Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels there is still more to come from Gervinho

The Gunners saw their Ivorian forward lead from the front against Reading on Saturday, as he broke the deadlock in a comfortable 4-1 success. He also provided two assists at the Emirates as he put in arguably his best performance for the club to date. Wenger was not surprised by the standard of Gervinho's showing and believes there is the promise of more to come from a man who needs to have greater belief in his own ability. "Honestly, he is......

Read more »

Premier League: Gervinho inspires Arsenal to 4-1 win over Reading

The Ivorian scored the opener and set up two more as the Gunners gave their hopes of a top-four place a real boost. The defeat for Reading meanwhile was a sixth on the spin and leaves new boss Nigel Adkins with a mountain to climb if he is to lift his side out of trouble. The Gunners were on top from the outset and made the perfect start on 11 minutes, Gervinho tapping home Santi Cazorla's cross-shot from close range to finish a move he had......

Read more »

Wenger expects top-four spot

The Gunners chalked up a sixth win in their last eight Premier League games when they saw off relegation battlers Reading 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium in what was Nigel Adkins' first match in charge of the visitors. With Chelsea losing at Southampton, the Gunners are now just two points behind the Blues, and four off third-placed Tottenham - on whom they hold a game in hand. There are bound to be plenty more twists and turns over the run-in,......

Read more »

Arsene Wenger praises Arsenal forward Gervinho after Reading win

The Ivorian, starting his first Premier League game since December, gave the Gunners the lead after just 11 minutes at the Emirates Stadium before laying on two more for his team-mates. The former Lille forward could have grabbed a hat-trick as Arsenal threatened to overrun the struggling Royals in the second half. "He is what you want from a striker, dangerous, he scored and gave assists," Wenger told Sky Sports after the game. "The only regret is that he had a few more chances to score, but you cannot fault his performance today, he was absolutely outstanding." Speaking of the team's display......

Read more »

Aaron Ramsey has no regrets over Arsenal move

Sir Alex Ferguson's side were in the hunt to sign the midfielder in the summer of 2008, but a 17-year-old Ramsey opted to move to the Emirates Stadium instead in a 5million deal. He was impressed with Arsenal's desire to sign him, with boss Arsene Wenger even flying the midfielder out to Switzerland where he was working at Euro 2008 for face-to-face talks. Ramsey has enjoyed mixed fortunes in an Arsenal shirt, with the undoubted low being the......

Read more »

Wenger has faith in Szczesny

Szczesny did not play in the last two matches before the international break, decisions which brought outspoken comments from his father. The 22-year-old moved quickly to distance himself from that direct criticism of Wenger, insisting he was happy to fight for his place, having come through the Arsenal youth system after joining from Legia Warsaw in 2006. And Wenger has every confidence in Szczesny's long-term ability. "That (100 appearances)......

Read more »

Tomas Rosicky says Arsenal's win at Bayern Munich can be a turning point

Arsene Wenger's side won 2-0 at the Allianz Arena, but agonisingly dropped out of the UEFA Champions League on the away goals rule. The Gunners bounced back from that disappointment with a 2-0 victory at Swansea last time to sit fifth in the Premier League, four points behind arch-rivals Tottenham with a game in hand. Next up, Arsenal face relegation strugglers Reading at the Emirates on Saturday, and Rosicky is relishing a return to domestic......

Read more »

Wenger: Jack can't save England

The Gunners midfielder is currently recovering from an ankle problem which has ruled him out since the defeat at Tottenham on March 3, meaning he missed both Arsenal's Champions League win in Bayern Munich as well as both of England's games against San Marino and Montenegro. England failed to hold on to their lead in the second qualifier in Podgorica on Tuesday night, as the hosts fought back to draw and remain in charge at the top of Group......

Read more »

Gunners rocked by Diaby injury

The 26-year-old France international faces an operation on the injury, which he suffered in training on Wednesday. A club statement confirmed: "Abou Diaby injured his left knee in training on Wednesday and subsequent scans have confirmed that he has torn his anterior cruciate ligament. "Following consultations with specialists, Abou will undergo surgery to repair the injury in the near future. Abou is expected to be out for around eight to nine......

Read more »

Chilean star Alexis Sanchez rules out move away from Barcelona

Sanchez joined Barcelona in the summer of 2011, when he rejected overtures from a host of clubs including Manchester City. The 24-year-old has started just 11 league games so far this season, which has led to the speculation linking him with Arsenal, Juventus and Inter Milan. "I'm very happy at Barcelona," the former Udinese player stated. "I feel important for my club and for my country. "I know what type of player I am, I know that I am a......

