Hanover 0 Arsenal 1

CESC FABREGAS stuck early to round off the Gunners mini-Euro tour with another win.

The skipper's ninth minute goal was enough to see off the challenge of Hanover 96 despite this proving the toughest test for Arsene Wenger's young side so far.

The confirmation of Kolo Toure's departure to Man City, didn't throw Arsenal off their stride and they played their usual brand of neat, attractive football.

Robin van Persie was the provider for Fabregas, who latched on to his reverse pass to sidestep the goalkeeper Robert Enke and tuck away a finish.

Andrey Arshavin could have doubled the advantage but was thwarted by Enke, and Van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner also came close as the visitors controlled proceedings throughout.

Wenger was literally given an armchair chair ride - from a real armchair pitch side - to watch the action from in Hanover's impressive AMD Arena.

Arsenal's are now looking to regain the Emirates Cup this weekend.

Arsenal have the quality to win it

ARSENAL idol Thierry Henry insists the Gunners can still win the Premier League next season - despite another Emirates exodus.

But the most prolific striker in the club's history admits he is talking with his heart rather than his head when he urges disgruntled supporters to keep the faith.

It is two years since the man voted the greatest Arsenal player of all time left the club for Barcelona.

But the pain he feels at their failure to win a trophy since 2005 remains as intense as ever.

Now Henry is praying manager Arsene Wenger can end that long wait despite battling just to hang on to his top stars.

Arsenal have already lost striker Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City for £25million and defender Kolo Toure is set to follow him to Eastlands any day now.

But Henry insisted: "I know the way Arsene Wenger thinks and he will not go into the new season with ambitions to finish in the top four again.

"His only target will be to win the Premier League.

"And despite all that has happened at Arsenal this year, I still believe they have enough quality to do that. It is difficult for me to talk about Arsenal. Whenever I do, it is always with my heart, not my head.

"They are going to miss Adebayor for sure. He is a good player and he scored some important goals for the team.

"So it is going to be a difficult task for Arsenal this time and it is vital that everyone keeps the faith.

"The reason I say that is because the boss still has great faith in his players and if there is one man who Arsenal can trust to do the right thing, it's Arsene Wenger.

"He is the man who has put Arsenal on to the European map. Nobody else could have achieved what he has done there.

"The fans should remember that and give him more credit. Some people gave him a hard time last season and he didn't deserve that.

"I know how those supporters feel. Like them, I am Arsenal through and through and we all suffer when the team doesn't win anything.

"Everyone wants immediate success and after four seasons without a trophy, Arsenal supporters have become impatient.

"All I can say to them right now is to have faith in Arsene and know that the first trophy in five years will be more enjoyable than ever."

Henry, 31, scored a club-record 226 goals in 370 games for Arsenal, winning the Premier League twice and FA Cup three times.

He was voted Footballer of the Year three times and the PFA's Player of the Year twice as well as finishing top scorer in the Premier League in four of his eight seasons at Arsenal.

But things have gone steadily downhill for Arsenal since Henry left for Barcelona in a £16m deal in 2007.

There has been an alarming trickle of top talent moving away from The Emirates since then.

Henry said: "It is more difficult to achieve success without money, but it's not impossible with the right attitude.

"Just look at Barcelona. We won the treble this year and proved you can succeed by developing your own players and blending them with one or two expensive signings.

"Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Puyol, Pique and Valdes all came through the system at Barcelona.

"Arsenal are trying to do the same thing and are very close to achieving their ambitions.

"Yes, they are still a very young team. But they are not inexperienced.

"They have been playing together for quite a while and are capable of anything.

"They played Manchester United off the park in the Premier League at The Emirates last season but it all went wrong when they met again in the Champions League.

"But at least they have shown what they can do. With the players they already have at the club, I can still see them winning the league."

Yet Henry admitted it will be tougher than ever now Manchester City have burst on to the scene in an unprecedented transfer blitz funded by their billionaire Arab owners.

Henry added: "Manchester City fans are buzzing right now and why not? Surely they are allowed to be happy.

"It is their turn and nobody can be bitter about that or resent them for their good fortune.

"Let's just see what they can do."

Henry's biggest concern, though, is recovering from the knee injury which hampered him during last season's Champions League final and help Barca blunt the challenge of Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired Real Madrid.

Henry confessed: "I pushed myself so hard to play in the Champ-ions League final.

"The doctors told me I should rest for two months after the initial injury but I was back after two weeks.

"I was virtually playing on one leg against Manchester United in the final but was so desperate just to be a part of the team.

"Now I am being a bit more cautious. I'm working hard in training and will go with the team on the tour of the United States, but I am not kicking a ball yet.

"Hopefully I will be OK for the start of the season but the most important thing is to make sure the knee is fully recovered."

Szombathelyi 0 Arsenal 5

NICKLAS BENDTNER, Eduardo and Robin van Persie showed just why Arsenal won't miss Emmanuel Adebayor this season.

Eduardo celebrated his first pre-season appearance of the 2009/10 campaign with a classy brace as Arsenal brushed aside Szombathelyi Haladas 5-0 in Hungary on Monday night.

A few days earlier, it had been rumoured that the Croatian striker was injured and would miss the first two months of the season. However he seemed extremely fit and well this evening, firing home a low shot in the 24th minute and a free-kick five minutes before the break.

Nicklas Bendtner also poached a pair before the interval. The great Dane nodded in a delightful cross from Armand Traore in the 17th minute and slotted home a simple second, the fourth for his team, just before half time.

The flood of goals dried up somewhat after the interval but Robin van Persie did add to Arsenal's tally, scoring with a penalty in the 66th minute. He also had a late header ruled out.

Haladas did have a chance for some consolation from the penalty spot seven minutes from time but Brazilian defender Barbosa slipped in his run-up and could only trickle the ball past the post.

It was a slightly comical end to a serious run-out for Arsenal and a very, very straightforward win.

It was a bright and breezy night in Western Hungary. The team coach made the winding, hour-long trip from the Club’s Austrian training carrying a team in good spirits.

It had been a week of tough-but-necessary double sessions in practice plus that notable 7-1 thumping of SC Columbia last Tuesday.

However while that side played in Austrian division four, Haladas had finished third in the Hungarian top flight last term and had won themselves a place in the Europa League.

Unfortunately for them, four days before this fixture the Rohonci úti Stadion had witnessed their exit from that competition to Elfsborg in the Third Qualifying Round. Despite that, this was still a significant increase in pre-season standard for Wenger’s side.

The opening stages were cagey. Haladas keeper Daniel Rozsa rushed out to deny Bendtner and, in the ninth minute, captain Peter Toth thumped the ball into the Arsenal net at the far post. However the whistle had long since blown for offside.

Keeper Vito Mannone nearly copied Manuel Almunia’s mistake at SC Columbia when his clearance was charged down by Marton Oross and flew a few yards wide of goal.

The Italian keeper had to rush out again in the 17th minute to deny two breakaway Haladas strikers. It was nearly an immediate response for the home side because, a few seconds earlier, they had fallen behind to the simplest of goals. Troare flew down the left and crossed for the unmarked Bendtner to steer home a header at the near post.

