Arsenal have been hit by the news that Samir Nasri has been ruled out for a month after a knee injury that has seen him undergo minor surgery. The Frenchman also missed the start of last season after breaking his leg in pre-season.”Samir’s injury is a blow for us and a blow for France as well,” Wenger said on Arsenal’s website on Thursday. Added to this Frimpong, an 18 year old Ghanian, has been ruled out for nine months following an injury sustained whilst training. The promising youngster had impressed in the summer break and was expected to challenge fello African Alex Song for a starting place in central midfield.
The Gunners face Blackpool this weekend in their first match at The Emirates this season. Unlike last weekend, Fabregas is expected to take to the pitch after an extended break due to his World Cup triumph with Spain. Van Persie is also likely to start this time and Denilson and Song could also be part of the squad.
Pic : This is London
Andrey Arshavin is reportedly close to extending his current contract at Arsenal by another year. The diminutive Russian joined the Gunners in January 2009 from Russian club Zenit for an estimated £ 15 million. The Russian has scored 18 times for the North Londoners, including all four goals in Anfield triller. The extension will see Arshavin stay at the club until 2013.
In other Arsenal related news, William Gallas and Mikael Sylvestre are expected to leave the club. “At the moment none of them have signed again for us,” Arsene Wenger told Arsenal TV Online. “At the moment there is nothing special to say about that. I believe that Gallas and Silvestre will sign somewhere else. Campbell is still in no-man’s land at the moment.”
Pic : The Telegraph
No sooner has the World Cup ended and the pre-season for the English clubs has begun. Most sides are without some of their World Cup stars as they take a well-deserved break, but the modern squad sizes don’t allow for a lack of talent.
The champions Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from Michael Essien. The Ghanian is back from a lengthy lay-off that saw him miss the Word Cup this year. Carlo Ancelloti said, ‘It was an important return, he came back very well and played very well. He is a fantastic player, we missed him last season and we hope he can do the best for this season’. Their next match is against Ajax in the Amsterdam Arena.
Manchester United is currently on tour in North America and kicked off against Celtic in Chicago on Saturday. Berbatov opened the scoring with some fine finishing in the first half, reds’ fans hoping the Bulgarian is making the start of a glorious season at Old Trafford. Much is expected of the smooth operator this year. New boy Chris Smalling did not make the best of starts for the reds as he gave away a penalty that allowed Samaras to level for the bouys. Manchester United was able to finish strongly as Danny Welbeck and Darren Odea scored in the final quarter of the match, leaving the score at 3-1. The Red Devils have three more matches on the tour; they will be taking on Philadelphia Union, Kansas City Wizards and the MLS All-Stars. You can see the full fixture list here.
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While the World Cup has been going on in our back yard the English FA quietly announced the preliminary fixture list for the 2010 / 11 season, set to start in August. The opening weekend starts off with a bang when Arsenal take on Liverpool at Anfield and Tottenham Hotspur face Manchester City.
Quite who pitches up for the Arsenal and Liverpool match is anyone’s guess at this stage what with the World Cup holding up transfer dealings and all. For Arsenal, a mass exodus of central defenders is underway. Senderos has left for West London to play for Fulham, while Gallas seems to have decided that Italian football would suit his ageing legs. The futures of Campbell and Sylvestre are also yet to be decided. The Cesc to Barcelona stories may turn out to be true with the player now expressing his admiration for coach Pep Guardiola. Liverpool, meanwhile, are set to appoint Roy Hodgson as their new manager and will no doubt look to implement some changes in personalle as the Reds look to return to their former days of glory. Central to this endeavour will be the retention of key players, namely Torres and Gerrard. No matter who takes to the field we are guaranteed a storming match, Arsenal fans taking comfort in the knowledge that a certain diminutive Russian looks set for another season in North London.
The Tottenham and Manchester City match will be of great importance to both sides as they get their campaigns for Champions League qualification underway. The corresponding fixture last season proved this with Tottenham taking the coveted fourth spot in the final weeks of the season. No doubt Manchester City will make some big money signings, probably taking their riches to the best performing players of the World Cup. Tottenham will also be dealing with a congested fixture list, their Champions League debut requiring a tricky qualification round with an opponent yet to be decided.