Read more »

Monreal calls for Gunners focus

The Gunners will resume domestic action with a home match against relegation-battlers Reading, an encounter they must win to keep pressure on both Chelsea and Tottenham in the race for Champions League qualification. With just one defeat in the last seven league games, coming at White Hart Lane, Arsene Wenger's men find themselves four points behind arch-rivals Spurs, but crucially with a match in hand. Arsenal have endured one of the most testing......

Read more »

Jovetic has 'Arsenal affinity'

The 23-year-old Fiorentina striker, who fill line up against England in a World Cup qualifier, has been mentioned as a possible summer signing for Arsene Wenger's side. "I've heard about Arsenal's interest," Jovetic was quoted as saying by The Sun. "It's a big pleasure for me to be on the radar of such a big club. I am happy about that. "I've always had an affinity with Arsenal. It's a major club with a big tradition, one of the biggest in Europe.......

Read more »

Santi Cazorla says Arsenal and Spain team-mate Nacho Monreal are perfect fit

Left-back Monreal joined the Gunners from Malaga on transfer deadline day in January, taking the same route to north London as Cazorla did last summer. Cazorla has been in excellent form for his new club since his arrival while Monreal scored his the first goal in a 2-0 Premier League win at Swansea City before the international break. "He's a very good signing, and he's proving it," Cazorla told Arsenal Player. "Nacho is a footballer I really......

Read more »

Ox: This is the big one

The Arsenal midfielder is in contention to start Tuesday's game after impressing and being among the scorers during Friday's 8-0 away triumph over minnows San Marino. Oxlade-Chamberlain knows the significance of the meeting with group leaders Montenegro who are currently two points ahead of England after Friday's 1-0 win in Moldova. He said: "It is the key game, definitely. It is good to win every game but, with them being top of the group,......

Read more »

Podolski plays down exit talk

The Germany international, who arrived from Cologne last summer, insists he will not be moving away from North London. "I want to say two things," he said. "Firstly, I cannot help it that clubs are interested in me. And there are always people behind the scenes who want to float something in this business. "Secondly, any interest makes me proud because it is a recognition of my performance in London. It is unlikely [that I will leave] because,......

Read more »

Copenhagen to keep Cornelius

The 20-year-old front-man is attracting attention from a host of Premier League clubs and is believed to have been watched by scouts from Arsenal, Spurs adn Stoke during Denmark's 3-0 win over the Czech Republic on Friday, in which Cornelius scored his first international goal. "First of all, we are happy on Cornelius' behalf," stated sports director Carsten V. Jensen to Sporten.dk. "I am particularly happy how he handles the situation around......

Read more »

Graham tips Spurs to miss out

Graham believes Arsenal will pip Spurs to the final Champions League spot, but he does not believe that would constitute a poor season for Andre Villas-Boas' side. Graham told the Sunday Mirror: "Tottenham will be the ones to lose out. "They have a difficult run-in and they have played a game more than the others. "But I want to stress that it would be anything but a disaster for them to make it a poor season. In fact, I would say the opposite.......

Read more »

Negredo keen on Prem move

The Spain international has previously been linked with a host of top-flight clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, while Everton were thought to have shown interest in January. Reports suggest financially-stricken Sevilla could look to offload him as they seek to lower their wage bill. Negredo, who joined Sevilla from Almeria in 2009, claims the club received offers for him in the winter transfer window but says it was not the right......

Read more »

Szczesny sorry for dad's comments

And Szczesny admits current first-choice Lukasz Fabianski has been in better form. In an interview with Przeglad Sportowy, Maciej Szczesny accused Arsenal manager Wenger of using his son as a scapegoat for the club's poor season. Maciej Szczesny made the comments after Wojciech was dropped for the second leg of Arsenal's Champions League tie with Bayern Munich last week, with Wenger claiming the 22-year-old had been "mentally affected" by the......

Read more »

Szczesny's father blasts Wenger

Szczesny was axed for the Champions League game against Bayern Munich last week, with Wenger claiming the 22-year-old had been "mentally affected" by the number of games played. The Poland international was then put on the bench for the Premier League win at Swansea, where Lukasz Fabianski kept a second consecutive clean sheet. Szczesny has joined up with the Poland squad ahead of their World Cup Group H qualifiers against Ukraine and San Marino,......