In the 24th minute, Arsenal doubled their advantage when Eduardo found some space in the corner of the area and drove home a low shot off the base of the far post.

Left back Toth seemed the most attacking outlet for the hosts and blasted over an effort shortly afterwards.

However, having barely extended themselves to create a 2-0 lead, Arsenal were playing well within themselves. Eduardo fired straight into the chest of Rozsa and, shortly afterwards, Bendtner would have headed home had he not collided with the Croatian in mid-air.

The duo would become much more cohesive as the end of the first half approached. First Bendtner was fouled five yards outside the area and Eduardo’s low free-kick crept inside the far post with keeper floundering. Then, two minutes from the whistle, Bendtner had time and space on the edge of the area to pick his spot. He chose to beat the keeper with shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Wenger made eight substitutions at the break. Only Jack Wilshere, Eduardo and Aaron Ramsey stayed on.

It seemed almost cruel bringing on a fresh Andrey Arshavin and Van Persie against a side already 4-0 down. Within a few minutes of the restart, the Dutchman had headed on to the top of the net and the Russian had blasted just wide.

In the 53rd minute, Wilshere got in on the act. The winger scooped a shot over the keeper and back off the bar. A cheeky effort.

Eduardo made way after 62 impressive minutes and Bendtner came back on. Five minutes later the 21-year-old was needlessly felled by Rozsa in the area and Van Persie scored with a perfect penalty into the top corner.

Wilshere nearly nudged home a delightful third but, with 15 minutes left, Haladas did at least threaten a goal. Something they had failed to do since the first quarter of an hour. Wojciech Szczesny pulled off fine double save from Norbert Lattenstein and Roland Ugrai then tipped over a free-kick from Szabolcs Schimmer.

Normal service was nearly resumed as Van Persie nodded home from Mikael Silvestre’s steepling cross 11 minutes from time. However his effort was ruled out.

Haladas should have troubled the scorers in the 83rd minute when Gallas was adjudged to have impeded Matel Skriba. However Barbosa slipped in his run-up and could only send the ball scuttling past the post.

Arsenal’s goal-hungry pre-season continues.

Arsh but fair to sell Adebayor

ANDREY ARSHAVIN insists Arsenal were right to sell strike star Emmanuel Adebayor.

Adebayor left the Emirates for Manchester City in a £25million move.

And Russian ace Arshavin, 28, said: "We lost a very good player but Arsenal remain one of the best clubs in the Premier League even without him.

"If he had no desire to stay, it was the right decision to let him go."

Robin Van Persie believes Gunners boss Arsene Wenger must now splash the cash on a top-class striker to play alongside him.

The Dutch ace said: "If you ask me I am not against a new player because it would strengthen our squad.

"But myself, Eduardo, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela can all play the main role."

Clichy - I didn't say Ade moved for the money

Gael Clichy has denied saying that Emmanuel Adebayor left Arsenal purely for financial reasons.

Over the weekend, the English media carried stories suggesting the left back had accused his former team-mate of moving for the money.

Speaking to Arsenal.com at the Club’s training camp in Austria, Clichy, 24 on Sunday, flatly denied he was directly referring to Adebayor.

“I felt really bad about this,” said the Frenchman. “I am not a player who would talk like this; say a name and talk this way about a friend. I asked the newspaper not to mention any names and unfortunately they did.

“If you read the article you will see that I am not saying any names – Ade or anyone else. That is not the way to do it. If I need to say something I will go out and say it myself.

“Saying big names in a big article like this when I did not say anything, I think it is wrong. I just wanted to clarify this.

“Only Ade knows why he went and we have to live with this. He was a good player for us but now he is gone and I don’t want to talk about him anymore.

"But good luck to him and I will see him on the pitch later this season.”

Henry: 'Vital' Cesc must stay

THIERRY HENRY has told Arsenal they must do everything in their power to hold on to Cesc Fabregas.

The Spanish midfielder has been linked with a £40million move away from the Emirates, with European giants Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan all keen on signing him.

And with the Gunners having failed to land a trophy since their FA Cup triumph in 2005, speculation has mounted that Fabregas, 22, could be tempted away from the club.

Last month, Fabregas criticised the Gunners over their lack of silverware, calling the club 'impotent'.

But former Arsenal ace Henry — now at Barcelona himself — has warned Arsene boss Arsene Wenger he cannot afford to lose his skipper.

Henry said: "It is vital Arsenal keep Cesc. Vital.

"He is the Arsenal captain and he is young and I'm sure he wants to give something back to the club. Knowing him, he will.

"But it is vital they keep Cesc."

Henry, 31, insists if the Gunners can keep Fabregas at the club, they have a squad capable of challenging for honours next season — despite being unable to compete with the Premier League's big spenders in the transfer market.

He added: "When I talk about Arsenal, my heart will always rule my head. It is not easy to lose [Emmanuel] Adebayor and what happened to [Samir] Nasri was not what Arsene would have been hoping for.

"But I hope they can win the league and win everything they can, that's always my feeling about my old club.

"What I know about Arsenal from my time there was not about finishing in the top four — it was about winning the league.

"That's how I saw it when I was there and I still see it like that, they are a big club. Arsene has proved so many times he can win things without spending a lot of money and hopefully they can do it again.

"The only thing that matters to me is not who is in the top four, it's who is going to be top and I know that's how Arsene sees it too."

Henry also moved to dismiss rumours he could one day return to the Premier League, with megabucks Manchester City said to be keen on signing him.

Asked if he would ever return to England, the Frenchman added: "No. You guys were talking a lot about that for me!

"Seriously, I had a difficult first season here but when we won the Treble we had a very special bond on the pitch.

"I wasn't happy enough with what I did in my first season at Barcelona and I wasn't happy with some of the games I played in last season when we won the Treble. It's just the way I am.

"There's a lot of pressure at Barcelona and it's not always easy, but trust me, it is enjoyable."

Gunners join Klaas war

ARSENAL are ready to challenge Spurs in the race for Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Dutchman, 26, has turned down Stuttgart in favour of a move to the Premier League.

And the Gunners are confident they can outbid Tottenham with an offer of £16.5million.

Huntelaar returns to Real's training camp today and the Spaniards want his future sorted out by the end of next week.

He only joined Real in January in a £20m deal with Ajax.

But Madrid are ready to let him go as they have signed Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema this summer.

Huntelaar's agent Arnold Oosterveer said: "We want the best option for the kid without taking too much time over it. Now the decision rests with Real."

Wenger - Emirates Cup is ‘final firework’

Arsène Wenger has described the Emirates Cup as the ”final firework” of his side’s 2009/10 preparations.

Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Rangers are the visitors for this year’s two-day tournament in north London, which promises to be as successful as ever.

According to Wenger, the tournament serves two main purposes for his side.

“I believe first of all it’s always the first gathering with our fans,” the manager explained to Arsenal.com.

“I personally enjoy the two days immensely and it’s a good opportunity to see how far we are in our preparation and how fit our players are.

