Arsenal FC @ Emirates All Gunner fans fall in

[kiko]

Real Madrid presidential contender Florentino Perez will make the appointment of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger the cornerstone of his election campaign.

"Florentino wants to make Wenger both coach and general manager of Real this summer - and will promise it will happen," a source close to Perez told The Mirror.

Perez is the favourite to win the presidency following the resignation of Ramon Calderon over a vote-rigging scandal and will also target Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas and Kaka, from AC Milan.

The 61-year-old Perez was the architect of Real Madrid's galactico era between 2000 and 2006 and was elected as president on the back of a promise to sign Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona.

And the former Bernabeu chief is hoping the same trick will work twice.

"With Kaka and Fabregas as players and Wenger as coach, Florentino will take Real back to where they should be," the Perez contact said.

Wenger has twice rejected Perez's overtures during his 13-years as Arsenal manager; but the dual role of coach and general manager - which would mean the departure of sporting director Predrag Mijatovic - would mean far greater control at Real than previous coaches have enjoyed.

Many a Madrid president has swept to power on the promise that they will sign some of football's biggest names and have failed to deliver. Calderon promised to lure Kaka and Cesc Fabregas to the Bernabeu during his election campaign but neither arrived.

[kiko]

ARSENE WENGER will make a £7million raid for England defender Micah Richards.

And sources close to the Arsenal boss claim he is supremely confident of landing the unsettled Manchester City star.

Wenger has been a huge admirer of Richards since the 20-year-old burst on to the Premier League scene three years ago. And he had been sizing up a swoop before Richards signed a new five-year deal 12 months ago.

The idea of Richards going for as little as £7m would have been unthinkable then but a poor run of form has left City looking for experienced top-class defenders in the transfer window.

Wenger believes he can resurrect Richards’ career — and his 2010 World Cup hopes with England — at a price that does not break the bank.

[kiko]

Zenit St Petersburg appear to have accepted a bid from Arsenal for their highly-rated attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin tonight.

A statement on the club's official website claimed that agreeing personal terms with Arshavin is the only obstacle Arsenal need to overcome before signing the Russia playmaker.

The announcement from Zenit, posted on their official website, suggests a fee has been agreed for the midfielder who caught the eye for his country during the European Championships last summer and for his club during their Uefa Cup triumph last season.

"The fundamental understanding over the transfer of the player is achieved between the clubs,” read the statement. “At the moment the basic obstacle in realisation of the transaction is Andrei Arshavin’s personal requirements.”

Arshavin is waiting for the “final decision” over his move. “I’m waiting for a final decision,” Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport Express.

“The talks don’t depend on me. I haven’t been in touch with the club management, so I haven’t heard a clear ’yes’ or ’no’ yet."

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has backed Arshavin, his former Zenit team-mate, to be a success in England. “Andrei has spent many years in Zenit and I want him to join a big European club and show what he is worth,” said Skrtel, who also suggested Arshavin would like to play in Spain.

“He played wonderfully at Euro 2008 and I am sure he can continue playing on the same level as in the summer.”

[kiko]

Andrei Arshavin is expected to take a wage cut to join Arsenal after the London club agreed a fee with Zenit St Petersburg. The deal should go through before Friday.

Zenit are believed to have accepted around £15million - £3m more than Arsenal initially wanted to spend but far less than the Russian club's initial asking price.

Arshavin currently earns around £100,000 a week and wanted Arsenal to smash their wage structure and match that.

However, today's Evening Standard reports Arshavin is so desperate for the move to go through he is willing to take a substantial pay cut.

He has already threatened strike action in order to force a move and wants the switch to go ahead this week.

William Gallas is among the highest earners at Arsenal on £80,000-a-week and Arshavin will expect to match that amount while receiving a substantial signing-on fee.

'The fundamental understanding over the transfer of the player is achieved between the clubs,' read a statement on Zenit's official website.

'At the moment the basic obstacle in realisation of the transaction is Andrei Arshavin's personal requirements.'

[yayatiger]

Hope Arsenal will start getting their winning touch back soon!

[kiko]

Robin van Persie rescued disappointing Arsenal from what would have been a damaging defeat with an injury-time equaliser.

In the end both these sides stretched unbeaten runs to nine matches but Everton will wonder how they let victory slip from their grasp.

