So Arsenal have made it to the Semi Finals or further 14 times, but have only won it twice. Says it all really.

[size=6]Wenger - I have no room for new signings[/size]

By Chris Harris

Arsène Wenger believes that Arsenal's win over Wigan demonstrates why he does not need to add to his squad in January.

The Frenchman told Arsenal.com on Monday that he would not be in the market for players when the transfer window opens next month. Just 24 hours later Wenger saw his team cruise to a 2-0 win in the Carling Cup Quarter Finals despite making wholesale changes from his last Premier League line-up.

As far as the Arsenal manager is concerned, that shows how much quality and depth he already has at his disposal.

"We made nine changes [against Wigan] and we still don’t have Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen, who are injured. Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci too.

"Then there are the players we rested like Marouane Chamakh. And Aaron Ramsey will be back in the squad [soon].

"I don’t know where to put the players. If you buy a player you have to give them a chance to play. Already we have international players who don’t get enough games
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-i-have-no-room-for-new-signings

[size=6]Preview: Arsenal v Fulham[/size]

By Richard Clarke

What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

Arsène Wenger knows the title bid of his Arsenal side was lucky to survive November. But, having done so, they are now in prime position to steal a march on their rivals during December.

The Frenchman took his team into eight games last month. They won four and lost four. The defeats came in two categories -the Champions League away trips and the Premier League home games.

It was a troublesome time but, in reality, little lasting damage has been inflicted.

OK top spot in Group H has probably gone but Arsenal can qualify for the last 16 of Europe's top competition with a win over bottom-side Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday. Last Tuesday they reached the Semi-Final of the Carling Cup. A couple of days before that they had gone temporarily top of the Premier League by beating Aston Villa.

Wenger claims there are still "six or seven" sides that can take the title but surely his main rivals are Manchester United and Chelsea.

During December Arsenal will play them both.

All three teams have had their problems. But the manager argues his side are now the best equipped as winter properly kicks-in.

"December is a very important period for us," said Wenger at Friday's press conference. "We are in all the competitions and in a good position but there's more to come. We want to take off now.

"This is where the race starts now and we are in a good place. If you look at the fixture list - Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham - they all play each other. It's a defining moment in the season but we've got an opportunity to show we've improved.

"We are only two points off the leaders, we have the best away record. And I feel it's easier to rectify a problem at home rather than away from home. We have nearly everyone available. We don't have an injury crisis. So I believe strongly we have the quality to do it."

But, at the same time, Wenger feels his side are fortunate still to be in the title race at all. Arsenal often suffer a case of the November nasties - remember as this point last year they had just lost to Chelsea and dropped 11 points behind the leaders.

"I don't know why it happens," said Wenger. "Against Tottenham we had many players coming back from international duty and we dropped a bit in the second half. But we have had the Carling Cup and played many games. Sometimes it catches up a bit and in November you get the first sign that some players need a breather.

"However considering we lost three home games, yes [we are lucky to be still in the title race]. That is an opportunity usually you don't get. But, on the other hand, everybody has dropped points and we've had an exceptional away record until now.

"We want to take this chance even more because we have had the luck to still be in there."

Sebastien Squillaci and Samir Nasri should shake off knee injuries and be named in the squad. Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) is still approximately a fortnight away from fitness but Manuel Almunia (elbow) suffered a set back this week and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) has some way to go.

There is a wealth of statistics suggesting the visitors will struggle on Saturday.

Fulham recorded their last Premier League away win in August 2009. And they have not won in 23 league visits to Arsenal - a run going back to 1914.

However if they were to break that duck at Emirates it would be the first time Arsenal had lost three straight home games in 33 years.

Yet, although Mark Hughes' side have not won in the Premier League this season, they have lost only two of their seven games and drawn the other five.

"That is the record of a team who defends well away from home," remarked Wenger when those numbers were put to him. "Hughes has a similar style [to Roy Hodgson]. They play good football and try to play out from the back. They are very efficient too. They have lost one or two players through injury but they have some figures who are very influential like Danny Murphy."

Despite the victory over Wigan in midweek, Wenger's men are still wrestling somewhat with the memory of those November defeats to Newcastle and Tottenham. But the manager does not think they will be intimidated.

"No we have no fear factor," said the Frenchman. "That would not be an excuse. We have a high level of confidence at the moment. I believe personally against Tottenham we had a very good game."

Overall that may be true but, in reality, Arsenal's mistakes were punished ruthlessly on derby day a fortnight ago. At home, Wenger's men have shipped as many goals as Manchester United and Chelsea combined. It is almost inconceivable that they can take the title by getting more points away from Emirates Stadium than at home so they need to iron out the issues pronto.

Despite the much-discussed openness of this season's title race, you kind of feel one or two of the top three will go on a run that will ease them clear.

