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London, Jan 13 (Ians) Defender Rob Holding has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, which will see him at the club until 2024 with an option for a further year.

Since joining the club from Bolton Wanderers in July 2016, the centre-back has made 96 first-team appearances, winning two Fa Cups along the way. The highlight of Rob's first season was a superb performance in the 2017 Fa Cup final, with his commanding display alongside Per Mertesacker ensuring Arsenal won the trophy with a 2-1 win over Chelsea.

Head coach Mikel Arteta said: "Since I started as manager, I have been hugely impressed with Rob's contribution to the club and the dressing room, on and off the pitch. The quality of his work every day on the training pitches is excellent and he is translating this into consistently high performances in matches.

"We all know Rob's quality, which he has shown in his displays...

Michael Probst/AP/Press Association Images

Counter to some reports, Sky Sports’ Spanish expert Guillem Balague has confirmed that Arsenal were Not interested in signing Radamel Falcao, even with the loan fee as low as £6million. He has spoken out in an interview to suggest that it was always going to be Man Utd who signed the Colombian striker.

And on the back of that news, Joaquin Morato of Spanish publication As has suggested that the Gunners have just had a €40m offer for German World Cup winner Marco Reus rejected by Borussia Dortmund.

El @Arsenal acaba de presentar una oferta de 40 millones por Reus que dinamita la del Madrid. Aún así, la rechaza el Dortmund.

— Joaquin Maroto (@AS_Maroto) September 1, 2014

Earlier in the day, the Daily Express had suggested that Wenger was on the verge of making a £40m bid for the German international, and now it seems that...

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Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s official Twitter account has revealed that the White Hart Lane outfit have signed Sevilla captain Federico Fazio.

After Spurs club captain and fellow central defender Michael Dawson joined Hull City yesterday, Fazio has come in as his direct replacement and will be seen as an upgrade in quality from the outgoing former Nottingham Forest man

Fazio has three caps for Argentina and won the Europa League with Sevilla last season, which made him a wanted man after some very solid performances. The club had just made him captain after the departure of Ivan Rakitić to Barcelona.

He had this to say about his move to England:

I’m really happy to be here at this club, this great club with very good players. I’m really happy to be here. I come to Tottenham because I think it’s a very good team, a very good club,...

Lynne Cameron/Empics Sport

Team News

Arsenal will be without Kieran Gibbs and Yaya Sanogo for their Champions League qualifier against Besiktas. Gibbs will miss both legs of the play-off with a hamstring injury while Sanogo has not travelled to Turkey. Gibbs’ omission could mean a possible recall for Per Mertesacker, who has been rested after helping Germany win the World Cup final, while manager Arsene Wenger also has the option of playing Laurent Koscielny, who returns from an Achilles problem.

Former Chelsea striker Demba Ba could start for Besiktas after moving to the Turkish side earlier this summer. Ba scored a hat-trick in the second leg of the third-round qualifying phase to knock out Feyenoord 5-2 on aggregate. The Black Eagles could be without Atiba Hutchinson however, with the midfielder still suffering with a hamstring problem and rated only 50-50.

(bbc)

Key Stats

Besiktas have won every single one...

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If there is any negative message to take from Arsenal’s impressive victory over Man City in the Community Shield last weekend, and their laboured victory over managerless Crystal Palace on Saturday evening, it’s that the Gunners’ summer spending should not be over.

Though Calum Chambers had an impressive debut at centre-half – yellow card aside – winning a solid 70% of aerial duels, making 11 defensive actions and clocking in with a 92% passing average (as is perhaps to be expected of a graduate of Southampton’s academy), the departure of Thomas Vermaelen has still left Arsenal week at centre-half. Adding to that the almost injury to Laurent Koscielny in the Community Shield match, which meant he was deputised by a full-back and the lack of depth in a crucial area is obvious.

Yes, Wenger will welcome World Cup winner Per Mertesacker back once he is deemed to be fit once more,...

Alastair Grant/AP/Press Association Images

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been handed a defensive conundrum ahead of this weekend’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace. The Gunner’s impressive 3-0 dismissal of English champions Manchester City in last Sunday’s Community Shield final was undermined by injury to Laurent Koscielny, leaving Wenger with a shortage of options at centre-back.

Koscielny is expected to miss the clash with Palace with an achilles problem meaning Per Mertesacker is the only remaining senior centre-half for Wenger to select from. Koscielny’s injury came on the same day club captain Thomas Vermaelen joined Barcelona for £15 million and combined, these issues could put the Gunners bang in the market for a new centre-back before the transfer window slams shut in under three weeks.

As it stands, only rookie new signing Calum Chambers forms a credible option to partner Mertesacker at the heart of...