“I enjoy it because it’s always enjoyable games in a good climate without pressure. It’s the final firework of the preparation with a relaxed atmosphere, without too much pressure.”

As a reminder, the two days of action are as follows:

Saturday 1st August 2009
Rangers v Paris Saint-Germain (2pm Kick-off)
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (4.15pm Kick-off)

Sunday 2nd August 2009
Atletico Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain (2pm kick-off)
Arsenal v Rangers (4.15pm kick-off)

Nasri leg break hell

SAMIR NASRI may be out until Christmas after breaking his leg in training.

But Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said: "The message is trust the players we have. This is a very big season for us but I believe we are in a very strong position.

"Big clubs have lost big players before - Milan have lost Kaka and yet Milan will go on.

"Arsenal have lost big players in the past and continued at the top.

"There are positive messages as well - Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas have stayed after being announced away.

"So I feel we have the squad to deal with the targets we have."

The Gunners lost midfielder Nasri yesterday when he fractured his right leg in a clash with Abou Diaby while training in Austria.

Medics believe Nasri, 22, will be out for 12 weeks only, meaning he may be back by October.

But there are fears the injury could be worse than first thought meaning a lengthier KO.

And he is the latest in a stream of Gunners to be hit by long-term injury.

Eduardo, Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Van Persie were all sidelined last season.

Wenger's latest injury blow will increase calls for him to enter the transfer market - especially after the £25m sale of striker Manu Adebayor to Manchester City.

Pre-season friendly: SC Columbia 1-7 Arsenal

Bendtner, Ramsey and Van Persie all bag braces in Austria Rout

Nicklas Bendtner, Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey scored two apiece as Arsenal kicked off their mini-European tour with a comfortable victory over SC Columbia.

Arsène Wenger’s side did suffer a minor embarrassment when a freakish goal from Patrick Lehner gave the amateurs a shock first-half lead.

That delighted a record crowd of 6,900 at the Schwarzlackenau Stadium but it merely stung Arsenal into action. Bendtner equalised within a minute and grabbed another after Ramsey had fired the visitors ahead.

Van Persie slotted home a penalty early in the second half and nodded in Bacary Sagna’s cross to make it five. William Gallas got in on the act before the end and Ramsey fired in late on to round off another useful workout.

Wenger’s men will slowly crank up the intensity as they put the building blocks in place for the new campaign. Their next stop is just across the border in Hungary for Monday’s friendly at Szombathelyi.

The build-up to this game was dominated by the news that Samir Nasri will be out for up to three months after fracturing his right fibula in training. It is a substantial blow to Arsenal even if the return of Tomas Rosicky will compensate for his loss.

The Czech was rested for this game after making his long-awaited comeback at Barnet on Saturday but we did get a first glimpse of Emmanuel Eboue, Denilson, Abou Diaby, Ramsey and Bendtner this summer. They made the starting line-up while Kolo Toure, Bacary Sagna, Van Persie and Alex Song were named on the bench. Armand Traore and Philippe Senderos, back from season-long loan spells, were also among the substitutes.

The biggest name on the SC Columbia teamsheet was their 44-year-old free-kick specialist Julius Simon - although he would not get a chance to show off his party trick on this occasion. The Slovakia international scored 10 times last season as his team finished halfway up the Austrian Fourth Division.

The amateurs from Floridsdorf weren’t expected to trouble their illustrious visitors but that didn’t stop the locals packing out the Schwarzlackenau Stadium – with the help of a small but boisterous Arsenal contingent. Beer and music were in plentiful supply as a festival atmosphere kicked in well before kick-off.

As expected the game was played almost exclusively in the Austrians’ half but Arsenal’s radar was off in the first half-hour or so.

Andrey Arshavin slotted wide after two minutes, Bendtner followed suit shortly afterwards, Ramsey also missed the target from just outside the box and Thomas Vermaelen squandered a decent chance for his first Arsenal goal, lashing a shot wide after Ramsey’s clever chip had fallen for him eight yards out.

Meanwhile, Gerhard Taschwer earned his corn in the Columbia goal. The keeper pushed away Diaby’s fierce shot at his near post and denied the Frenchman again when he tried his luck from long range.

Despite the pedestrian pace of what was essentially a training exercise, it seemed a matter of time before Arsenal broke the deadlock. Then Columbia raised the biggest cheer of the evening with a goal completely against the run of play.

It was a farcical one from Arsenal’s perspective. Mikael Silvestre played the ball back to Almunia but the Spaniard’s first touch was slightly heavy. As Lehner slid in, Almunia’s attempted clearance ricocheted off the striker and into the net.

Suitably embarrassed, Arsenal were stung into action. Within a minute they were level as Diaby charged down the right channel and squared the ball for Bendtner to tap into the roof of the net.

The scoreline soon had a more predictable look to it. Within three minutes of the Dane’s equaliser, Ramsey evaded a challenge on the edge of the Columbia box and slammed a shot into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later, Bendtner doubled his own tally. Running from deep, the striker flicked the ball to Ramsey and then collected the return pass inside the box before jinking past Taschwer and rolling the ball into the net.

It was a sign that Arsenal could pick up the pace at will.

Wenger made eight changes at the break with Senderos deployed in a defensive midfield role – quite possibly a first for the Swiss. And two of those substitutes linked up for Arsenal’s fourth goal as Traore’s cross was handled and Van Persie fired home from the spot.

The Dutchman so nearly set up a fifth for Denilson on the hour mark but, once again, Taschwer did well, rushing out to block the Brazilian’s low shot.

Wilshere and Ramsey returned to the fray with 20 minutes to go as Arshavin and Eboue were given a breather. Regardless of their personnel, Arsenal kept the scoreboard ticking over.

First Van Persie buried a header from Sagna’s right-wing cross and Gallas did likewise with 14 minutes remaining. Then Ramsey rounded things off with a fizzing shot which flew in off the post.

Samir Nasri suffers fractured right fibula

Samir Nasri has sustained a fractured fibula during this morning’s training session at the Club’s pre-season training camp in Austria.

The midfielder will be out of action for two to three months. veryone at the Club wishes Samir a speedy recovery...arsenal.com

Rosicky Siap Balas Jasa

Pemain Arsenal yang lama absen karena cedera itu berjanji akan membayar kesabaran dan kepercayaan pihak klub terhadap dirinya dengan memberi yang terbaik.

Tomas Rosicky memaksa Arsenal harus menunggu hingga 18 bulan untuk bisa mendapatkan bantuannya lagi.

Bukan tanpa alasan Rosicky melakukan hal ini. Bekapan cedera lutut dan hamstring parah yang memaksanya harus beristirahat panjang.

Untungnya, Arsenal masih bersedia menampungnya meski tanpa kontribusi selama satu setengah musim. Karena itu, Rosicky berjanji untuk membayar kepercayaan pihak klub terhadap dirinya.

"Saya ingin memberi balik kepada pihak klub atas investasi yang mereka lakukan di masa silam terhadap saya," ujar Rosicky kepada The Sun.

