it is Arsenal who will challenge Manchester United more strongly for the Premier League crown over the course of the coming months.

Tonight was Twelfth Night. The evening when tradition demands that the Christmas decorations must come down.

It was the end of the Festive Football and, not surprisingly, Wenger chose the side that had brought his success during that period.

This was the side that had beaten Chelsea and Birmingham so comprehensively. Lukasz Fabianski caused a slight concern when he appeared to hurt his shoulder in the warm-up but it did not prevent him starting the game.

Of course this was second versus third – a massive encounter for both sides.

About 95 per cent of the time, matches of this magnitude start slowly.

This one fell into the other five per cent.

It took desperate defending and a dash of luck to keep out a rampant Arsenal in the opening 15 minutes or so.

Samir Nasri burst in to the area and tapped a pass to the unmarked Jack Wilshere on this right. The Englishman elected not to shoot and tried to find Van Persie at the far post. His cross trickled past the foot of the stretching Dutchman.

Manchester City flew up the other end and James Milner drove wide.

Then Wilshere stung the hands of Hart from the edge of the area.

All this happened with barely 200 seconds on the clock. It was a thunderous start and the pace was just settling down when the game received another jolt.

There seemed little on when Van Persie pirouetted himself some space on the edge of the area in the ninth minute. But then he thumped a rasping left-foot shot against the base of the post.

The visitors arrived at Emirates Stadium with the best defensive record in the top flight but they seemed to be struggling with Arsenal this evening.

In the 11th minute, Nasri and Theo Walcott created a melee in the penalty area. Eventually the ball found its way to Wilshere 12 yards out. His sidefoot shot was clutched on the line by the grateful Hart.

The game could not maintain that pace - and it didn’t. But, despite the lull, Arsenal were on top.

In the 23rd minute, Wilshere and Van Persie combined over a right-wing free-kick to give Walcott an ounce of space in the area. The winger drove his cross-shot just wide.

Manchester City were offering little of substance but they rallied as the half-hour approached. Gareth Barry’s free-kick sailed over Sagna and Alex Song had to bundle behind from a Carlos Tevez cutback. Seconds later Van Persie won a crucial back-post header when surrounded by three visiting players.

In the 30th minute, Nasri darted inside and found Fabregas. His drive hit the same piece of post that Van Persie had rattled earlier. The rebound flew across goal and fell to Walcott who fired against the other post. The latter effort would not have counted. The Englishman had been flagged offside.

Walcott was having another eye-catching game. Six minutes before the half-time whistle he raced through in the right-channel and reached the byline. His cross certainly hit the hand of Vincent Kompany. Referee Mike Jones presumably thought the Manchester City defender was so close he could not have got it out of the way.

In injury time, Walcott weaved inside and a Fabregas shot was deflected over by the diving Nigel de Jong.

It was another chance for Arsenal in a half they had dominated. Their performance had been fine. The only problem was that they had not secured the lead they so richly deserved.

The tide was generally in the same direction after the restart but the current was weaker.

Van Persie drove into the sidenetting in the 52nd minute but by now the visitors were offering much more of a blockade. And when they did get through, Hart blocked their path.

On the hour, Van Persie tried his luck from 25 yards and the England keeper threw himself to his right to turn the ball aside. A fantastic save.

With 21 minutes left, Wenger replaced Walcott with Andrey Arshavin. It produced more of the same so, with 10 minutes left, he brought on Nicklas Bendtner for Wilshere.

But the story continued.

In the final minute of full time, Sagna and Zabaleta squared up. Both received their marching orders.

Van Persie’s free-kick forced another block from Hart in injury time but this was one of those nights for Wenger’s men.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3329071/first-team/arsenal-v-manchester-city?tab=report

[size=6]Wenger set to make 'many changes' for Leeds[/size]

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger intends to make changes for the FA Cup Third Round tie with Leeds on Saturday.

The move is no surprise. Arsenal have just completed a run of four Premier League games in ten days over the Festive Period. Next week they start a two-legged Carling Cup Semi-Final against Ipswich.

Speaking to TV Online on Thursday lunchtime, Wenger confirmed that Kieran Gibbs will be back in the squad for the first time since December 8.

Meanwhile the suspension of Bacary Sagna enforces a change with Emmanuel Eboue coming in at right back.

Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie both suffered minor kicks against Manchester City on Wednesday but, even if they recover in time, neither are likely to figure against the Championship side.

“We will rotate,” said Wenger. “There are going to be changes, many changes.

“It will be good to have Kieran back and Eboue will play as Sagna is suspended.

“I cannot give you the team yet. I have somewhere in my mind that I will make changes but I don’t know who will play.

“From last night, we have no serious injuries. I believe that Nasri and Van Persie could be short for Saturday. They have kicks - Van Persie on the hip and Nasri on the ankle. It is a question of days.

“They have a chance to recover in time. But [anyway] I will certainly rest Van Persie and maybe Nasri.”
http://www.arsenal.com/news/reserves-news/wenger-set-to-make-many-changes-for-leeds

Lol you should have beaten us first time as well. With Barton and Carroll and Nolan all fit I hardly see how you can think it will be an easy 3 points.

Sweet if Samir does resign! Yes hazard will be a great buy if we do get him! So what's the news on Thomas? Is he our for longer or what?

We are being linked with Chris Samba a lot in the last week or so. Might be a good option if Wenger decides to buy a CB if Vermaelen is out for longer.