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In terms of big-money signings, the Gunners have not had much to whet their appetite with in recent seasons. With every transfer window that slams shut, praying to God that their newly-acquired 21 year old striker from Guinea hits the ground running, while their posh city rivals welcome the biggest and best from around Europe, an air of jealousy was apparent. Having to fund a new stadium can take its toll on a club’s forthrightness in the transfer market, and that in turn, will have a knockdown effect on the amount of trophies they acquire. With the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and even Thierry Henry plucked from thin air, with everything to prove to the gruelling English media, Wenger has been labelled ‘reluctant’ to dip his toes in what can be an unforgiving transfer market.

Last summer, there was a new wave of optimism circling the Emirates.

Nick Potts/Empics Sport

Despite news emerging yesterday that Sami Khedira had spectacularly turned his back on a move to North London in favour of reuniting with old Madrid boss Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, it seems that Arsene Wenger is on the verge of bringing another Spain based World Cup star to the Premier League with the acquisition of the German international.

The sticking point had apparently been Khedira’s demands of £130,000 a week in wages, with Arsenal unwilling to break their wage structure entirely to bring him in, but that is clearly no longer an issue, as Arsenal have cemented their interest by agreeing a deal with Real Madrid on the asking price of £20million. The 27-year-old has just a year left on his current contract, and will be pushed down the pecking order at Madrid by the impending arrival of his international team-mate Toni Kroos, who announced his...

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World Cup hosts Brazil will be without Neymar for the rest of the competition after the striker fractured vertebrae in the quarter-final clash against Colombia.

Captain Thiago Silva is banned meaning Dante is likely to start, while Luis Gustavo returns from suspension.

Germany manager Joachim Low may recall Per Mertesacker after the centre-back was dropped in the last round against France.

Low has reported no new injury concerns ahead of the meeting with Brazil.

(BBC)

Key Stats

Brazil and Germany have played more World Cup matches than any other side (102 and 104 respectively), but have only met once before at the tournament. That was the 2002 final, won 2-0 by the Brazilians.

Injured Brazilian striker Neymar has played a part in 50% of Brazil’s 10 goals at this World Cup (four goals, one assist).

The Germans are the first country to reach four successive World Cup semi-finals.

Sang Tan/AP/Press Association Images

With the season drawing to a close and the summer transfer window fast approaching, rumours are already beginning to circulate about who clubs will be looking to sign in order to strengthen their squads. As is often the case, the Arsenal board have promised that manager Arsene Wenger will have significant funds to invest in new players.

There are a few areas that Wenger will undoubtedly feel need addressing. The lack of striking options has been a clear issue this season, with Olivier Giroud being forced to play over 45 games. To put that into context, Liverpool’s Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have only played 35 and 31 matches respectively.

However, another area of concern for the Gunners is the centre back position. This season has seen Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny establishing themselves as the first choice pairing, with captain Thomas Vermaelen forced to wait patiently on the bench.

John Walton/Empics Sport

Lukas Podolski bagged a brace with subs Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla also on target as Arsenal breezed past cash-strapped League One team Coventry City in the Fa Cup fourth round.

The hosting Gunners were dominant from the first whistle. Podolski made that pay on the quarter hour rounding Sky Blues keeper Joe Murphy to complete a fine team move. Jack Wilshere won possession, fed Mesut Ozil and he slipped it across to his fellow German international in the left channel.

Coventry captain Carl Baker then brought a fine one-handed stop out of Lukasz Fabianski with a long range left-footed effort after running from his own half. Young Serge Gnabry blazed over, but before half an hour Arsenal were two up.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, on his first start since returning from a knee injury, won a corner. Per Mertesacker flicked Gnabry’s delivery on to the back...

Joe Giddens/Pa Wire

Date: Friday, 24 January 2014; Venue: Emirates Stadium, London; Kickoff: 19:45 GMT

Third tier team Coventry City travel to Premier League leaders Arsenal in the Fa Cup fourth round on Friday with only one win against the Londoners in 20 years in all competitions.

Robbie Keane, who went on to play for the Gunners’ bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, scored the winner at Highfield Road in December 1999 as the Sky Blues emerged victorious 3-2. You have to go back to 1993 for the last time Coventry won at Arsenal by the handsome scoreline 3-0. Micky Quinn’s hat-trick in half an hour at Highbury did the damage.

The Sky Blues’ have a dismal Fa Cup record against the Gunners too. Arsenal have never lost to Coventry in the world’s oldest knockout football competition. In all cup competitions full stop the West Midlands outfit have recorded a single win.

Were it...

Frank Augstein/AP/Press Association Images

Arsenal have learned that talented German attacker Julian Draxler has a £40 million buyout clause in his contract with Bundesliga team Schalke 04.