The hosts had emerged from a poor start to dominate the game, and were deservedly ahead through Tim Cahill’s 100th career goal on the hour.

Everton grew in confidence from then on, but with seconds ticking away, Van Persie Arsenal’s best player – stole in behind the defence to lash home an angled drive for a draw.

Arsenal desperately needed something from this game with a fourth place finish looking in serious danger as Aston Villa continued their march into the top four last night.

Everton had record signing Marouane Fellaini back from a two-match suspension, while fellow midfielder Mikel Arteta had recovered from the rib injury which kept him out of Sunday’s FA Cup draw at Liverpool.

Arsenal made six changes from the side that drew in the Cup at Cardiff, with Manuel Almunia returning in goal and defenders William Gallas and Gael Clichy back from injury and suspension respectively.

Fog was swirling around Goodison Park at the start, and Everton saw little of the ball in the opening spell – due to Arsenal’s neat passing and possession.

But the nearest the visitors came to an opening goal was Van Persie’s 20-yard free-kick which was deflected wide when it looked to be heading into the top corner.

Everton finally responded with a Cahill header wide from a corner, and an effort from the same player at full-stretch which ended in the arms of Almunia.

It took a lunging block from Gallas to stop Fellaini reaching a near-post cross from Leighton Baines, after Steven Pienaar had played him in down the left.

Arsenal still had the edge but Arteta and Pienaar started to have an influence on the game, nether afraid to run at defenders.

Pienaar was cut down by Abou Diaby after 26 minutes, the Arsenal man receiving a yellow card from referee Andre Marriner.

Samir Nasri’s 33rd-minute cross from the left created an opportunity for Van Persie – but the Dutchman was stretching and could only hit the ball down into the ground and up over the bar.

Nasri was booked three minutes later for kicking Tony Hibbert’s ankles as the full-back ran away from him, the half failing to produce a single shot on target.

The second period opened with more swirling fog as both sides fought to break the deadlock.

Cahill had a close-range shot charged down in the box, while Van Persie set-up Denilson at the other end, only for the Brazilian to lift his shot high over the bar.

Cahill was coming to life, and a quick turn in the box onto an Arteta pass ended with the Australian firing a fierce drive into the side-netting.

After 61 minutes the Australian put Everton ahead – Baines crossing from the left and Cahill climbing above Clichy to power a downward headed past Almunia.

Cahill has now installed himself as Everton’s top scorer this season since being moved into attack as a makeshift centre-forward due to Everton’s chronic injury problems in that department.

The Gunners responded with a strong Van Persie header which provided Tim Howard with his first save of the night.

Arteta was booked for a foul on Denilson before the north Londoners made a double substitution after 73 minutes, with Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Eboue replacing Alexandre Song and Bacary Sagna.

Tony Hibbert was booked for a foul on Nasri after 76 minutes, with Everton going forward with confidence in search of a second goal.

Cahill limped away with an ankle injury to a rousing ovation with four minutes left – Victor Anichebe taking over.

The victory looked assured, but in injury-time Van Persie got on the end of a long ball from Diaby and blasted an undeserved equaliser past Howard.

[kiko]

Arsene Wenger has revealed the ultimatum he has set Zenit St Petersburg as negotiations for Andrei Arshavin between the Gunners and the Russian outfit continue to stall.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the French manager responded in the affirmative that if the talented midfielder was not signed before his side’s match against West Ham at 3pm tomorrow then he would pursue other avenues of interest.

“Yes. If it can be done it has to be done as quickly as possible.”

Responding to suggestions made by Sky Sports that he had claimed the deal was 90% done, Wenger refuted making such a statement:

“No, I said it was 90% not done, 10% done. At that level, percentages are not a big meaning because the 10% can quikcly become the 90%. Let’s see. You won’t have long to wait.

Speaking about other targets Wenger revealed:

"You can never rule it out. At the moment it's more important to focus on the players we have, because every game is like a big battle. We cannot afford to be distracted because we want to focus completely on the players we have. Very happy with the attitude of the group so let's do that first.

"We have, of course, made serious enquiries but at the moment not any bid.”

[kiko]

Arsenal have moved closer to signing Andrei Arshavin after the Gunners had a work permit for the Russian playmaker granted by the Home Office.