"Saya tidak kehilangan kemampuan olah bola saya. Hal ini termasuk stamina dan situasi satu lawan satu. Semuanya tak bisa 100 persen langsung muncul, tapi saya yakin performa saya akan kembali pada waktunya," tandasnya...BERNAMA

Wenger Akui ingin Chamakh

Arsene Wenger mengakui Marouane Chamakh termasuk dalam daftar transfer Arsenal.

Kepergian Emmanuel Adebayor ke Manchester City semakin menguatkan kabar kalau Wenger mengincar satu pemain depan sebagai pengganti pemain asal Togo tersebut.

Striker Bordeuax, Chamakh, sudah beberapa pekan terakhir ini digosipkan akan segera hijrah ke Emirates, sebelum Adebayor resmi pindah ke City.

Meski sempat menyanggah, pelatih asal Prancis itu akhirnya mengakui kalau ia tertarik mendapatkan Chamakh.

"Kami terus mengikuti perkembangannya. Dia adalah salah satu pemain incaran kami kalau kami memang masih ingin menambah pemain depan," tuturnya melalui situs resmi klub.

"Kami memang mendapatkan uang hasil penjualan Adebayor yang jumlahnya cukup banyak, tapi kami tak ingin terburu-buru mendatangkan pemain lagi."

Wenger menyatakan kalau barisan depannya sudah cukup kuat dengan adanya Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo Da Silva dan Andrey Arshavin.

Ia juga siap mendorong Theo Walcott dan Tomas Rosicky sebagai penyerang kalau memang dibutuhkan karena kedua pemain itu memang pernah bermain sebagai striker.

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger Feared For Tomas Rosicky's Future

The French boss explained that there were times when he and Rosicky believed the Czech star's playing career was over...

Arsenal's introductory pre-season fixture against neighbouring club Barnet provided Tomas Rosicky with a 45-minute run-out and a return to football following a lay-off that stretched way back to January 2008.

And there were times during that lengthy spell that had Arsene Wenger wondering whether the Czech Republic international would be able to recover fully from the series of complex hamstring complaints.

"There was a time when I was worried Tomas wouldn't play football again and he felt the same," Wenger told the Daily Telegraph.

"But he had always led a healthy and dedicated life. Mentally he's also very strong. Of course you have to ask and hope if he will ever get back to where we want him to be and the answer looks like 'yes'."

Wenger also commented on the player's willingness to go into 50/50 challenges unhesitatingly, which were an indication of Rosicky's confidence that he had fully recovered.

"At some stage he was even a bit too confident to go into dangerous tackles. We have to manage him well and prepare him well. If he comes through pre-season well he could start the season."

On the club's solitary summer signing, Thomas Vermaelen, Wenger added, "Vermaelen had a good start [against Barnet] and I think he had a good welcome to english football because he got some good challenges here. I think it was a good start for him overall.

"He is strong, solid, calm and when he became more confident in the second half you could see that he passes the ball well. He should be a good addition to the squad, yes...BERNAMA

Arsenal Manager Wenger To Make Offer For Real Madrid's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - Report

Rumours persist that the Gunners boss will replace Adebayor with the Dutch international striker...

Arsenal are set to bid for Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the seek reinforcements in the front line following Emmanuel Adebayor's departure to Manchester City, according to the Metro.

Real Madrid will be looking to recoup the £20 million they paid for the Dutch international in January and Huntelaar is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League.

Stuttgart are also closely monitoring the player as there seems little room for Huntelaar among the Galacticos in the Spanish capital, and Arsenal will have to act fast to seal the deal.

So far, the Gunners have added just centre-half Thomas Vermaelen during the transfer window and the fans are desperate for more signings after four years without a trophy.

Rosicky - I waited a long time for this

It has been a long time coming for Tomas Rosicky, but he is finally back.

He played the first 45 minutes of the Gunners' pre-season opener against Barnet on Saturday and was named Arsenal captain for the clash.

And, after making his first appearance for almost 18 months, the midfielder spoke exclusively to Arsenal TV Online.

arsene wenger said for transfer adebayor

Wenger Tak Mau Buru-Buru Belanja Pemain

Manajer Arsenal Arsene Wenger menolak untuk terburu-buru dalam melakukan pembelian pemain baru untuk skuadnya.

Arsenal baru saja menjual Emmanuel Adebayor ke Manchester City dengan nilai transfer yang diyakini sebesar 25 juta poundsterling.

Dengan dana tersebut, Arsene Wenger diyakini akan melakukan pembelian pemain lagi. Namun demikian, manajer asal Prancis itu menolak untuk melakukan pembelian dengan terburu-buru.

"Kami tidak dalam posisi akan mendatangkan pemain baru, tapi saya memiliki kesempatan untuk menghabiskan dana transfer jika ada pemain yang pantas untuk dibeli," kata Wenger kepada Sky Sports.

Dia menambahkan jika Marouane Chamakh masuk dalam bidikannya.

"Jika kami memang butuh mendatangkan pemain baru, kami akan melakukannya. Chamakh adalah salah satu pemain yang kami ikuti dan apabila kami membutuhkan striker lagi, dia adalah salah satu pilihan kami. Kami terus mengawasinya," jelas Wenger.

Wenger: Adebayor Ingin Hijrah Sejak Musim Lalu

Kepindahan Emmanuel Adebayor dari Arsenal karena dendam musim panas lalu.

Pelatih Arsene wenger mengakui kehilangan besar karena melepas Emmanuel adebayor.Menurut Wenger, striker asal Togo yang dibeli Manchester City seharga 25 juta poundsterling merupakan aset berharga timnya.

“Kami merasa kehilangannya, karena ia pemain luar biasa dan ia akan mengulang itu bersama City,” kata Wenger seperti diungkapkan BBC.

Meski begitu, Wenger tak ingin berlarut-larut. Ia berencana mencari pengganti Adebayor di Arsenal. Nama Marouane Chamakh sempat dikabarkan menjadi penggantinya.

“Kami akan fokus mencari pemain yang seimbang dengannya.”

Kepergian Adebayor dari The Gunners dimaklumi Wenger. Sebab sejak gagal pindah ke AC milan musim panas lalu, Adebayor menyimpan dendam untuk cepat pergi dari Arsenal.

“Ada sedikit kemarahan tersimpan dari musim panas lalu, dan saya percaya ia sudah berusaha dan ketika musim lalu ia tak terlalu berani,” jelas Wenger.

RESMI: Adebayor Pemain City

Akhirnya Emmanuel Adebayor berangkat ke Eastlands...

Manchester City melengkapi transfer Emmanuel Adebayor dari Arsenal.

Striker kebangsaanTogo ini menandatangani kontrak lima tahun bersama City dan menjadi pemain penyerang ketiga yang bergabung ke Eastlands sepanjang bursa transfer.

Mark Hughes sudah berhasil mendapatkan Roque Santa Cruz dan Carlos Tevez sebagai amunisi lini depan tim dan dengan Adebayor, lini depan City harus diperhitungkan begitu musim baru Liga Primer Inggris.

Adebayor sudah melalui beberapa tahap sebelum peresmian transfer, termasuk mengurus izin kerja dan menjalani uji medis. Sama seperti saat membela Arsenal, Ade akan mengenakan kostum bernomor punggung 25 di City.