The Daily Star Sunday reports that, rather than being put off by that figure, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is prepared to step up his interest in 20-year-old Draxler.

Injuries have depleted Arsenal’s attacking options over the Christmas and New Year period. Theo Walcott saw his season come to an end when he was stretchered off during the Fa Cup win over North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur with knee ligament damage.

Draxler’s versatility appeals to Wenger. Jan Aage Fjortoft, who broke the news of the club record bid for Mesut Ozil over the summer, believes the Gunners will add another German to their ranks.

Should Arsenal sign Draxler, however, he would not be eligible to play in the Champions League for them...

Lynne Cameron/Empics Sport

For many people the start of a new year is a chance to better yourself, make a fresh start or change something in your life, and Premier League footballers aren’t immune to this tradition. If you haven’t been playing well in 2013 or you haven’t been as successful as you would have hoped, then the start of a new calendar year can be a great motivation to turn things around.

2013 was a great year for a number of Premier League players: Daniel Sturridge, Romelu Lukaku, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Aaron Ramsey all had the best year of their careers. They all reached individual performance levels that they had previously failed to reach and in most of the cases, their teams have profited massively as a result (only Lukaku’s parent club have missed out, due to a commitment to lesser talents but bigger brands.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP/Press Association Images

Arsenal knocked North London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur out of the Fa Cup in the tie of the third round. Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky were on target for the Premier League leaders.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger met yet another different Spurs boss in Tim Sherwood here as the hosts continue to hog bragging rights in this rivalry. Arsenal made four changes from the late home win over Cardiff City.

Wenger rested number one Wojciech Szczesny completed whilst Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Flamini began on the bench. Lukas Podolski was also amongst the substitutes. Lukasz Fabianski, Serge Gnabry, Rosicky and Thomas Vermaelen made starts.

Hotspur head coach Sherwood gave teenager Nabil Bentaleb his full debut in place of Etienne Capoue. Otherwise he fielded the same XI that began the 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on New Year’s Day.

This North London derby was not without casualties,...

Andrew Matthews/Empics Sport

Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky struck for Arsenal as Arsene Wenger won another North London derby against Tottenham in the Fa Cup third round. Opposite number Tim Sherwood lost his first game since getting the job of Hotspur head coach permanently here.

Arsenal survived an early scare when Christian Eriksen got in behind the home defence after Laurent Koscielny’s error. Lukasz Fabianski turned the shot behind from a tight angle on eight minutes.

Theo Walcott, leading the Gunners line, then forced Spurs stopper Hugo Lloris to tup his effort on the counter behind. Moments later, Vlad Chiriches deflected another attempt by the Arsenal forward off target. Serge Gnabry lashed over as the hosts had a strong spell.

Lloris saved with his legs from Walcott when he got in behind the Tottenham defence again on 25 minutes. Wenger’s side finally broke through on half an hour...

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Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League thanks to Olivier Giroud’s second half glancing header in a tough examination at Newcastle United. The Toon more than matched Arsene Wenger’s team here, but lost at St James’ Park.

Both teams had spells in the ascendancy, but neither put together any meaningful goalmouth action early on. Moussa Sissoko’s tame back post header was easily fielded by Gunners goalie Wojciech Szcesny. Jack Wilshere then blazed over from 25 yards for Arsenal.

Santi Cazorla curled straight at Toon keeper Tim Krul on half an hour and Per Mertesacker screwed wide late on in a goalless first half. Cheick Tiote was in the thick of tussles for the hosts, who came closest in stoppage time.

First Sissoko forced Szczesny from long range and Mathieu Debuchy saw his header hit the underside of the bar from the resulting corner.

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Date: Sunday, 29 December; Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne; Kickoff: 13:30

Newcastle United have not won a home game with Arsenal for over eight years. Nolberto Solano scored the winner and Gilberto Silva was sent off for the Gunners the last time the Toon vanquished this London opposition at St James’ Park.

This fixture tends to go one of two ways – it’s either a tight contest or a goal-fest. Two of the last five meetings have contained a 4-4 draw and 7-3 win at the Emirates for Arsenal.

Alan Pardew’s Magpies have hit form, suffering just one defeat in nine outings since successive losses to bitter rivals Sunderland and Manchester City in the Capital One Cup at the end of October.

Seven wins thereafter have included victories over Premier League heavyweights Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United. Newcastle have scored eight goals over Christmas, including...

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A packed Etihad crowd was treated to nine goals as Manchester City hit Arsenal for six. Sergio Aguero, restored to the City line-up by Manuel Pellegrini, got the ball running before later being subbed as a precaution.