With the forthcoming season set to be Sir Alex’s last in charge, the Red Devil’s will begin their quest to overtake Liverpool as the top division’s leading champions against the returning Newcastle. Chelsea begins their title defence in earnest against West Brom, a relatively easy start for the Blues. The full fixture list is available here.
Pic : News of the world
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger stated that he is great admirer of England star Joe Cole.
Cole has been strongly linked with a move to the Gunners after Chelsea confirmed earlier this week the midfielder would be leaving Stamford Bridge next month following the expiration of his contract.
A host of sides, including Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham have been credited with an interest in Cole, but reports suggest Arsenal are leading the hunt for the former West Ham man.
Wenger refused to confirm his side would be making a summer swoop for Cole, but admitted he was a fan of the talented 28-year-old.
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Blackburn Rovers came from behind on Monday night to beat Arsenal 2-1 in their English Premier League encounter at Ewood Park, leaving the quest for third place wide open.
David Dunn cancelled out Robin van Persie’s opener before Christopher Samba scored the winner to stun the visitors.
A win for Arsenal would have confirmed third place in the Premiership and direct qualification for the Champions League group stage.
But bitter north London rivals Tottenham can now move to two points behind them if they win at Manchester City on Wednesday, meaning Spurs could pinch third place should they win and Arsenal lose in Sunday’s final round of matches.
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Tottenham Hotspur beat Arsenal 2 – 1 at White Hart Lane last night to deal the Gunners’ English Premier League title aspirations a big blow.
Harry Redknapp’s team claimed only their second win in 29 league games against the Gunners thanks to a stunning 10th minute volley from teenage winger Danny Rose, who was making his Premier League debut, and Gareth Bale’s first goal of the season two minutes after half-time.
Inspired by the arrival of Robin van Persie as a second half substitute in his first appearance after a five-month injury lay-off, Arsenal got one back through Nicklas Bendtner in the 85th minute.
Florent Malouda of Chelsea celebrates his second goal with Didier Drogba, who also scored twice against Manchester United.
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Arsenal‘s Dutch forward Robin Van Persie is back in the squad for Wednesday’s North London derby at Tottenham Hotspur after a long injury layoff, manager Arsene Wenger said.
Van Persie has been out since November with ankle ligament damage sustained on international duty and will most likely be on the bench at White Hart Lane.
“He is in the squad for tomorrow’s game,” Wenger told a news conference on Tuesday. “It’s a bit premature maybe (for him to start) so I will see but he is in the squad.
“He will feature. When I pick a player it means he is fit and sharp and has worked very hard. Of course, he lacks match practice but physically he is ready, he is fit.”
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Lionel Messi was on top form again at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night when Barcelona crushed Arsenal 4 – 1 in their Champions League encounter.
You know a player is very good when the opposition’s manager hits world headline praising him. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s manger is singing Lionel Messi’s praises at the top of his voice this morning in spite of the fact that the Argentinian national wiped his team out of the Champions league single handedly with a crushing 4 -1 victory.
The night started off OK for Arsenal when Nicklas Bendtner fired the Gunners into a shock lead on 18 minutes. But their joy was short-lived as Messi struck a brilliant 21-minute hat-trick, before compounding Arsenal’s misery with a fourth late on.
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Arsenal’s European dream alive by Cesc Fabregas after the Gunners came from 2-0 down to draw the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona at Emirates Stadium last night.
The Spaniards had lived up to their billing as favourites following a blistering start and a second-half double from Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have all but killed off the tie.
However, Theo Walcott came off the bench to pull a goal back before Fabregas – who will miss the second leg at his old club after being booked – smashed in a late penalty after Carles Puyol was sent off for fouling the midfielder in the box.
While Barcelona will still be favourites to progress, Arsene Wenger’s young side again showed great character and could yet prove their doubters wrong once more with a similarly courageous display in the Nou Camp.
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