While a resolution to the increasingly-tedious saga is still not yet in sight, Arsenal's decision to request a permit is the most promising indication yet that they will sign the 27-year-old from Zenit St Petersburg before the transfer window closes on Monday.

Arsenal have yet to comment on the development, but Arsene Wenger has told the club's official website that he wants the deal sorted, one way or the other, before tomorrow's game with West Ham. It remains unclear whether a fee has been agreed between the two clubs, with Zenit thought to be holding out for an up-front payment of £15m for the player.

[kiko]

When the transfer window closes on Monday, we will know once and for all whether Arsenal have landed Andrei Arshavin.

But while the 'will he, won't he?' saga approaches its conclusion, some Arsenal fans are wondering why Arsène Wenger's major January target is a Russian playmaker. After all, he intimated last summer that a central midfielder - or even a centre back - was top of his shopping list.

Wenger was asked about his recruitment priorities at Friday's press conference and had a firm answer for those who feel Arsenal need more 'tough guys' in the spine of their team. The Frenchman insists that it is difficult to improve on his current batch of midfielders and defenders.

"I believe that we have the needed quality in the middle because [Abou] Diaby develops very well and I think that [Alex] Song develops well," said Wenger. "And I don't believe that Denilson gets the credit that he deserves at the moment.

"At the back you can see the quality of players we have like [William] Gallas and Kolo [Toure] and [Johan] Djourou, they are in their national teams and to find better players is not easy.

"I agree that people always want better players but many clubs when they want better players come to see us so that means our players are good. For example Milan wanted [Philippe] Senderos, Senderos is 22 and Milan have scouts everywhere, so that's why I believe we have the needed quality.

"Djourou is 21 and you think he will be better and we have to give him a chance."

So why is Wenger after Arshavin? "What is very important at a big club is that you need a creative unit that you can interchange," explained Wenger. "They are the players that are most difficult to find."

[kiko]

Arsène Wenger has finally revealed exactly why he wants to sign Andrei Arshavin.

The Arsenal manager has remained as tight-lipped as possible during his pursuit of the 27-year-old midfielder from Zenit St Petersburg. That has been difficult as the issue has pretty much dominated every press conference during January.

However the dénouement is now close. The transfer window slams shut on Monday. Arsenal’s interest in Arshavin is now common knowledge but only on Friday did Wenger discuss why he was going for the Russian.

``He's a guy who can go past people in the final third,” said the manager. “He can have the key, individually and collectively.

“He is an experienced player, 27, a good age and we are a very young side. We will not have Fabregas in the next six to eight weeks, we will not have Walcott in the next five weeks, Rosicky in the next eight weeks.

“You can see with the replay of the FA Cup we have the desire to do well in every competition and one more body could help us.”

[kiko]

Matthew Upson is in no doubt his old manager Arsene Wenger remains the "master" at recruiting young talent.

The West Ham defender is set to return to his former club tomorrow, with the Gunners in a much more testing period than when he left in January 2003 to get first-team football with Birmingham.

However, Upson - who has won his place back in the England squad with some impressive displays for the Hammers - firmly believes the French coach's policy of promoting youngsters remains sound.

"Wenger's recruitment of young players is second to none. He is the master of it," said Upson.

"He has brought a lot of young players into the team from all over and they have become top players.

"That is such a great thing for a football club because they don't have to splash out on a player and then they can get them for next to nothing, so it's very impressive."

Upson, 29, arrived at Arsenal from Luton in 1997 but suffered injury setbacks, including a broken leg in 2002, although he had made enough appearances to earn a league winners' medal.

However, with the likes of Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure then ahead of him, Upson chose to move on rather than continue to wait in line for a first-team shot.

It was, though, time well spent.

"You learn every day from all the players and the training," he said.

"There were so many good habits I picked up and took them into the rest of my career."

Wenger remains a big fan of Upson, and has even been linked with a move for the powerful centre-half during the transfer window.

The Arsenal manager said: "I did not like him to go but he was at a stage where he wanted to play at that time."

Upson, however, maintains he is more than happy at Upton Park.

"The club pointed out their intentions at the start of the transfer window and, to be fair to them, they have pretty much stuck to that, which is impressive," he said.

"It shows that there is an intention for success at West Ham and, as long as there is that here, I am enjoying myself like all the other players are, and the manager is too."