Theo Walcott then netted a deflected equalizer, but the other City striker Alvaro Negredo restored the hosts to a half time lead. Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho bagged a brace after the break with David Silva’s close range finish sandwiched between them.

Gunners winger Walcott also pulled on back as the scoreline changed as follows: 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2. Arsene Wenger’s Premier League leaders saw their advantage over City cut to three points despite a stoppage time consolation from Per Mertesacker.

Yaya Toure rounded the scoring off by converting a penalty at the death. Arsenal were not without casualties either. Defender Laurent Koscielny was stretchered off in the first half of this all-action encounter.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded his side’s crushing 6-3 defeat to Manchester City was “difficult to swallow” as his side missed the opportunity to move 8 points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners could have asserted control at the top and would have been 9 points clear of their hosts with a win, but goals from Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva, Yaya Toure and a brace from Fernandinho consigned them to a damning defeat.

The frustrated Arsenal boss said in his post-match press interview:

“We had an opportunity to put Manchester City at 9 points [adrift] and they are three [behind] tonight, so, that’s very difficult to swallow because they [City] weren’t unbeatable today.”

The Gunners scored three times with Theo Walcott helping himself to a double and Per Mertesacker heading in late on, but even that wasn’t enough to stop a rampant City,...

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Manchester City put six past Arsenal in a high-octane encounter to continue their undefeated run at home and move to within three points of the Premier League leaders.

Theo Walcott scored twice to give the visitors a chance and Per Mertesacker headed a third, but goals from Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo, David Silva, Yaya Toure and a brace from Fernandinho blew Arsene Wenger’s side away.

The Gunners could have opened an eight-point lead at the top of the table this evening but that never looked likely as it took Aguero just 14 minutes to break the deadlock, firing in from close range following Martin Demichelis’ headed flick-on.

Walcott levelled the scores when his shot into the ground deceived Demichelis and Costel Pantilimon 15 minutes later but Negredo ensured the home side went into half time in front after stabbing in Pablo Zabaleta’s cross.

The Spaniard had earlier...

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Arsenal target Julian Draxler has ruled out a move in January, but has hinted he could consider his future next summer, according to Espn.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has also attracted the interest from a number of other clubs, including the Gunner’s rivals Manchester United, but says he will not leave current club Schalke in the next window.

He said:

“For my club I have the chance to play nearly every game, it is important for me to improve myself,” he said. “I have said every summer I have to look what is the best for me and I will do in the summer again and we will see what happens. But no way. I won’t switch then (in January).”

It has also transpired that Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker have been bending their Germany international teammate’s ear in a bid to persuade...

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England renew hostilities with bitter rivals at Wembley knowing Germany have won on their last two visits to the Old and New stadiums. Since the turn of the millennium honours have never been even between these footballing powerhouses.

Roy Hodgson has already named his starting line-up, which contains only two survivors from the team that began the 2-0 defeat by Chile. Joe Hart returns in goal despite being dropped by club side Manchester City following a series of high profile mistakes this term.

Kyle Walker and Ashley Cole come in to the fullback berths after sitting Friday out and being an unused substitute respectively. Injury to Phil Jones means Manchester United teammate Chris Smalling partners Phil Jagielka, who in turn comes in for Gary Cahill, in central defence.

Lions captain Steven Gerrard returns too in midfield alongside Tom Cleverley. Spurs winger Andros Townsend and Liverpool striker Daniel...

Robin van Persie came back to haunt his former club as Manchester United climbed up to a fifth with a home win over Premier League leaders Arsenal.

This significant victory for David Moyes helped the Red Devils on a day when fellow contenders Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City both suffered defeats.

Moyes restored Rvp to the XI after starting him on the bench in the midweek Champions League goalless draw at Real Sociedad. He nodded in a Wayne Rooney corner here to check the Gunners’ momentum.

Arsene Wenger could have seen his side open up a five point gap at the top of the table, but instead had the lead cut to two following Liverpool’s victory over Fulham on Saturday.

Visitors Arsenal were without Per Mertesacker and Tomas Rosicky, who had been struck down with illness on the eve of this massive game.

Going into the international break the...

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Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey scored as Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a win over closest rivals Liverpool.

Who impressed us in the WhatCulture office? Here are our player ratings.

Arsenal

Wojciech Szczesny: Had little to do, but came off his line smartly several times. 7/10

Bacary Sagna: Booked on 250th appearance for bringing down Suarez when Liverpool broke, but part of a solid back four that is keeping clean sheets. Had a hand in Cazorla’s opener. 7/10

Per Mertesacker: Nobody managed to exploit the giant German’s lack of pace. Partnership with Koscielny is so impressive. 7/10

Laurent Koscielny: Went in tight on Suarez and the best defender on the night. Blocked crosses. 7/10

Kieran Gibbs: Had a deflected shot go behind. Picked up an injury in second half. Subbed. 6/10

Aaron Ramsey: Now in double figures for goals this season.