Wellington also set to go out on loan in Spain to help speed up his work permit.

Good news for Aaron Ramsey he's back in the squad to face Leeds.

We are repoertedly at the front of the line so sign Eden Hazard in the summer. Would be an excllent buy if it comes off.

[size=7]Wenger - No January move for Eden Harzard[/size]

Arsène Wenger has ruled out a January bid for Eden Hazard.

The 20-year-old Belgian international has been linked with Arsenal recently. But Hazard operates in an attacking midfield role for Lille and Wenger says he is fully-stocked there.

“In the offensive department we have many players,” said the Frenchman. “If I give Carlos Vela and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas out on loan it is because we have what it takes.

“At the end of the season we'll have a look at the situation but at the moment it's completely ruled out.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-no-january-move-for-eden-hazard

[size=6]Preview: Arsenal - Leeds United[/size]

By Richard Clarke

For the first time in decade, Arsène Wenger is going ‘all out’ in the four main competitions – and he’ll prove it on Saturday.

Ever since the early years of his tenure in North London, the Arsenal manager has targeted the Premier League and Champions League but managed his resources in the FA and Carling Cups.

He played a young side in the latter knockout competition and often had to do to same in the middle rounds of the former when the European games returned to the calendar.

However this season, Wenger believes the size of his squad can cover any eventuality.

On Saturday, Arsenal start their 2011 FA Cup adventure with a tough-looking tie with Leeds at Emirates Stadium. On Wednesday, they play the first leg of their Carling Cup Semi-Final against Ipswich.

Wenger shuffled his squad for those four Premier League games in ten days over Christmas and he has promised more of the same this weekend.

But, at the same time, Arsenal will NOT be weak.

“I said since the start of the season that I have a big squad and that we will go for all the competitions,” he said at his pre-match press conference. “Our desire is to qualify on Saturday, we take the FA Cup very seriously.

“We rotated quite well I think [over Christmas] so we are not over-tired. I will play the best team available.

“I am very lucky because I have 25 players of a top, top level and choosing for any game is a big problem because I have an abundance of quality. The team who plays will be the freshest team and therefore the best available.

“We play on Wednesday in the Semi-Final of the League Cup and we have four days to prepare after the FA Cup, so it is no problem.”

On Friday, Wenger ruled out Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie. He then added that Aaron Ramsey, Carlos Vela and Kieran Gibbs would be in the squad while Wojciech Szczesny should probably take the gloves.

That may appear as though four regulars are out and four not-so-regulars are in but Saturday’s side will not be like that. Expect a host of familiar names with maybe one surprise on the bench.

Leeds ended Wenger’s first FA Cup campaign at Highbury in 1997. It remains the only time Arsenal have lost on home soil under the Frenchman. They have not been defeated by lower league opposition in that time either.

Despite that, Simon Grayson’s side will fancy a shock to match the one they pulled off at Manchester United last season.

They will be backed by around 9,000 travelling fans for their first trip to Emirates Stadium. To Wenger, the game rekindles memories of games gone by.

“Not so long ago, on January 1, 2002, Leeds were top of the Premier League but three or four years later, they were in League One,” he said.

“It just shows you how quickly you can go up and down when you do not respect the basic rules of our game. Leeds is part of a tradition of football history in England. You knew when you went to Leeds, if you took points there you had a chance to do well in the League.

“And it looks now as though they are coming up again.”

Arsenal fans endured a turgid 0-0 draw with an unambitious and shackling Manchester City side on Wednesday. Leeds will be the polar opposite. In the Championship they have scored 46 goals – a figure behind only Watford – and conceded 43 – a figure bettered by only Preston, who are rock bottom.

Sanchez Watt, on loan from Arsenal, may be part of that frontline but he is more likely to be on the bench even if he does recover from injury.

The home side will attack too. Mostly because it is Wenger’s way but also because they will not want a replay adding to a cluttered schedule.

“We will go to win the game,” said Wenger. “We are at home at the Emirates so we can't say we're going for a draw.

“If we have to replay to qualify, we'll do that aswell. I remember it happened against Port Vale where we had to go there in a replay and we won. After that we won the Cup.

“But ideally we want to qualify tomorrow because after that we have Ipswich and then West Ham.”

Wenger has never ‘chosen’ any competition really. The fruits of a deliberate Carling Cup policy are obvious to see and his decisions in the FA Cup have been steered by Champions League demands.

“The only problem we have had in the FA Cup is sometimes it conflicts with the Champions League when you go far,” he said.

“I remember we played Manchester United in the Semi-Finals at Villa Park, and then three days later we had a Quarter-Final of the Champions League.

“I played all of the players and in the end we lost the Champions League match late in the game. When that happens you think we should have sacrificed a bit more the FA Cup.

“But we learned over Christmas that we have the potential to go all the way this season and that we have the desire to do it.

“So let’s just go for it.”
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3344937/first-team/arsenal-v-leeds?tab=preview

[size=6]Nasri named Barclays Player of the Month[/size]

Samir Nasri has been named Barclays Player of the Month.

The Arsenal midfielder has been in sparkling form this season and started December in superb fashion with two superb solo strikes against Fulham.

He netted against Partizan Belgrade too, taking his tally for the season to 12 by the end of 2010.

Nasri was chosen as Player of the Month by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.
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