[bigass]

The Gunners boss has explained his reasons for trying to bring the Zenit playmaker to the Emirates Stadium...

Arsene Wenger has revealed the reasons why Arsenal are persisting with their attempts to sign Zenit St Petersburg’s star forward, Andrei Arshavin.

Eyebrows have been raised at the Gunners’ pursuit of the Russian international, with critics believing there are more pressing areas of the Arsenal squad to be strengthened - such as central defence and central midfield.

The protracted transfer saga involving Arshavin remains in the balance, but Wenger is hopeful a satisfactory conclusion can soon be reached - and has told the club’s official website that the €17 million-rated player will bring much-needed experience to his squad.

With Arsenal having one of the youngest squads in the Premier League, and missing the services of injured players like Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky, Wenger feels Arshavin can give the Gunners a new dimension while reinforcing the squad.

"He's a guy who can go past people in the final third. He can have the key, individually and collectively," the Frenchman said.

"He is an experienced player, 27, a good age and we are a very young side. We will not have Fabregas in the next six to eight weeks, we will not have Walcott in the next five weeks, Rosicky in the next eight weeks.

"You can see with the replay of the FA Cup we have the desire to do well in every competition and one more body could help us."

[chatlovers]

I am big Arsenal Fan. Thus, I love to read all news about them.. However, news posted here are mostly (if not all) from New 1989 Retro Shirt - Just £35 || Arsenal.com website. Can we have news from other sources (if any) as well?

[kiko]

Wilson Palacios has revealed he could have been playing for Arsenal this season and is determined to prove Arsene Wenger wrong when he makes his debut for arch rivals Tottenham against Bolton on Saturday. Palacios is ready to make a major impact for Tottenham following his £14m move from Wigan and has vowed to help the club move away from a relegation dogfight.

The Honduras international originally arrived in England back in August 2007 hoping to secure a dream move to Arsenal after Arsene Wenger invited him for a trial.

However, Wenger was overloaded with central midfield players at the time and instead steered him in Birmingham's direction.

Steve Bruce was impressed - so much so that he then took him to Wigan when he took over at the JJB Stadium - and Palacios has now established himself as one of the best midfielders in the top flight.

Palacios said: "I had a trial at Arsenal. Arsene Wenger had seen me and invited me there. It went OK but he had a surplus of midfielders at the time, so he recommended me to Steve Bruce at Birmingham.

"But I am extremely happy to have signed for Tottenham now. We know how good Spurs are and the quality of players they have. It's only a matter of time before they start moving up the league. The players who are about to arrive will start to make that happen."

Despite securing a big money move to London, Palacios is still haunted by the horrific kidnapping of his younger brother Edwin, 16, who was taken hostage in Honduras back in October 2007 by armed raiders - and has yet to be released.

Palacios admits he is in constant communication with his family to find out the latest news and needs to play football to take his mind off the horrific events which have affected his family.

Palacios added: "We are very much aware of what is happening and working on it. We are involved in what's happening back home.

"Everyone knows the situation I'm in and what we're going through, but we get through it through football and that is how I have got through it so far."

[kiko]

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he is not worried by the delay in finalising a move for Andrei Arshavin.

Russian schemer Arshavin has been identified by Wenger as a £15million addition to his squad before the transfer window closes on Monday night.

Wenger is looking to inject more creativity into his side, but remains unsure when, and if, a deal for the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker will be completed.

"Nothing is happening - maybe, maybe not. It doesn't worry me either way," said Wenger after Saturday's 0-0 draw with West Ham United.

"We are not far away and we have a bit of time now until Monday night.

"We will see what we can do in the next 24 hours.

"I don't know if I am confident or not. With the experience I have, anything can happen in a transfer."

Wenger, though, rejected suggestions Arshavin would be the answer to all of Arsenal's creative problems.

"He can unlock defences and maybe we needed him here, but we have other players who can do that, who are not available at the moment but who could be in the next two months, like (Theo) Walcott and (Cesc) Fabregas."

Meanwhile, Sky Sports News understands Zenit are only dealing with Arsenal regarding the transfer of Arshavin amid reports other clubs are trying to hijack the deal.

Arshavin is currently in St Petersburg discussing his future following further reports that he would attend the Gunners' game with West Ham.