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Chelsea came through their Capital One Cup tie with Arsenal and reached the quarter-finals thanks to goals from Spanish pair Cesar Azpilicueta and Juan Mata.

Jose Mourinho won his 200th match in charge of the Blues, inflicting a second successive home defeat on the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger saw his record of making the last eight for a decade end as his charges put in a fairly limp display in front of their own fans.

The match had plenty of subplots and things to tell us even if Arsenal failed to make it much of a contest before turning to their bench.

Here are five things we picked up from it:

5. Strength In Depth

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Both sides, as expected, made changes. Chelsea’s were more wholesale than those of their hosts. Only Gary Cahill survived from the XI that started the Premier League win over Manchester City at the weekend.

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Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is frustrated with life on the bench at the Emirates Stadium. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has said as much.

The Belgium defender has a World Cup to look forward to with his country come next summer, but knows he will simply be a squad player if he cannot get some regular football.

Premier League rivals Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) and Jan Vertonghen (Spurs) could well be Marc Wilmots’s first-choice duo in Brazil. Vermaelen also has Bayern Munich veteran Daniel van Buyten to contend with on the national roster.

Having hinted at a January exit from Arsenal if he cannot force his way past current centre back pairing Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, Vermaelen has been linked with Inter Milan.

Wenger may need to start planning for a future without the cultured defender then.

Vermaelen is currently only one of three senior centre...

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has admitted he may have to quit the club in January in order to seek first team football in a World Cup year, according to the Independent.

The Belgian international has had to watch on from the bench as Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have flourished at the heart of the Gunner’s defence this season.

And, having played a mere 11 minutes of Premier League football this term, the 27-year-old knows he needs to be featuring more regularly if he is to force his way into Belgian manager Marc Wilmots’s World Cup squad.

He said:

“I’ll have to think about that when it’s necessary. January is still a few months ahead. Of course, never playing will not be the ideal situation for me to go to the World Cup, that’s for sure.”

Vermaelen joined Arsenal from Ajax in 2009 and since then had...

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Date: Wednesday, September 18 Venue: Stade Velodrome Kick-Off: 19:45

Arsenal prepare for their first game in the Champions League “Group of Death” against Olympique Marseille tonight.

Team News

Oliver Giroud and record-signing Mesut Ozil have both been passed fit for Arsenal’s opening Champions League game against Marseille in Group F tonight.

Midfielder Ozil, who cost the Gunners £42.4 million, and striker Giroud have shaken off illness and a knee problem, respectively.

Defender Per Mertesacker is also available for selection having recovered from the illness that saw him sit out the win at Sunderland.

Marseille are set to welcome Andre Ayew back into the side after the forward was suspended for the 1-1 draw with Toulouse in Ligue 1 at the weekend.

Ayew was replaced by Florian Thauvin in that game, but the latter is expected to drop to the bench tonight.

Defender Souleymane Diawara has returned to training following a thigh injury,...

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After two whole weeks, Premier League football is finally back and come 3pm on Saturday afternoon, 40,000+ fans will be settling down in their seats to watch Paolo Di Canio’s Sunderland take on Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.

Arsenal enter this game off the back of a 1-0 derby win against rivals Tottenham but with a lot of their players taking part in internationals, you could be forgiven for expecting Arsenal’s players to struggle somewhat against an almost fully fit Sunderland team – who only had four take part in international football.

However, at least two of Arsenal’s international players will be entering the game in high spirits, and those two will be Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker, both of whom managed to bag a goal each in Germany’s 3-0 win against the Faroe Islands.

The four Sunderland players who were on international duty were not...

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The transfer window is for fans what Christmas is for children. They write their wishlists and send them off to the imaginary football Santa in the hope that come the climax of Deadline Day, all their wishes will have come true. For Arsenal fans, this was meant to be the summer that Arsene Wenger would spend his cash reserve and turn them into title challengers. In the end, it turned out to be a summer of striker related sagas which ended with Arsenal signing a world class attacking midfielder to join two free agents and a loan signing. So how well have Arsenal done this summer? Could their transfer business see them challenge for the Premier League title once again?

For much of the summer, Brazilian stopper Julio Cesar seemed destined to move across London from Queens Park Rangers yet despite his relatively cheap price tag Arsene Wenger,...

Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Tuesday, 16th April K/o: 19:45 GMT Team News

Arsenal will be hoping to welcome back midfielder Tomas Rosicky from a hamstring injury for tonight’s Premier League clash with Everton at the Emirates.