"City membuatku merasa istimewa dan aku tak sabar bermain di depan fans City dan membuktikan kepada mereka kemampuanku," ujar pemain berusia 25 tahun ini.

"Aku terlahir untuk bermain sepakbola dan itulah yang ingin kulakukan. Aku datang ke sini untuk mencetak sejarah bersama klub ini beserta dukungan suporternya. Itu yang dikatakan presiden dan manajer tim saat mengungkapkan keinginan mereka dan aku tak sabar memulai kiprah."

Hughes percaya, masuknya Adebayor akan kian menambah kekuatan City.

"Emmanuel adalah salah satu pemain depan top di Liga Primer sejak datang dari Prancis dan kami senang dia setuju datang bermain untuk kami," tukasnya.

"Bersama pemain lain yang kami rekrut, dia akan meningkatkan kemampuan kami untuk bersaing dengan tim papan atas."

"Kedatangannya menjadi indikasi jelas, kami bertekad untuk mendapatkan pemain yang memiliki bakat kebangsaan."

"Tambahan tenaganya memberikan keseimbangan dan tenaga yang vital untuk daya serang tim. Dia punya segala yang dibutuhkan. Serbabisa, bertenaga, cepat, dan tangkas dengan bola. Aku menanti waktu bekerja bersamanya, seperti halnya staf lain. Dia akan menambahkan dimensi baru dalam cara kami bermain. Aku sudah mengaguminya sejak lama."

Pada saat bersamaan, masa depan Craig Bellamy, Benjani Mwaruwari, Felipe Caicedo, dan Valeri Bojinov berada dalam tanda tanya besar.

Adebayor Ujian Medik Di Eastlands

Sky Sports melaporkan, striker Togo itu telah terbang ke Manchester Untuk melengkapi proses transfernya.

Emmanuel Adebayor diperkirakan akan segera meninggalkan Arsenal dan menyeberang ke Manchester City setelah beredar kabar kepergiannya ke Manchester untuk menjalani ujian medik.
Negosiasi sejauh ini berlangsung cukup alot, kemungkinan karena bintang Togo itu meminta sejumlah bonus karena menganggap telah setia dengan the Gunners sejauh ini.

Selain itu, Adebayor juga akan menerima sekitar £170.000 per minggu untuk gajinya di Eastlands, atau lebih dari dua kali lipat dari apa yang diterimanya di Emirates.

Selain itu, izin kerja yang telah disetujui juga kemungkinan akan mempercepat proses transfer bekas striker Monaco itu ke the Citizens.

Pre-season: Barnet 2-2 Arsenal - Report

Rosicky returns as Arsenal kick off pre-season with a draw

Tomas Rosicky pulled on an Arsenal shirt for the first time in 18 months as his team kicked off their pre-season schedule with a draw at Barnet.

The Czech international hobbled off during an FA Cup tie against Newcastle on January 26, 2008 and has overcome plenty of obstacles on his long road back to fitness. The 45 minutes he got under his belt at Underhill was the best news of the day.

The result wasn’t so great - although it hardly matters at this time of the year.

Sanchez Watt set up Andrey Arshavin for the opening goal three minutes before the break but Ismail Yakubu headed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time. Nacer Barazite, one of 10 half-time substitutes, restored Arsenal’s lead in spectacular fashion but Elliott Charles struck with eight minutes left to earn Barnet a creditable draw.

Rosicky’s return was the big news before kick-off but he was not the only mouth-watering name in the Arsenal line-up. New signing Thomas Vermaelen made his debut, William Gallas returned from his own lengthy lay-off and Arshavin also started.

There was plenty for a packed Underhill to savour in the July sunshine.

This trip to Barnet has been a staple of Arsenal’s pre-season diet for the past decade and it gives Wenger’s side the opportunity to shake off some summer cobwebs before the hard work starts at their training camp in Austria.

Arsenal, sporting their new blue away kit, started briskly. Arshavin dragged a shot past the near post inside 90 seconds and then forced Will Viner into a save from the acutest of angles. Watt tried to snaffle the rebound but his effort was blocked.

Rosicky, captain for the day, was heavily involved in the opening exchanges and, needless to say, his first touch was greeted with a huge roar. Most of the 5,099 crowd craved a goal from the Czech and were almost sated when Arshavin slipped Rosicky in with a deft pass inside the box. Viner rushed out to smother.

The Barnet keeper was by far the busier.

After eight minutes Rosicky found Wilshere on the left and the 17-year-old whipped a ball across to Watt. His first touch took him inside his marker but Viner pushed away the striker’s fierce effort.

After a frenetic first 15 minutes, the pace eased off – hardly surprising given the time of year.

Barnet, full of endeavour, started to compete. Yannick Bolasie, quick and tricky, was their most fruitful outlet.

Paul Furlong, 40, was his very senior partner up front but the former Chelsea striker gave Vermaelen a good battle. The Dutchman won’t meet a more experienced opponent this season and he stood up well to his first test in English football. Strong in the air, composed on the ball – Vermaelen looks the part.

The chances dried up as the tempo dropped but, having regained their breath, Arsenal stepped up a gear towards the end of the half.

Watt emerged from two sliding challenges to release Wilshere on the left six minutes before the break. He cut inside and waited for support before finding Arshavin. The Russian teed up Rosicky but his left-foot strike flew wide.

Three minutes later, Arsenal were ahead.

This time Watt raced down the left and he cleverly delayed his cross before putting the ball on a plate for Arshavin at the far post. The Russian finished high into the net from close range.

You might not have fancied Barnet to bounce back from that but they conjured up an equaliser with the last touch of the half. Danny Hart whipped in an inviting free-kick from the left and centre-back Yakubu climbed highest to power a header beyond Manuel Almunia.

As expected it was all-change at half-time – with the exception of Vermaelen.

He stayed on for the second half and was joined by 10 new players: Craig Eastmond, Luke Ayling, Jay Simpson, Barazite, Thomas Cruise, Gilles Sunu, Francis Coquelin, Conor Henderson and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. Early evidence that Wenger is already building a team around his new signing!

It took just four minutes for Arsenal to regain the lead and they did it in some style.

Barazite, back from a season-long loan at Derby, was forced away from the penalty area by a crowded Barnet defence but found space to arrow a shot into the top corner from 20 yards. Remarkably it was the third year in succession that Barazite has scored in this fixture.

Emmanuel-Thomas clipped a free-kick just over as the young Gunners asserted themselves but, once again, a frantic opening spell was followed by a more mundane passage of play.

Hart raised the temperature with a thumping shot from 25 yards which stung Mannone’s hands and Arsenal responded in kind as Emmanuel-Thomas played in Simpson, but .his goal-bound effort was blocked.

Arsenal looked in control but they were pegged back again with eight minutes left when Charles popped up inside the box to find Mannone’s bottom corner.

Emmanuel-Thomas squandered a chance for an instant riposte when he slid the ball just wide after breaking clear of the Barnet back line so Arsenal had to settle for a draw.

