No point in getting a goalkeeper we don't need one.

Yeah Almunia looks like he's heading to Gala. As for Szczesny, even at 20 he's a more solid keeper than Almunia. In 2-3 years he'll be #1.

There's no point in buying a keeper while Fabianski is playing well, he's earned his shot and deserves to keep his place.

I guess the Barca games will be an accurate indication of how good Fabianski is. As much as i am a Spurs fan i can appreciate the team Arsenal have and their wonderful development. How i fit in as a Spurs fan is some of the conduct by certain players (Nasri in particular, also Wenger himself being a douche) but i don't dislike Arsenal for the sake of it.

For the Gallas incident? By the time Gallas is through with you lot, you'll be on Nasri's side. :p

That was pretty unprofessional but more recently the dive in the Carling cup for one (argue contact all you like my grandmother wouldn't have gone down under that challenge), and he's just an absolute arrogant tool i'd like to see get tackled by Nigel De Jong.

With the Gallas incident its amusing that NAsri keeps bringing it up. He needs to realise that he's a wanker and most people would do the same thing.

There a far worse than Nasri, I guess he gives off that arrogant vibe, but I wouldn't say he actually is overly arrogant, sounds like you're jealous :p nah, I'm proably just defending him cos he's my favourite player at the moment.

As for the dive, that's fair enough, find me a video, I can't fully remember the incident. Chamakh and Eboue are probably the worst on the diving front in our squad.

There a far worse than Nasri, I guess he gives off that arrogant vibe, but I wouldn't say he actually is overly arrogant, sounds like you're jealous :p nah, I'm proably just defending him cos he's my favourite player at the moment.

As for the dive, that's fair enough, find me a video, I can't fully remember the incident. Chamakh and Eboue are probably the worst on the diving front in our squad.

Watch the video, in the above post, my grandmother wouldn't have gone down. I instantly despise people who do it. I think they should have a month out for diving, simple.

I agree he's got talent, i just think he knows that too yet still goes down too easily in challenges. Chamakh is a disgrace and Eboue i havn't really seen enough to make a call.

Something changed when they changed the offside rule and the backpass. In the 80s you never would have got away with the penalties that you get today - and I'm probably going to try and back that up this weekend with some actual stats...

But that is far from the worst dive you'll see, I agree diving has no part in the sport, but Nasri is by no means anywhere near the worst diver in football, give my 5 other examples of Nasri being a cheat. You can see Bassong tugs at his shirt so it can go either way, maybe I'm bias but that's my opinion.

[size=6]Report: West Ham 0-3 Arsenal[/size]

By Richard Clarke





Robin van Persie scored two goals and made the other as Arsenal returned to Premier League action with a 3-0 win at West Ham on Saturday.





In their last two games, Arsène Wenger’s side had struggled in Cup ties against Championship opposition. This evening, back in the top flight, they dominated.

Van Persie’s snapshot put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute. He hit the post on the half-hour and, just before the break, provided the cut-back for Theo Walcott to prod home the second.

Arsenal eased off in the second half but secured the points when debutant Wayne Bridge brought down Walcott and Van Persie scored from the penalty spot.

The scoreline reflected the performance at Upton Park and frankly, after a difficult start to 2011, Wenger’s men needed both.

January will probably turn out to be Arsenal’s busiest month of the season and this result will help to put it back on track.

Wenger made four changes from the side beaten at Portman Road last Wednesday. Van Persie and Samir Nasri came back after slight “knocks”. Alex Song and Gael Clichy also returned. Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey Arshavin, Kieran Gibbs and Denilson all dropped to the bench.

For once, the gameday build-up did not centre around Arsenal. On the morning of the match, stories began circulating that Avram Grant might be in charge of his last game.

The visitors’ domination in the first half would hardly help.

Arsenal took the game by the throat early on and never let go until the break. West Ham did have a couple of golden opportunities but Wenger’s men utterly deserved to be 2-0 up at the interval.

The start was a ‘slow-burner’. Julian Faubert hooked the ball away as Cesc Fabregas stooped to nod home Van Persie’s flick at the far post.

Then Nasri’s drive deflected into the arms of Robert Green. But chances were scarce.

However Arsenal would take the lead in the 13th minute and, from there, they kicked on.

Walcott drove a low cross to the near post, Nasri dummied and Van Persie fired home first time at the near post. It was a crisp finish by the Dutchman, his 50th Premier League strike, but the Frenchman’s involvement had been crucial. He did not actually touch the ball but he deserved to be credited with an assist.