Lukasz Fabianski is doubtful with a rib injury, however defender Per Mertesacker returns from suspension. Theo Walcott is set to continue his return from injury, but Jack Wilshere could miss out after manager Arsene Wenger admitted rushing him back too early.

Everton have no fresh injury concerns, while defender Tony Hibbert is set to continue his comeback from calf surgery by building up his fitness for the Under-21 side.

Key Facts

Arsenal are undefeated against Everton in a run stretching back to March 2007.

The Gunners haven’t been defeated by the Toffees on home soil since January 1996.

Everton have won four of their last five league matches.

David Moyes’ side haven’t...

Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday, 13th April K/o: 15:00 GMT Team News

Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott are set to make their long awaited comebacks from injury in this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Norwich.

Defender Per Mertesacker will serve his one game suspension while Tomas Rosicky is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

Norwich could be without goalkeeper Mark Bunn, who is struggling with a groin complaint, while Lee Camp could deputise in the absence of John Ruddy.

Anthony Pilkington should be available having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Key Stats

Arsenal are undefeated at home in this fixture since a 4-2 defeat at Highbury on the first day of the Premier League in August 1992.

Norwich beat Arsenal for the first time in ten games last October thanks to a goal from Grant Holt.

The Gunners have won six of their last seven matches, a...

Arsene Wenger took charge of Arsenal in 1996 and so far over a glittering career in North London has amassed a total of 11 trophies.

But he will not be winning any more.

At the age of 63, Wenger wouldn’t have the time for further success, never mind the necessary backing, and Arsenal will continue to fall further behind the rest of the Premier League elite.

Just like his rival Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger will be used to getting the support of those whose opinions actually mattered throughout his Arsenal career, but no longer, and the Frenchman is under severe pressure from the fans like never before. They’re now looking at another season without a trophy, with the last one coming back in the 2004/2005 season for the Fa Cup, and at this stage, a fighting chance of qualification for the Champions League is all he has to concentrate on.

Non-qualification can only end one way,...

According to the Daily Express, German side Wolfsburg are looking into the signing of Arsenal centre-back Per Mertesacker.

The Arsenal defender has been heavily criticsed along with many of the Arsenal squad as the team continues to underachieve. Mertesacker, 28, is seen as one of the players that manager Arsene Wenger will be looking to offload in what could be a busy summer for the Gunners, and Wolfsburg are ready to take advantage.

Wolfsburg’s sporting director Klaus Allofs said:

“Everyone knows what I think of Per.”

He added:

“He was the leader at Bremen and I also believe he is the leader in the Germany team. If he is for sale, he will always be of interest.”

Arsenal signed the defender in August 2011, but Mertesacker previously played nine years in the Bundesliga, so a return to the league wouldn’t be unknown territory for him.

Despite his poor form, the...

Arsenal and Swansea are due to lock horns for the fourth time this season in a battle that has often swung in the way of Swansea since their promotion to the Premier League last season.

In their last league meeting Arsenal were being matched at their own game, keeping the score to a tie until two pieces of magic from Michu in the dying embers of the game secured a 2-0 win for Swansea at the Emirates. An Fa Cup tie between the teams was spread over two games with Jack Wilshere eventually putting the tie to bed to put Arsenal through on the night.

The fixture will no doubt be a spectacle for both sets of fans and any lover of football. Both teams play “the beautiful game”, concentrating on power through possession and using the space available on the pitch to great effect. However, whilst these similarities are clear to see,...

Arsenal’s season is entering a critical stage: on the verge of a Champions League exit to Bayern Munich, the Gunners are in danger of missing out on a top 4 spot for the first time since 1996. With eleven games to go, Arsenal need to overhaul one of their London rivals – Chelsea or Tottenham – but on the back of the North London derby defeat to Spurs hope is fading from the Emirates.

Recent transfers have left the Arsenal squad in a relatively dire state. The loss of Robin van Persie, Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mathieu Flamini, Thierry Henry…(the list goes on) has helped the bank balance but their replacements have not matched their predecessors’ performances. Arsenal have slipped from title winners to potential Europa League participants, while the average of the squad has increased.

Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Per Mertesacker have...

In the wake of Arsenal’s disastrous result against Tottenham at the weekend, the critically fragile defence once more shot Arsenal in the face by producing another outrageous first half performance at White Hart Lane. Arsenal seemed very confident attacking wise through-out the first half, holding a fair share of possession and threatening to score, however two moments of poor defensive displays in the space of two minutes handed Tottenham the 3 points.