This Arsenal side have suffered some growing pains this year but their fate is in their own hands.

Now nasty November is over, a diligent December just might set them on their way.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3283616/first-team/arsenal-v-fulham?tab=preview

[size=7]Wenger planning loan deals in January[/size]

Arsène Wenger will look to give players like Jay Emmanuel-Thomas Premier League experience by loaning them out in January.

The 19-year-old striker has been is superb goalscoring form for the Reserves this season, finding the net ten times in just seven starts including a spectacular solo effort in a 4-1 win against Everton. Despite this, he has struggled to break into the first-team with only four substitute appearances to his name including a late introduction at Stamford Bridge in October.

Wenger feels regular playing time is paramount for his progression and if he were to make a move Emmanuel-Thomas would follow in the footsteps of Jack Wilshere, who enjoyed a short but hugely rewarding spell with Bolton at the back end of last season.

The England midfielder’s development this season needs no explanation, and Wenger is hopeful of a similar experience for younger players during the second half of this season.

"On loan yes. Players like Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who need to mature to play, who don't get in the team at the moment.

“If I can find them a club in the Premier League I will let him go to let him have an experience like Jack Wilshere last year.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-planning-loan-deals-in-january

Samir Nasri is the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for November.

The France international has followed up his October award with an even more emphatic win, scooping a mammoth 64.9 per cent of the votes cast in our official Club poll.

Samir enjoyed another stellar month for the Gunners. Oozing with confidence, he was Arsenal's creative hub and scored twice, including our Goal of the Month winner at Aston Villa.

Marouane Chamakh finished second in the November poll with 18.2 per cent of the votes. The Moroccan star won plenty of support after scoring four goals last month, including a brace at Wolves.

Lukasz Fabianski was third after another impressive month between the posts.

NOVEMBER PLAYER OF THE MONTH RESULT
Player----------------% of votes
Samir Nasri---------------64.9
Marouane Chamakh----- 18.2
Lukasz Fabianski-----------6.9
Others ---------------------10.0

Andrei Grayson has won the chance to present Samir with his award before the Premier League clash with Stoke City at Emirates Stadium on December 18.

Andrei will also receive tickets to that match.

"Nasri produced some superb performances throughout the month and was the key to propelling us up the league," he said.

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/35947/nasri-is-ea-sports-player-of-the-month

Sagna has also commented how Nasri is a dressing room favourite and gets on with all the players.

Can't believe Nasri is only 23. What a talent.

[size=6]Wenger - New deal on the table for Nasri[/size]

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger has started negotiations with Samir Nasri over a new contract.

The Frenchman has been outstanding this season. His match-winning brace against Fulham on Saturday took his tally to 11 goals in 20 games. But even that does not tell the whole tale of his wonderful form as a creator and finisher.

Unsurprisingly, his manager wants to keep him at Emirates Stadium in the long term.

"We try for a new deal," said Wenger on Tuesday. "I believe 90 per cent of a player's career depends on the club where they go.

"It looks to me he has made the right decision when he decided to join us. So it would be the right decision for him to stay with us."

Nasri and Tottenham's Gareth Bale are considered the early contenders for the Player of the Season trophy. That is fine with Wenger but the manager feels his attentions should be on his team right now.

"We are in the middle of the season now and I will be happy for him if he becomes Player of the Year," said the Frenchman. "But what is the most important for me is that the Club wins.

"The consequence if the Club wins is that the players have a chance to win. I believe the priority is not to win individual awards - the most important thing is that the players focus on making their Club win."
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-new-deal-on-the-table-for-nasri

Yeah no surprises there ever since Gallas left:lol: :p

Really getting sick of all the media continually saying we need to buy a keeper. Why? While Fabianski is in this form there's no reason to buy a keeper. He hasn't cost us any points this season and has saved us a bunch of points.

Apart from the game vs newcastle, when he misjudged the cross

I wouldn't say he cost us those points. We had more than enough time to come back from it. That loss was more down to our own ineptness.

Being a keeper myself i take great pride in watching the keepers in the game more then the players and to see Fabs come out half way then stop take a step back then try to outjump one of the best jumpers in the game from a standing jump he was always going to lose, yes we should of won that game but if he didnt make that mistake we would of had more of a chance,

I think Mark Bosnich put it well on Fox Sports a while back. He's an excellent shot stopper, but he isn't that good at commanding his box- something thats necessary in England. I think Squillaci and Koscielny are suffering from similar problems: they aren't used to the English game quite frankly.

Of course, it's something that time usually heals, Fabianski hasn't had much experience at the top level and obviously the two defenders are new signings- of course they're not going to be used to English football. Problem is, for the time being we're vulnerable at the back

Report: Arsenal 3-1 Partizan

By Richard Clarke

Arsenal took their place in the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th straight season thanks to a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.