Read more »

Williams staying at Swansea

The Wales centre-back has been linked with possible moves to either Liverpool, managed by former Swans boss Brendan Rodgers, and Arsenal. Williams' agent Jamie Moralee insists he is happy with his role in a developing Swansea side, although he admitted he could be tempted away if a firm bid came in for him. "What I can say is that my player has got no desire to leave Swansea City Football Club," Moralee told the this is South Wales website.......

Read more »

Transfer news: Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech rejects links to Arsenal

There had been speculation that the Czech international, who moved to Stamford Bridge from Rennes in a 7million deal in June 2004, was a transfer target for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. Wenger is said to be keen to improve his goalkeeping options at the end of the season, with Lukasz Fabianski having recently ousted Wojciech Szczesny from the starting XI. But the 30-year-old former Sparta Prague man has dismissed the reports out of hand and insists......

Read more »

Cazorla wants more Gunners goals

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a successful first campaign in England following his summer move from Malaga. Cazorla has chalked up 11 goals for the Gunners, including a hat-trick in the 5-2 league win at Reading before Christmas. The creative midfielder hopes that tally will be extended as Arsenal look to close back in on the top four and Champions League qualification once again. "It's an aspect of my game I've always tried to improve," said......

Read more »

Tomas Rosicky is keen to play more regularly for Arsenal

The experienced midfielder missed the start of this season due to an Achilles injury and has been restricted to just nine appearances in all competitions. He has yet to start a Premier League game this term, but insists he respects manager Arsene Wenger's decisions as Arsenal try to catch Tottenham Hotspur. "Naturally, I would like to play more often, that's for sure," Rosicky told CTK. "I feel very well, the results in fitness tests were the......

Read more »

Arsenal improved by video nasty

The German was clearly shocked by the Gunners' defending in their 2-1 defeat in the north London derby and responded with clean sheets against Bayern Munich and Swansea City. The Swans were not allowed a single shot on target by a defence that did not include captain Thomas Vermaelen. "Sometimes as a player you have a different view and you can't believe what we did as a defensive unit," admitted Mertesacker. "Sometimes you need to learn from......

Read more »

Theo Walcott fears "tragedy" if Arsenal miss out on Champions League

The Gunners face a fight to finish in the top four as they currently find themselves in fifth spot in the Premier League table. Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League in midweek on away goals despite an impressive 2-0 win over Bayern Munich and Walcott believes their performance in Germany shows they have underperformed this term. "We want to be at places like Bayern Munich again, it would be a tragedy for this team not to be in the Champions......

Read more »

Wenger: Gunners are together

The Gunners' win at the Liberty Stadium keeps them firmly in the mix for a top-four finish as they backed up their victory over Bayern Munich in midweek. The 2-0 success at the Allianz Arena was not enough to help Wenger's side reach the last eight of the Champions League, but he believes it marked a turning point in their efforts to qualify for next season's competition. He said: "I am a great admirer of the attitude of this team, and to win......

Read more »

Arsene Wenger praised Arsenal spirit after Premier League win at Swansea

Second-half goals from Nacho Monreal and Gervinho gave the Gunners a 2-0 win at the Liberty Stadium and closed the gap on Chelsea in fourth to leave Wenger feeling proud of his players. "We knew on the fixtures that this was one of the difficult games we had still to play," Wenger told Sky Sports. "But we really wanted the win today and we kept going. The fact that our left-back scored the goal inside the box shows that we had the spirit, the desire and are up for the fight. "I'm very proud of the players because they have given a lot at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, come home, travelled straight......

Read more »

RM hopes to extend Miyaichi deal

The Japanese player has made just seven appearances for the Latics in an injury-dogged season which could have been ended by an ankle injury in last weekend's FA Cup quarter-final win at Everton. Miyaichi requires surgery to repair the ligament damage and it may rule him out of Wigan's remaining games. But Martinez is a huge fan of the 20-year-old and would be keen to extend their working relationship if Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will allow......

Read more »

Thomas Vermaelen and Wojciech Szczesny remain key men for Arsenal

Gunners captain Vermaelen was left on the bench for the 2-0 UEFA Champions League victory at Bayern Munich, while Poland goalkeeper Szczesny was rested for the game. Wenger says both players have had a positive reaction since then, as the Gunners slipped out of the competition on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate draw, and will play vital roles during the Premier League run-in. "They are two outstanding players who are part of our squad,"......

Read more »