This is not the first time this has happened – in fact, the current season has been filled with defensive bloopers and poor decision making, which have proven to be difference in matches over the course of this season. Fact of the matter is Arsenal have made the most defensive errors leading to goals this season – than any other team in the Blp, and more importantly Arsenal are currently lying 5 points below 4th placed Chelsea and 7 points behind arch rivals Tottenham,...

Spurs got the match underway on a massive afternoon for both teams.

A tentative start saw no real openings until the 6th minute when Olivier Giroud was beaten to a cross by Michael Dawson, who headed it out for a corner. Giroud then met the corner with his head again, but headed straight at an alert Hugo Lloris.

This was followed by a short spell of pressure by Arsenal, in which Giroud found himself through on goal after 10 minutes, only for Jan Vertonghen to make a great last ditch challenge to prevent the shot as Spurs struggled to settle.

A minute later, Aaron Ramsey found himself through on goal, but the through ball was too long and Lloris beat him to it.

On 13 minutes, an attempted cross that was heading for goal from young Carl Jenkinson almost caught Lloris off guard, but he was alert again to catch it at his near post.

Both of these teams needed a win to boost their chances of a top-four finish. But it was the home-side who emerged victorious thanks to two early goals. A sixth-minute Juan Mata strike then a Frank Lampard penalty ten minutes later gave Chelsea the win. Theo Walcott did reply in the 58th minute but it wasn’t enough for Arsenal.

Line-Ups:

Chelsea (4-2-3-1)

Petr Cech, Cesar Azpilicueta, Branislav Ivanovic, Ashley Cole, Ramires, Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, Oscar (Ryan Bertrand 72’), Eden Hazard (Marko Marin 88’), Fernando Torres (Demba Ba 80’)

Despite hopes he might have been fit for the game Chelsea captain John Terry could only make the bench. Manager Rafa Benitez also chose to leave out impressive new signing Demba Ba in favour of Fernando Torres. Benitez also chose to start keep the “Three Amigos” of Hazard, Mata and Oscar playing behind Ba – and also continued with Ramires and Lampard as holding midfielders.

Venue: Stamford Bridge Date: Sunday, 20th January K/o: 13:30

Team News

Chelsea will be without Oriol Romeu and Yossi Benayoun due to injury. While John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are both on international duty with Nigeria for the African Cup of Nations. Chelsea will, however, be boosted by the return to fitness of Captain John Terry. The centre-back has been out since November 11th with a knee cruciate ligament injury. It is not certain whether he is fit enough to start, but Rafa Benitez knows his team have a serious lack of leadership at the back and the possible return of their captain to the starting line-up would be a huge boost.

Arsenal are missing Mikel Arteta, Thomas Rosicky and Lukasz Fabianksi through injury. Gervinho is also missing as he is away representing Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations. Laurent Koscielny will return from suspension and...

Kick Off : Tonight @ 7.45 pm (Tuesday 4th of December 2012)

Having secured qualification to the knockout stages of the tournament, Arsenal face Olympiakos in Greece tonight in a game where neither side is subject to particularly heavy expectations. While the top spot in group B is still to be decided, the Greek team have already secured their place in the Europa league and are bound to exit the Champions League no matter what the result.

However, Arsenal could still go through as the seeded side, should Schalke taste defeat at Montpellier. The Gunners are currently 2nd in Group B with a total of 12 points from their last 5 games.

Team News

Manager Arsène Wenger does not seem overly stressed, as the decision to rest some of the senior players suggests.

Theo Walcott, Lukas Podolski, Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker have all been rested for the weekend game against West Brom,...

Saturday’s headline fixture, the North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, will no doubt provide plenty of excitement for the neutral and partisan alike. What Culture takes a closer look at the key battles that will be fought across the pitch at the Emirates come kick off.

5. Mertesacker vs Adebayor

Our first match up sees Arsenal’s giant German defensive revelation of the season come head to head with the much maligned figure of Emmanuel Adebayor. Whereas Per Mertesacker has won the home crowd at Arsenal over with his intelligent defensive displays; that same crowd will never forget the acrimonious circumstances in which Adebayor left the club, and they are sure to let him know what they think of him.

The two players have had contrasting fortunes this season so far, Mertesacker has cemented himself as one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers, showing exceptional reading of the game and organisational skill.

With the international break now upon us, it was important that Arsenal maintaied their momentum from their defeat of Olympiakos in the Champions League fixture midweek. The defeat to Chelsea last week hurt, but there was no sense of panic in the Arsenal camp, and after leaving Upton Park on Saturday with all 3 points in a feisty second half, there are plenty of positives to reflect on in a game where the Gunners were stretched physically by the likes of Diame and Carroll.