The goal started a fire under Arsenal. For the final half-hour of the game, they would be rampant.
In the 19th minute, Fabregas released Walcott through the middle. He was shadowed by James Tomkins, who buffeted the Englishman but had tumbled by the time he looked to shoot.

In the end, Walcott’s effort trickled meekly into the hands of the Green.

West Ham might have grabbed an equaliser four minutes later. Carlton Cole latched onto Johan Djourou’s weak back pass and Wojciech Szczesny thrust out his left hand to save. The rebound eventually found its way to Zavon Hines whose angled shot went over the bar.

The chance did not interrupt Arsenal’s dominance. Just before the half-hour, they nearly grabbed a second with a sumptuous counter-attack. Fabregas raced down the left and crossed for Van Persie to cushion a pass in to the path of the onrushing Song. Tomkins half-blocked his sidefooted shot and Green cleared up the ricochet.

Two minutes later. Nasri fled forward and fed Van Persie on the left of the area. The Dutchman’s ferocious drive crashed back off the base of the post. Then Fabregas put Nasri through and he drifted a shot wide.


It was all Arsenal. The only problem with their performance was they had not scored goals congruent with their dominance.

In the 41st minute, they put that right. Fabregas put Van Persie clear on the left. He reached the byline and cut the ball back toward the far post. Walcott showed a striker’s instinct to dart inside Radoslav Kovac and prod home.

Again, West Ham would fashion a clear opportunity just after Arsenal scored. This time, Freddie Sears crossed from the right and Cole miscued his header eight yards out with only Szczesny to beat. It was the home side’s clearest chance by a stretch.

But normal service was resumed in injury time when Djourou went through. The Swiss defender has never scored for Arsenal and his shot was blocked, rather fortuitously, by the face of Green.

The opening stages of the second half were as tame as the first. Van Persie cracked over and then Walcott drove at Green. Bridge fired a free-kick wide for West Ham.

On the hour, Szczesny had to adjust in midair to prevent a drifting effort from Sears finding the far corner.

By now, West Ham were getting back into the game and Arsenal had taken their foot off the pedal.

But 13 minutes from time, the visitors ended the argument. Inexplicably, Bridge scythed down Walcott as he was running away from goal. Van Persie buried the penalty.

Wilshere drew a fine save from Green at the death. But three goals and three points was a very decent haul from this trip to East London.

And it was fully deserved.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3284080/first-team/west-ham-united-v-arsenal?tab=report

[size=6]Report: Leeds 1-3 Arsenal[/size]

By Richard Clarke

Arsenal marched in the FA Cup Fourth Round with a comprehensive 3-1 win at Leeds on Wednesday night.

Arsène Wenger’s side had needed a 90th-minute penalty to save this tie at Emirates Stadium 11 days earlier but, this evening, they dominated throughout.

Samir Nasri stole a goal in the fifth minute and then, after Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh had missed point-blank chances, Bacary Sagna plundered a second just past the half-hour.

Leeds rallied immediately when Bradley Johnson’s thunderbolt reduced the arrears but Arsenal would kick-on after the break.

Fourteen minutes from time, they ended the discussion when Robin van Persie headed home from Nicklas Bendtner’s inviting cross.

Arsenal had been a little lucky in north London, tonight Leeds were lucky the visitors were so profligate in front for goal.

Still, they got the job done and can now look forward to a Fourth Round tie against Huddersfield at Emirates Stadium on January 30.

This is a busy month for Arsenal and so Wenger’s side did its usual shuffle.

Bendtner, Chamakh, Kieran Gibbs, Denilson, Arshavin and Sagna all came in.

Cesc Fabregas, Van Persie, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue all dropped out.

This game was a throw-back. Arsenal had been involved in some teak-tough encounters at Elland Road in the 90s and Noughties. Since then Leeds had been down to the third tier of English football but, if their performance in the first game was anything to go by, were on the way back to the top flight.

Wenger had admitted his side had lacked focus in that match. But this evening it was different straight from the start.

Arsenal bossed the first half and the only concern at the break was that they had not gained the advantage they deserved.

The game had barely settled down when they took the lead. In the fifth minute, Arshavin tucked the ball inside from the left, Bendtner tried to collect on the edge of the area but Nasri swept it away, danced inside the final defender before coolly slotting home.