But that was not the story today. Welcome back, Tomas Rosicky.

Fabregas - I can't wait to see Rosicky return

Cesc Fabregas cannot wait to see Tomas Rosicky back in action.

The Czech midfielder has been hampered by injuries to his hamstring tendon and his knee since January 2008 but he returned to full training in May and was one of the first players back for pre-season last week.

The sight of Rosicky limbering up with his team-mates was a heart-warming one and he is now in contention for Arsenal's summer games, which begin with the traditional trip to Barnet on Saturday.

Fabregas and Rosicky are close friends as well as team-mates so the Spaniard knows as well as anyone what the 28-year-old has been through. The Arsenal captain has been amazed by Rosicky's mental fortitude.

"I have spent a lot of time with him and I know how he feels," Fabregas told Arsenal.com.

"I know what he wants and I have never seen a guy being so committed, so professional and never giving up. If this happened to me I probably wouldn't want to talk to anyone, I would be always down and angry. But he's unbelievable and when we see that he will be back next season, he will be strong and hopefully he can help us improve a lot.

"He's the type of player you enjoy playing alongside and as a guy he's amazing. He didn't deserve his injury but I am sure he will come back stronger. I wish him all the best because everyone here at Arsenal loves him a lot.

"I feel sorry for him but I don't need to say that to him, he's my best friend in the team and one of my best friends in football and my life."

Rosicky was a regular in the Arsenal side which challenged strongly for the Premier League title in 2008, striking up a fine understanding with Fabregas and fellow midfielders Mathieu Flamini and Alex Hleb. The Czech is one of the most experienced players in Arsène Wenger's squad and Fabregas believes he still has much to offer.

"He can bring many, many things to the team," said the captain. "He's a guy with a lot of experience, he has won things, he knows how to compete, he's very humble and he works for the team.

"Technically he is one of the best in the world and physically I am sure he will be really strong because he's been working really hard. I am happy because soon he is going to be back and I can't wait to see him playing again."

Almunia - Solid start is crucial this season

Manuel Almunia is determined to start the new football season in style.

The first month of the 2009/10 campaign will be crucial for Arsenal with a Champions League qualifier to negotiate and tricky trips to Everton, Manchester United and Manchester City in the Premier League.

Arsenal lost five of their first 14 League games last year and left themselves with too much to do in the title race. Almunia does not see that European qualifier as a hindrance to their domestic ambitions but he is urging his team-mates to hit the ground running when the season gets underway.

"It is crucial for everyone to get off to a good start," he told Arsenal.com.

"In the beginning of last season no one team was strong enough to get a big advantage in points. But we will have to start well this season if we want to win the League. A good start gives you confidence, stability, points and a nice cushion for the rest of the season.

"We have been playing a Champions League qualifying game for the last few seasons so it is nothing new for us. We will have our mind on it and we have to be prepared for it."

If they do qualify for the group stage, Arsenal's Champions League squad will have a healthy smattering of experience this season with Tomas Rosicky expected to be fit and Andrey Arshavin eligible after playing in Europe for Zenit St. Petersburg last term. Almunia expects both players to make a difference.

"They are going to help us," he said. "Arshavin has already helped us in the League but now he can help us in the Champions League because he is a great player.

"Tomas will have a big welcome back because he is one of the greatest players in this Club but he had a serious injury. He had to come back slowly, he could not rush his recovery. He has experience; in and out of the dressing room he is a senior player. When he comes back, when he is on the pitch, he will take responsibility to lift the team up."

Arsenal Belum Tawar Chamakh

Meski tertarik pada Marouane Chamakh, Arsenal belum mengirimkan tawaran ke Bordeaux.

Keinginan Arsenal untuk membeli striker Marouane Chamakh dari Girondins Bordeaux kelihatannya hanya terbatas pada laporan media saja.

The Gunners dilaporkan tengah mempertimbangkan untuk menawar €6 juta bagi pemain Maroko tersebut.

Tetapi presiden Bordeaux Jean-Louis Triaud ingin mengakhiri semua berita yang muncul mengenai pemainnya itu.

"Arsene Wenger belum menelepon saya untuk mengatakan ia tertarik untuk membeli Chamakh. Siapa yang telah membicarakan Chamakh pindah ke Arsenal? Para wartawan. Semua berita ini tidak ada dasarnya," kata Triaud kepada France Football.

Untuk transaksi Chamakh ini, Bordeaux dikabarkan bersedia melepasnya asalkan tawaran dari Arsenal terdiri dari uang tunai dan juga bek senior Mikael Silvestre.

Dengan adanya kemungkinan Emmanuel Adebayor meninggalkan Emirates Stadium untuk menuju City of Manchester Stadium, maka Wenger perlu menambah satu orang penyerang baru lagi.

Walcott - We must learn to grind out results

Arsenal must learn to grind out results if they want to win silverware, according to Theo Walcott.

The England international has plenty of fond memories of the 2008/09 campaign after scoring a hat-trick for his country in Croatia and nailing down a first-team spot at Emirates Stadium. But he ended the season empty-handed after Semi-Final defeats in the Champions League and FA Cup.

Arsenal played some dazzling football last term but Manchester United and Chelsea proved too strong when it mattered most. Walcott is confident of putting that right - but only if Arsenal are prepared to scrap when they need to.

"I think we need to do the dirty things right," he told Arsenal.com.

"Sometimes it's not just about pretty football, we need to grind out the results sometimes and get the win, get the three points. In cup competitions no one remembers the game, as long as the result is right. We need to take that into our game. Manchester United and Chelsea do the dirty work and they take their chances as well, that's another thing we need to learn and improve on.

"We had a great experience of getting to Semi-Finals last season but not quite getting to Finals. Hopefully we can put that right."

Walcott has spent much of his fledgling Arsenal career on the right flank but he has always harboured hopes of playing through the middle. You can understand why - Walcott has pace to burn, his finishing has improved and he can make runs in behind the defence. Walcott believes he could get his chance in a central role this season.

"The boss said hopefully he will start to put me up front now and then," he said. "That's my natural position but I'd play anywhere for this team.

"I want to improve my final ball and score more goals. You get judged on goals so I want to score 15-plus this season. That would be nice. I love making runs in behind, I love scoring goals and making goals. That's what I'll be judged on and I'm looking forward to that."

Club announce 21-man squad for Barnet clash

The 21-man squad for Saturday’s pre-season curtain-raiser against Barnet has been announced.

As expected, a mixture of young players and more experienced heads will make the short trip to Underhill for the clash with the League Two side.

Included in the group is fit-again Tomas Rosicky who hasn’t appeared for the Gunners since January 2008.

Someone else who looks set to feature is new-signing Thomas Vermaelen who joined the Club from Ajax last month.

Full squad to face Barnet:

Manuel Almunia
Vito Mannone
William Gallas
Johan Djourou
Mikael Silvestre
Thomas Vermaelen
Tomas Rosicky
Andrey Arshavin
Jack Wilshere
Thomas Cruise
Craig Eastmond
Luke Ayling
Conor Henderson
Francis Coquelin
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Mark Randall
Emmanuel Frimpong
Gilles Sunu
Sanchez Watt
Jay Simpson
Nacer Barazite

[Friday, July 17, 2009]

Senderos Tambah Wang Tunai Bagi Hangeland

Arsenal ingin mendapatkan Brede Hangeland dari Fulham untuk mengisi lini belakangnya.