The midfield dominated the play, and the defense, led by the aerially superior Per Mertesacker, was more than capable of dealing with the long balls the Hammers were throwing into the box. Olivier Giroud’s movement leading up to his first Premier League goal was fantastic, Theo Walcott now looks more clinical than ever, and Santi Carzola’s shot just outside the box was phenomenal. The away...

Saturday’s late kick off sees Arsenal make the short journey to Upton Park as they take on Sam Allardyce’s West Ham in the Barclays Premier League.

The Hammers are on a fine run of form, with three wins and a draw from their opening six league games placing them above Arsenal in 7th place. They have beaten every London team they have faced so far this season and will be hoping to hold on to that record past Saturday evening.

Arsenal meanwhile are recovering from the first real bump in the road to their title challenge after succumbing to a defeat at the hands of Chelsea in front of a home crowd. They managed a recovery of sorts against Olympiakos in the Champions League, with a 3-1 scoreline that flattered their overall performance.

The Gunners have shown uncharacteristic sloppiness and defensive frailty in their past two games which...

Despite the losses of the captain and leading goal scorer and the leading assist provider from last season over the summer, despite being written off by the media and lambasted by fans over transfer dealings, despite having the dark cloud of an empty Emirates trophy cabinet still looming above and shooting blanks in the opening two games, Arsenal have suddenly hit some form.

The departure of Robin van Persie was a big letdown for Arsenal. The captain, the main man, leaving to join Manchester United, even the three early signings could not soften that hammer blow. Song going was a little different, some fans seeing it as a shocking loss which will leave a crucial hole in midfield, with others willing to pay for his plane ticket to Barcelona. The season started with dismal predictions of Europa league places and goalless games. What a difference three wins can make. The game at Anfield was crucial,...

New Arsenal signings Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla make their debuts against Sunderland today in The Gunners’ Premier League opener at the Emirates. Both men start alongside wingers Gervinho and Theo Walcott but there is no place for Arsenal’s other new signing Olivier Giroud.

There is also no place in the starting line-up for possibly Barcelona bound Alex Song. Instead it is Abou Diaby and Mikkel Arteta in centre of midfield.

At the back, Szczesny stars in goal with a back four of Carl Jenkinson, Per Mertesacker, new skipper Thomas Vermaelen and Kieron Gibbs.

For the visitors, Sunderland’s only new debutant in the starting line-up is defender Carlos Cuellar who made a free transfer move from manager Martin O’Neill’s former club Aston Villa. The Black Cats boss has decided that Sunderland’s other free transfer signing Louis Saha will take a place on the bench with striker Frazier Campbell preferred,...

As the Robin Van Persie saga threatens to rumble on all summer, distracting from Arsenal’s preparations for the coming season, Gunners fans would do well to remember that the team needs more development than just a possible replacement for the outgoing Dutchman (provided Arsene Wenger isn’t happy enough with new signings Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski, that is).

Last season, they finished in third, thanks to a catastrophic loss of form from Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham, but this year Spurs are unlikely to suffer a similar finale, and have strengthened their squad already. Plus there’s the issue of Newcastle United, who pushed Arsenal and Spurs all the way to the final day in the race for 3rd and 4th place, who will look to come on again strongly with a reinforced squad of their own. And that is to make no mention of either Chelsea or Liverpool,...

Transfer dramas plagued Arsenal’s previos pre-season prompting the club’s worst league start in 58 years. With that in mind, they seem keen to wrap up their business quickly this time.

Last summer was extremely frustrating for Arsenal fans. While rivals Tottenham signed players of proven premiership pedigree; like Scott Parker and Brad Friedel; Arsenal were busy trying to stop the inevitable departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

In the end Fabregas re-joined Barcelona, and Nasri dropped the Emirates for the Etihad with Gael Clichy having done so weeks prior.

The promising trio of Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho and Carl Jenkinson arrived at club, but these were very much players for the future. The departing players needed replacing as they formed the core of the team. Without them the Gunners were exposed, and this was clear during their 8-2 thumping against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

This triggered manager Arsene Wenger into action.

Although Arsenal have stuttered in recent weeks, they have the chance to erase miserable early season memories with Champions League qualification.

The Gunners are third in the Premier League with 67 points – leading Spurs by one and Newcastle by two. This was unimaginable after their worst start to a season in 58 years. After an 8-2 drubbing against Manchester United, and a 4-3 loss against now relegated Blackburn, they were 15th at the start of October.

A win in their final game, away to West Brom, will seal third place and Champions League football. A draw or loss could mean relegation to the Europa League. Normally fourth place would be enough to seal a place in the Champions League, but if Chelsea win this year’s competition, they would effectively steal that spot.

If Arsenal slip up the implications could be severe. Should Arsenal not qualify for the Champions League, they would...