Arsène Wenger’s side only needed a win to secure safe passage but it turned out to be a rather nervous night against the bottom side in Group H.

In fact, they could only breathe easily when Samir Nasri fired home the third 13 minutes from time.

Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead on the half-hour from the penalty spot but they failed to kick-on from there. Cleo’s 52nd-minute equaliser was hardly on the cards but it was always a danger.

Theo Walcott came off the bench to fire the home side back into the lead in the 73rd minute.

After Nasri’s goal, Arsenal should have cruised home but this was a not a fluent night at Emirates.

In the final stages, Bacary Sagna was sent off for a last-man foul on Aleksandar Lazevski.

Shakthar's win against Braga mean they have won Group H. That could present Arsenal with a problem in the draw on December 17.

But this was a night when Wenger’s side simply had to get through.

And they did.

The manager made three changes from the side that had squeezed past Fulham on Saturday. The most noteworthy was Van Persie, who came straight in as captain. It was only the Dutchman’s third start of the season and, interestingly, he operated ‘in the hole’ behind Marouane Chamakh.

Elsewhere, Denilson replaced Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs came in for Gael Clichy who had gone down with sickness.

It was mighty cold at Emirates Stadium this evening. Much had changed – including the season – since Arsenal had hit 11 goals in those massive wins over Shakhtar and Braga.

Defeats in the corresponding away games had left them needing to match the result of the Portuguese team in Ukraine to qualify. Braga were unlikely to win and Arsenal seemed a shoo-in against a side that were trying to avoid becoming only the 11th team to achieve zero points in a Champions League group.

It should have been straightforward for Arsenal but there was the potential of a nerve-jangling night.

And the first half-hour did not go to plan.

Although the home side were on top territorially, they created little. The closest they came was when Nasri tried to feed Van Persie at the near post.

Meanwhile the pacy Cleo was sitting on the shoulders of the Arsenal centre backs chasing long balls over the top and waiting for a mistake.

Then, in the 14th minute Gibbs turned his ankle in midfield. He tried to soldier on but only lasted 10 minutes. Emmanuel Eboue came on. But the right-sided defender was covering at left back and the move did nothing for Arsenal’s balance.

However, on the half-hour, Arsenal were thrown a bone.

Alex Song flicked Van Persie into space in the area and a rash challenge from Marko Jovanovic brought him down.

The Dutchman fired home from the spot. It was his first goal since the last game of last season.

Naturally the goal was a lift. Eboue’s quick feet took him past two defenders on the left and his probing cross was hacked over his own bar by Mladen Krstajic.

But they could not continue in that vein. Arsenal’s first 45 minutes this evening had been edgy and disjointed.

The opening minutes of the second half were better. Keeper Vladimir Stojkovic denied Chamakh and then Denilson's cross was deflected to Nasri, who thumped his shot high over the bar.

It seemed that Arsenal were finally getting going.

Then Partizan equalised.

The visitors worked the ball in from the right to Cleo just outside the area. He let fly and the ball took a crucial deflection off Squillaci to beat Fabianski.

It was only the second goal the Serbian side had scored in Group H – and that had been a penalty against Arsenal in Belgrade.

At this point, Braga were still drawing at Shakhtar so Wenger’s men were still through. But they seemed determined to take it to the wire.

Sagna’s cross drifted just beyond Van Persie at the far post and there was a glimpse of an opportunity when Stojkovic dropped a cross under pressure from Song. But they were only half-chances.

Midway through the half, Wenger made a change. Andrey Arshavin came off and Theo Walcott replaced him.

Arsenal were now building up some sort of momentum. When the substitute was blocked on the edge of the area, Van Persie’s free-kick was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Stojkovic. From the resulting corner Song curled an effort wide.

Arsenal were getting closer and they would soon make the breakthrough. In the 73rd minute, Sagna’s cross was nodded out straight to Walcott by Aleksandar Krstajic. The England international chested down the ball and fired into the far corner.

The relief was palpable and six minutes later the win was secure. Song danced through a couple of challenges and, after passing to Nasri, looked for the return. The Frenchman, however, dragged the ball back and fired low into the corner.

At the same time, over in Donetsk, Shakthar were taking the lead.

That killed off any chance of top spot. But, in reality, Arsenal still had a job to do here.

Five minutes from time, Sagna brought down Lazevski on the edge of the area. The right back was the last man and, unfortunately, had to go. Fabianski made a fine save from the free-kick from Radosav Petrovic.

It was a tough end to a tough night. But, despite it all, Arsenal are through.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3315184/first-team/arsenal-v-partizan-belgrade?tab=report