Lini belakang Arsenal untuk musim depan dapat berubah secara drastis bila tawaran mereka bagi bek Fulham Brede Hangeland dapat diterima oleh manajer Roy Hodgson.

Menurut Daily Star, untuk menghadirkan Hangeland di Emirates Stadium, The Gunners dilaporkan siap memberikan Philippe Senderos ditambah dengan uang tunai £10 juta.

Sebelumnya Arsenal telah mendapatkan bek Thomas Vermaelen dari Ajax Amsterdam. Bersama Hangeland, keduanya bisa menjadi pilihan pertama Arsene Wenger untuk menggantikan duet Kolo Toure-William Gallas.

Selain di lini belakang, pemain baru juga dapat mengisi lini depan Arsenal setelah Emmanuel Adebayor dilaporkan semakin dekat untuk pindah ke Manchester City.

Pemain asal Togo itu hadir di pusat latihan Arsenal pagi ini dan diperkirakan untuk mengucapkan salam perpisahan kepada rekan-rekannya di sana.

Tempat yang ditinggalkan oleh Adebayor dapat diisi oleh striker Girondins de Bordeaux Marouane Chamakh, atau penyerang Belanda Klaas-Jan Huntelaar...BERNAMA

Andrey Arshavin: Cesc Fabregas Is The Best, I Must Prove Myself At Arsenal

The creative Russian spark is looking ahead to the new season...

Arsenal forward arshvin believes he must build on the form that has captured the imagination of many a Gunners fan in the upcoming Premier League season.

The Russian also indicated Cesc Fabregas as the player who has impressed him most since his arrival at the Emirates.

Arshavin arrived in north London from Zenit St. Petersburg in January and has since made 12 league appearances for the club, scoring six goals, including a four-goal haul against Liverpool.

The playmaker acknowledges his performance in the game will have caught the eye of many a football fan, but also that he must now prove it was not a one-off.

In an interview with Sky Sports News, he said, "Most people recognise me as a boy who scored four goals.

"Now I have to prove it happened because I am a strong player."

Arshavin was also full of praise for midfielder Fabregas, highlighting him as the standout player at the club.

He continued, "Cesc Fabregas' vision is excellent. He plays the ball into excellent positions for our players.

"He is fantastic."

Wenger tracks new wonderkid

ARSENAL are on the trail of Montenegrin starlet Veljko Batrovic.

The 15-year-old striker is being courted by the Gunners, Real Madrid, Marseille and Olympiakos.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and chief scout Steve Rowley travelled to Montenegro in March to check on Batrovic.

And the pair were sufficiently impressed to offer him a week's trial at the Emirates.

FK Bubamara ace Batrovic will train with Arsenal next week and chairman Budom Miranovic confirmed that his player is 'almost certain' to join the north Londoners on a permanent deal.

Miranovic said: "It is almost certain that Veljko will soon become a member of Arsenal's Academy.

"Nothing is yet finished but Veljko will go to a club with the strongest agreement, not only for Bubamara, but for Montenegro football in general.

"The details we'll talk about when the time comes."

• Arsenal have completed the signing of Cheltenham's promising 15-year-old midfielder Jamie Edge.

Arshavin: Keputusan Pindah Di Tangan Adebayor

Striker Arsenal itu mempercayai sepenuhnya jika rekannya itu akan membuat keputusan terbaik.

Emmanuel Adebayor belum membuat keputusan mengenai kelanjutan karirnya musim depan, apakah akan bertahan di Arsenal atau pindah ke Manchester City.

Spekulasi ini memantik reaksi dari Andrey Arshavin. Penyerang Arsenal itu pun meminta Adebayor untuk membuat keputusan terbaik baginya sendiri.

"Dia adalah striker yang bagus. Semua orang tahu dia dan kemampuannya. Tapi, tetap semua keputusan ada di tangannya, apakah dia ingin bertahan atau pergi," tegas Arshavin kepasda Sky Sports News.

Adebayor sendiri dikabarkan sudah menjalani tes medis dan mendapat izin kerja untuk melanjutkan karirnya di Manchester City, walaupun sampai saat ini belum ada kepastian di mana dia akan bermain musim depan.

Lepas Chamakh, Bordeaux Minta Silvestre

Tawaran Arsenal memang ditolak, tapi tidak menutup kemungkinan untuk melanjutkan perburuan Marouane Chamakh.

Girondins Bordeaux hanya bersedia melepas Marounae Chamakh jika Arsenal menyediakan Mickael Sylvestre sebagai bagian dari paket penawaran €8 juta yang diajukan.

Menurut The Sun, Bordeaux telah meminta Arsenal agar bek Prancis yang baru semusim bergabung di Emirates itu disertakan dalam transfer. Arsene Wenger menginginkan Chamakh sebagai pengisi posisi Emmanuel Adebayor yang bakal hengkang ke Manchester City.

Kesempatan bermain Sylvestre terancam musim ini setelah Arsenal mendatangkan Thomas Vermaelen dari Ajax Amsterdam. Belum diketahui keputusan Wenger untuk mempertahankan eks pemain Manchester United itu atau justru mengabulkan permintaan Bordeaux.

Chamakh sendiri tinggal menyisakan satu tahun masa kontrak sehingga Les Girondins harus melepasnya musim ini jika tidak ingin kehilangan sang pemain secara bagus tahun depan.

Huntelaar Gantikan Adebayor?

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar hampir pasti meninggalkan Real Madrid. Pertanyaannya, klub manakah yang disinggahinya?

Jika Arsene Wenger menginginkan Marouane Chamakh, Arsenal diminta Girondins Bordeaux agar menyerahkan Mickael Silvestre sebagai bagian dari kesekapatan.

Di tengah proses transfer ini, nama Klaas-Jan Huntelaar menjadi salah satu alternatif bagi Arsenal. Di Real Madrid, striker internasional Belanda ini tak lagi memiliki mas adepan. Saat Los Merengues berangkat ke Dublin untuk menjalani pramusim, Huntelaar tetap tinggal di Madrid untuk mempermudah proses negosiasi dengan calon klub barunya.

Vfb Stuttgart datang meminang, tapi belakangan Arsenal juga meminatinya, demikian The Daily Mail. Arsenal mencari tempat pengganti striker Emmanuel Adebayor yang akan berhijrah ke Manchester City.

Arsenal bisa jadi pilihan yang pantas bagi Huntelaar, karena di Emirates dia berpeluang bermain bersama rekan timnas, Robin van Persie.

Adebayor Ragu-Ragu Pindah

pikiran Emmanuel Adebayor mendadak bercabang saat harus memutuskan kepindahan ke Manchester City.

Emmanuel Adebayor mendadak ragu pindah dari Arsenal ke Manchester City.