Six minutes later it should have been 2-0. Sagna was hauled down on the right by Ben Parker and Nasri swung over the free-kick. Chamakh had escaped his marker six yards out and made solid contact with his header. However Kasper Schmeichel made a wonderful one-handed save. The keeper then recovered to block Johan Djourou’s follow up.

It was starting to become an Arsenal procession. In the 19th minute, Bendtner fed Chamakh on the edge of the area. He and Nasri played one-touch passes for Arshavin to sidefoot a shot over the bar

Then Chamakh fired a low ball across the face of the area. Arshavin timed his run perfectly to meet the cross. Any positive touch would have doubled Arsenal’s lead but the Russian’s effort was timid.

A couple of minutes later, Arshavin’s drive from distance forced Schmeichel into a low save away to his left. After that, Laurent Koscielny sent a raking ball into the right-hand channel for Sagna to collect. He raced into the area and crossed low for Bendtner but the Dane timed his slide a second too late.

Arsenal were not just creating clear-cut chances, they were creating tap-ins. By the half-hour, they had already manufactured the opportunities to put the tie to bed. But they only had one goal to show for it.

That changed in the 35th minute, Bendtner thundered through and exchanged passes with Nasri on the edge of the area but miscontrolled the return. Andy O’Brien’s clearance fell straight to Sagna on the right. He advanced and fired a rocket shot into the far corner of the net.

It should have all but killed off Leeds but, almost immediately, the home side would respond with a Howitzer of their own. There was little on when the ball fell to Johnson around 30 yards out. He let fly and sent a swerving effort into the top corner.

The Leeds crowd tried to roar their side level before the break but, despite pressure, they did not conjure up a clear chance.

Twenty seconds into the second half, Schmeichel made another sparkling save when Nasri fed Alex Song and the Cameroon midfielder tried to lift the ball over the keeper.

The Danish stopper has been brilliant throughout this tie. But, a couple of minutes later, he made a rare error by dropping Nasri’s free-kick on the line.

Leeds were trying to create pressure but Arsenal were still having all the chances. In the 55th minute, a wonderful one-touch move involving eight players would have ended in a goal had Robert Snodgrass not swept the ball away from the feet of Arshavin at the last second.

The Russian was having a difficult night. On the hour, Song’s errant, trickling cross found him at the far post. He hacked it horribly over the bar. An in-form Arshavin would have buried it.

Arsenal were still on top but still missing chances. And, every so often, Leeds made them fully aware of the slenderness of the lead they held.

In the 65th minute, Max Gradel, another star of the tie, sent over a penetrative cross towards Billy Paynter at the near post. The home side were within an outstretched leg of drawing level.

Straight after that chance, the striker was replaced by Davide Somma. The South African’s first touch saw him knee a shot behind at the near post.

With 20 minutes left, Wenger brought on his Big Guns - Fabregas and Van Persie – for Arshavin and Chamakh. The manager clearly wanted to get the job done.

Fabregas nearly did it when he curled a free-kick inches beyond the far post.

In the 76th minute, Van Persie did finish the job by steering home a header from Bendtner’s pin-point cross. The celebrations told the story of the goal. Two team-mates ran to the scorer, three to the provider.

The Dutchman nearly curled home another in the dying minutes. By now Leeds were spent.

They had been wonderful at Emirates Stadium but were well-beaten on home turf this evening.
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3354668/first-team/leeds-v-arsenal?tab=report

BLUEBIRDS AGREE RAMSEY LOAN
Cardiff have confirmed an agreement has been reached with Arsenal over the one-month loan of Aaron Ramsey to the Welsh club.

The 20-year-old joined the Gunners from the Bluebirds in a £5million deal during June 2008 and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said earlier on Friday that the midfielder was likely to head back to Wales before the end of the transfer window.

A statement on the club's website announced: "Following comments made by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Friday, Cardiff City are pleased to confirm that an agreement has been reached between clubs to see Aaron Ramsey rejoin the Bluebirds on loan."

It continued: "The paperwork is yet to be completed, with Aaron travelling to south Wales this evening with a view to sign on Saturday morning. The loan agreement is set to run until 26 February and includes our npower Championship match against Hull City."

Wenger earlier suggested the deal was in the pipeline, saying: "I am considering to give Ramsey one month out on loan, with a possibility of him to go to Cardiff.

