[size=6]Wenger: 'I could write a book on this summer'[/size]


By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger is looking forward to closing the book on the summer and simply getting on with the new season.

The last couple of weeks have been somewhat strange for the Arsenal manager. He saw his side humbled 8-2 at Manchester United and then went out to secure the services of five players in the last 48 hours of the transfer window. What with international duties and logistics, some of the new acquisitions have yet to even train with their new team-mates.

However, on the eve of Arsenal's Premier League return against Swansea at Emirates Stadium, the Frenchman argued that the new quintet may have allayed certain concerns - inside and outside of the Club. Especially after Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri were allowed to leave in big-money moves.

"Yes, the other players could have been a little bit worried about our ambition when they see big players moving out and not big players coming in," admitted Wenger.

"When you are a big player the confidence you gain when you look around is about who is around you. It's important for a football player.

"But there was no resentment. There was maybe more, from the players who were here, uncertainty about our potential and our determination to strengthen the squad. But we have mastered the timing of that.

'It's like in a company. When you're half-in and half-out, it's not as good as if you're complete in. That happened at the start of the season.

"But in our job, like in any given job, you have to create some collective and you need everybody to be in on board and focused on it. If you don't have that, it's much more difficult.

"And I must say that Fabregas and Nasri played completely well and respectfully. But they were not completely here."

"Honestly," the manager went on, "I could write a book about the summer. I think it would quite be an interesting one. Not because of me but because of all that happened, it was quite unbelievable. And you would see that it was not as easy as it can look from outside.

"Of course I'm not the only one who controls things [in this situation]. It's the clubs who buy, the players as well, the determination of the players, because they change sometimes their mind as well."

Team news:
Arsenal: Rosicky (doubt - knee), Wilshere, Diaby (both ankle), Ryo (calf), Vermaelen (Achilles), Squillaci (calf), Song, Gervinho, Jenkinson (all suspended)

Swansea: Alan Tate (broken leg), Craig Beattie (ankle), Darnel Situ, Rafik Halliche (not yet received international clearance)
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-i-could-write-a-book-on-this-summer-

I'm glad to say that Thomas' surgery went very well and we should see him training again in two or three weeks.

Reminds me of some of the goals I hae conceded on Fifa.

[size=6]'As soon as you win things are different'[/size]


on a first win of the Premier League season...
It was vital for us to win the game. I think we started quite well but slowly the nerves took over. We played with the handbrake on and were restrictive in the second half. It is not often that we pass the ball back to our goalkeeper when we are at halfway. You could see in the second half that we just wanted to get over the line and we didn't make a mistake. 

Swansea make it difficult for you because they keep the ball well and on the wings they are very quick. Overall they have the basics of a very good Premier League team but they just can’t score at the moment. 



on Arsenal’s debutants…
Mertesacker was calm and composed - he just needs to adapt to the pace of the game. He looks very intelligent in his positioning.

 Arteta played very well, especially in the first half. In the second half it was more difficult for him but you can see he will give us some technical security that this team needs and he wants to play like we play.



on the feeling in the dressing room…
We know that confidence goes quickly and comes back slowly. For us to be in the situation we were in, we were not used to that. We will come back. You look today with the fact we had no Gervinho, no Song, Diaby or Wilshere. We now have a decent squad overall when everybody is back and we have chance. First we just need to put a few wins together.

on whether nerves were a problem…
When you don't win you have a deep problem, that's for sure. The longer it lasts, the deeper the problem becomes. As soon as you win things are different.

on an element of luck about the goal…
There was an element of luck about our goal, of course.

on Andrey Arshavin’s performance…
Arshavin has a very good spirit. He had lost confidence but he has a good attitude in training and a good spirit. People think that he doesn’t care but that is not true at all. He cares very much and he had just lost confidence. You could see that he was himself again today.

on Yossi Benayoun’s debut…
He brought us something when he came on because he was mobile, he was dynamic and he did well.

on the strength of Arsenal’s squad…
Today, look at the bench I had and I still didn’t have Alex Song or Gervinho. We have a big squad.

on Chamakh having the captain’s armband for the final 10 minutes…
He could find anybody! I told him to keep it, what does it matter for the last 10 minutes. Thomas Vermaelen is the vice-captain but it was difficult to find him!

on a word for Brendan Rodgers…
His father passed away and that is very sad. The team fought for him today and that is the best they could do. It is very sad.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-as-soon-as-you-win-things-are-different-

He played Frimpong and Song together against Udinese away, and as long as Song doesn't go charging forward it works fine.

The injuries to Rosicky and Rambo don't exactly make it a hard decision anyway. If Rosicky were fit it'd be him and Song in the middle.

[size=6]Lansbury signs contract extension with Club[/size]

Arsenal Football Club has today announced that Henri Lansbury has signed a contract extension with the Club.

The 20-year-old midfielder, currently on loan with Championship side West Ham United, has reaffirmed his future to the Gunners after signing an extension to the contract he originally penned in December 2009.

The Enfield-born youngster featured twice for Arsenal this term before sealing a season-long move to Upton Park on transfer deadline day. Lansbury got off to a flying start with the Hammers at the weekend, netting on his debut as Sam Allardyce’s side defeated Portsmouth 4-3.

An England Under-21 international, he featured in this summer’s European Championships in Denmark and scored for the Three Lions in their recent 4-1 qualifying victory over Israel. He has also captained his country at Under-19 and Under-16 level.

Everyone at Arsenal looks forward to Henri’s continued contribution with the Club in the coming seasons.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/lansbury-signs-contract-extension-with-club

he may go with Arteta partnering Song and, perhaps, Yossi starting in that CAM role