Padahal, striker antarabangsa Togo itu sudah melalui cek medik dan mendapatkan izin kerja. Menurut The Guardian, Ade justru khawatir terhadap penilaian yang diterimanya dari masyarakat Togo atas kepindahan ini. Surat kabar tersebut juga menjelaskan, uji medik belum dilakukan.

Adebayor akan mendapat £150 ribu seminggu dan dia khawatir dianggap rakus. Apalagi Arsenal lebih populer di Afrika. Adebayor pun mendesak agar City memberinya waktu beberapa hari untuk mendiskusikan kepindahan ini bersama keluarga dan sanak saudaranya.

Arsenal sudah menyepakati tawaran City sebesar £25 juta, jadi transfer sebenarnya tinggal menunggu keputusan final dari sang pemain. City berharap Ade sudah bisa bergabung dengan mereka saat menjalani tur ke Afrika Selatan.

Sepuluh Hal Yang Wajib Diketahui Tentang Arsenal

Arsenal adalah salah klub berjaya di Inggris, punya banyak peminat di seluruh dunia dan selalu melahirkan pemain-pemain top. Klub di London Utara ini boleh bangga kerana punya rekod fantastik yang rasanya sulit dipecahkan di era sepakbola moden.

Klub yang sekarang dilatih Arsene Wenger ini memang sedang mengalami masa-masa sukar di musim 2008/09. Sudah beberapa musim mereka belum mendapat tropi baik di peringkat domestik maupun antarabangsal. Piala terakhir yang mereka raih adalah Piala FA pada 2005. Sedangkan gelar Liga Primer Inggris terakhir diperoleh pada musim 2003/04. Meski begitu, jangan menganggap remeh Arsenal. Walaupun masih berada di peringkat keempat di musim ini, tapi mereka mampu mengalahkan Manchester United dan Chelsea.

Permainan mereka belakangan ini memang kurang konsisten. Fabregas cs kerap tersandung melawan klub-klub papan bawah. Wajar saja, karena saat ini Arsenal banyak dihuni pemain muda berbakat. Ini adalah hasil polesan Wenger yang dikenal bertangan dingin dalam memantau dan membina pemain muda. persembahan Arsenal banyak mendapat pujian.

Mereka mampu tampil menyerang, atraktif, penguasaan bola yang baik serta umpan-umpan yang terukur. Hanya saja mereka belum punya lagi ujung tombak setajam Thierry Henry. Emmanuel Adebayor yang musim lalu cukup subur, belum bisa mengulangi produktifitasnya sampai pertengahan musim ini.

Tapi banyak yang meyakini Arsenal mampu bangkit dan tampil trengginas. Pengalaman dan kejelian Wenger dalam meracik tim rasanya masih bisa menuai hasil positif. Pria asal Prancis ini termasuk pelatih terlama di Liga Primer setelah Sir Alex Ferguson dan merupakan salah satu pelatih berjaya Arsenal.

Tiga gelar Liga Primer dan empat Piala FA sudah diberikan Wenger selama 12 tahun melatih Arsenal. Bukan itu hanya kehebatan Arsenal. Berikut ada sepuluh hal yang perlu Anda ketahui tentang klub berjulukan The Gunners ini.

1. Arsenal didirikan pada 1886 dengan nama Dial Square, lalu diubah menjadi Royal Arsenal. Setelah menjadi klub profesional pada 1891, nama klub diubah lagi menjadi Woolwich Arsenal. Pada 1913, mereka bermarkas di stadion Highbury, dan setahun kemudian nama Woolwich dihapus sehingga nama Arsenal dipakai sampai sekarang.

2. David O'Leary merupakan pemain yang paling banyak tampil bersama Arsenal (722 pertandingan). Urutan kedua, bek tangguh dan mantan kapten tim Tony Adams (669). penjaga gol yang paling sering tampil, David Seaman (563). Thierry Henry menjadi pencetak gol terbanyak dengan total 226 gol di semua ajang dari tahun 1999 sampai 2007.

3. Arsenal sudah 13 kali menjuarai Liga Primer, terbanyak setelah Liverpool (18) dan Manchester United (17). Mereka menjuarai Piala FA sepuluh kali, terbanyak setelah Manchester United (11). Arsenal tiga kali juara dobel, Liga Primer dan Piala FA dalam satu musim, pada 1971, 1998 dan 2002, rekor yang sama banyaknya dengan Manchester United. Pada 1993, Arsenal jadi tim pertama yang menjuarai Piala FA dan Piala Liga di tahun yang sama.

4. Arsenal belum pernah menjuarai Liga Champions. Pretasi terbaiknya adalah masuk final pada musim 2005/06. Mereka juga menjadi klub asal London pertama yang mampu lolos ke final Liga Champions pada 2006. Tapi di final mereka dikalahkan Barcelona 2-1.

5. Sepanjang sejarah Liga Primer, Arsenal hanya tujuh kali finis dibawah urutan 14, sebuah rekor terbaik. Rata-rata posisi mereka dari tahun 1900 sampai 1999 adalah 8,5, tertinggi diantara klub lain. Selama ditangani Wenger, Arsenal selalu berada di tiga besar, kecuali di musim 2005/06 dan 2006/07 mereka final di urutan keempat.

6. Nama Arsenal selalu disebut-sebut sebagai bahagian dari budaya sepakbola Inggris. Diantaranya, pada 22 Januari 1927, pertandingan Arsenal melawan Sheffield United adalah pertandingan pertama di kompetisi Inggris yang disiarkan live melalui radio. Lalu, pada 16 September 1937, pertandingan pertama yang disiarkan langsung di televisi adalah pertandingan eksebisi antara tim utama Arsenal melawan tim cadangan Arsenal.

7. Filem pertama bertema sepakbola adalah The Arsenal Stadium Mistery (1939). Fokus utamanya tentu tentang Arsenal yang dibalut dengan cerita fiksi mengenai kecurangan dalam sepakbola. Beberapa pemain Arsenal ikut bermain sebagai figuran di film itu.

8. dalam Arsenal pada dekad 1980-an menjadi inspirasi novel laris Fever Pitch yang ditulis novelis terkenal, Nick Hornby. Buku tersebut bahkan dibuat film layar lebar, ada versi Inggris dan Amerika (Hollywood).

9. Arsenal memastikan gelar juara Liga Primer musim 1988/89 setelah mengalahkan Liverpool 2-0 di Anfield. Gol kemenangan dicetak Michael Thomas di menit ke-90. Uniknya, Thomas hijrah ke Liverpool pada tahun 1991. Keberhasilan Arsenal meraih gelar secara dramatis itulah yang mengilhami novel Fever Pitch.

19. Arsenal mencetak rekor 49 kali tidak kalah unbeaten di Liga Primer dari Mei 2003 sampai November 2004, 38 kali diantaranya terjadi pada musim 2003/04 saat mereka menjadi juara liga. Rekor sebelumnya dibuat Preston North End yang tak terkalahkan dala 22 pertandingan liga, dan itu terjadi di musim 1888/89! Sulit rasanya menyamai atau menumbangkan rekod tersebut dalam waktu dekat.