"I don't want him to go to a Premier League club because I want him to finish the season with us. I just look for competition for him."

The Wales international has just returned to fitness following a broken leg suffered at Stoke in February, and had a spell at Nottingham Forest to get some much-needed match practice.

Earlier this week, Arsenal youngster Jay Emmanuel-Thomas headed to Cardiff City Stadium until the end of the season

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/11/01/21/SOCCER_Cardiff.html&TEAMHD=soccer

[size=6]Preview: Arsenal - Wigan[/size]

By Richard Clarke at London Colney

If the Premier League title is won in the mind as much as on the pitch then, according to Arsène Wenger, Arsenal have a great chance.

A pessimist would look at the table right now and suggest it is all in the hands of leaders Manchester United. They are ahead of their City rivals on goal difference with two games in hand. Meanwhile third-place Arsenal are two points behind having played one match more.

But it is not just the maths, it is the relentless inevitability with which Sir Alex Ferguson's side have gone about their business this season. They have scrapped and scraped their way into a dominant position without ever really showing the authority of previous years. Right now the prevailing view is that they will have too much experience, determination and sheer force of will for their rivals.

As you might expect, Wenger disagrees.

The Frenchman has put his side into one of its best positions in years. They retain an interest in all four competitions after beating off the lively challenge of Leeds on Wednesday night's FA Cup Third Round replay and, next week, will reach their first Final in four seasons if they can overturn a 1-0 deficit against Ipswich in the Carling Cup.

In between, they entertain Wigan on Saturday.

Roberto Martinez's side are the last Premier League team to breach the Arsenal defence. It came in the final stages of the clash at the DW Stadium on December 29 when the visitors were leading 2-1 and the home side were down to ten-men.

Had they held on, Wenger's men would be top right now.

The manager knows they cannot be so wasteful at Emirates Stadium - and this is where that mentality comes in.

"We have shown since the start of the season that we can beat everybody," he said. "And now we are getting stronger and stronger.

"We have a stronger belief than at the start of the season and our togetherness is better too. I believe there is more to come out from this team and I personally am convinced we will be stronger and stronger.

"Remember this team have grown up together - there is a natural understanding. There is a strong bond, I feel, because most of these players have been here since they were 15 or 16 years-old and they are hungry for success. They want to show they can do it.

"On the mental front, I have no problems. For us it is just important to show we have the mental resources to focus every three days now.

"If you look at the table, we are in a strong position. We have 16 games to go for us, nine at home and seven away. We know our home form can make a huge impact on our success and that's why, if it's Wigan or anybody else, we want the three points at home.

"Since the start of the season we have learned that there is no room for taking anybody lightly because everybody can beat everybody in this League."

Marouane Chamakh (knee) and Denilson (hip) have brushed off the most minor of knocks. It means Wenger can choose from the same squad that won so well at Elland Road in midweek. Abou Diaby (calf) and Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) are being lined up for next weekend's FA Cup tie against Huddersfield.

Robin van Persie's late goal on Wednesday, on top of two at Upton Park last Saturday, put pressure on Wenger to start him.

"I think he is 95 per cent there now," said the manager. "He showed that in the last game at West Ham. When he came on at Leeds you saw that he is sharp so I am quite confident that he is there."

Wigan are third from bottom and have a famously poor record against Arsenal. Last season's never-to-be-forgotten 3-2 comeback at the DW Stadium is their only victory in 11 Premier League meetings between the two sides. Wenger's men have won eight, including all five on home soil.

Martinez's men are the current draw specialists in the top flight - five of their last seven games have ended level. A tally of 19 goals may make theirs the poorest attack in the top-flight but Hugo Rodellega and, before he was sent off, Charles N'Zogbia caused Arsenal significant defensive problems four weeks ago.

This time last season, Wenger's side were better off - leading the Premier League with five more points to their name. But the manager argues his side are in a superior position now.

"We had a good chance three years ago but, apart from that, this is the closest we have been [in the title race] for a long time," said the 61-year-old.

"We are in a period where we want to show we can get our best out in every single game. When you play so many games, that is not easy, but we are motivated to give our best in all the competitions that is for sure.

"What can we win? We are not in a position to say that. We are just in a situation where we want to give our best and after that we will see where we end up. But it is mid-January and we are still in all four competitions so let's go for it.

"But any victory on Saturday will be a fantastic result for us."
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3284139/first-team/arsenal-v-wigan-athletic?tab=preview