My Arsenal Blog

Newspapers are claiming that Arsenal’s captain Robin Van Persie has snubbed the new contract offer which Arsene Wenger threw his way, one which would have already smashed the Gunners wage barrier.

The Dutch striker had claimed that he will negotiate a potential stay after the season was be over, but now it seems that the negotiations were not that successful, and some are wondering why.

Robin doesn’t need the money, and if he really wanted to stay he would have accepted the wage Arsenal threw towards him, so why isn’t the captain signing a new contract? Well it’s quite simple, he saw the likes of Nasri, Clichy and Fabregas have incredible success after leaving and now he’s unwilling to sign.

Fabregas put his first trophy under his name at Barcelona after the first match as he won the Spanish Supercup, after a period of 7 seasons without any trophy at Arsenal, while Nasri and Clichy managed to win the Premiership after their first season away from the Gunners, so could we really blame Robin for being unsure about his future?

Some claim that the striker is waiting to see whether Wenger will continue his plan to transfer big names and enhance the squad in this summer before putting pen to paper on a new contract, but what do you think?

Don’t panic! Arsenal are sending Jack Wilshere to Sweden for medical attention. Arsene Wenger is desperate to get the talented youngster back and fully fit for the start of next season. Wilshere, voted Arsenal’s player of the season last year, has failed to feature this season and he would be like a new signing if we could get him back.

Arsenal have released a statement which tells us, “Jack Wilshere is continuing to recover very well from the injury to his right ankle. However, his rehabilitation has seen a long-standing slight issue with his Patella tendon in his left knee flare up.

As a result, Jack will travel to Sweden for a minor procedure on his left knee in the next few days. This procedure is not expected to significantly affect Jack’s comeback ahead of next season”

We certainly hope not, but it may stop Wilshere featuring in Team GB’s Olympic campaign. This might not be a bad thing as he will have more recovery time. On the other hand, maybe some competitive games could be just what he needs. Only time will tell.

Amazing news are coming in from Arsenal today, as the England manager Roy Hodgson has called up Arsenal’s newest star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to this summer’s EURO 2012, where the young Gunner is due to make his debut at an international tournament at the tender age of 18.

This came as a massive news for the young winger who was playing in the lower leagues at Southampton not much more than a year ago.

“I’m obviously delighted,” Oxlade-Chamberlain told Arsenal’s official website. “To be picked for your country at any stage is a massive honour and to be at a huge tournament likes the Euros is such a bonus.

“I would have probably laughed if someone had told me I would be in the Euro 2012 a year ago.

“Obviously you would like to think that and it is what you aim towards but sometimes you have to be realistic and realise it might take a little bit longer than that.

“So for everything to happen as quickly as it has, it has been surreal and I don’t think it has really sunk in properly yet.

“I know I haven’t made it and I have a long way to go but this is the first step in what I hope to be a long and successful international career.”

Wenger’s eye and trust in young talented players has shown once again. You can probably remember as good as me when everybody was battering the Frenchman for transferring yet another Theo Walcott-like youngster, but just look at the incredible performances from the one who fans call The Ox has shown us in his limited appearances this season.

Arsenal are set to have a pre-season tour of Africa incuding a game at the Nigerian National Stadium in Abuja, but after an inspection of the pitch it has been decided to completely renovate the playing area so as not to risk injury to the visiting Arsenal players.

It seems that prior to the inspection, the pitch at Abuja hadn’t been watered for four years, and it has been officially declared dead. A spokesman for the organizers said: “After reviewing the recommendations of our grounds men, we have resolved to change the pitch of the Abuja National Stadium,”

“We need to do this because we don’t want any kind of injuries by the Arsenal players. We are committed to having the Wenger boys here. That is why the grounds men at the Emirates came here. So, the pitch you would see on 2 August would be the same you watch week in week out at the Emirates.”

“We have two months before the game and that is enough time for our grounds men to finish the job.”

Let’s hope that the pitch will then be looked ater so it can benefit the local players after the Arsenal team have all gone home.

Athletico Madrid are desperate to keep their star striker Radamel Falcao, but his performances are drawing the attention of Europe’s top clubs. Falcao is valued at around £40 million, so if he does leave the Spanish club he will leave them with plenty of money for a replacement.

Olivier Giroud, having scored 21 goals in 34 games for Montpellier, is joint top of the French scoring charts. Reports from Talksport claim that he is the preferred replacement if Falcao does move on. This is bad news for Arsenal, as they already face a battle with Bayern Munich who, according to the 25-year old’s agent, have already began talks.

Wenger has been keeping tabs on Giroud all season and rumours suggest that the striker is keen to move on. Arsenal can definitely offer the player Champion’s league football after securing third place in the league, but may not be able to compete in a bidding war. Of course, if Arsenal have to sell Robin van Persie then they will have money to spend, but nobody wants that.

With Podolski already a Gunner, who thinks Wenger should concentrate on strengthening midfield and defense?

Last summer Marouane Chamakh seemed to have the world at his feet. He had started his career at Arsenal with a bang and was looking forward to playing for one of the favourites, Morocco, at the African Cup of Nations.

But then his world fell apart, he lost his confidence and his form and was given an endless rest from the Arsenal team. It was hoped that he would regain his composure in the Cup of Nations but he was invisible and replaced very quickly amid rumours of illness.

Nothing has improved since then, and he has made just one League appearance for the Gunners in the whole season, and now he has been dropped from the Morocco squad, despite being their best player two years ago. That accolade would now seem to be taken by Younes Belhanda who is also greatly admired by Arsene Wenger after his exploits with Montpellier this season.

QPR’s Adel Taarabt has also been left out, but he has always been considered a disruptive influence, despite returning to form lately.

Arsenal’s top transfer target Eden Hazard has stated once more that his time in France is now over, and the attacking midfielder has confirmed that he’s going to move to the Premier League.

After also stating earlier this season that he’s a Premiership fan, the attacking midfielder attracted the interest of Manchester United and Manchester City, but it seems that Arsenal are still in with a chance to land him.

“I think I have done what I want to do in France,” he said.

“I have to move elsewhere and show my qualities and I think I am ready for a new challenge.

“I have loved every minute of playing for Lille, but I want a new challenge.

“I have always said, I love the Premier League and that’s still the case.”

Arsene Wenger needs to reinforce his midfield after losing Nasri and Fabregas last summer, and Aaron Ramsey’s season long spell of incredibly bad performances who proved that he’s nowhere close to the form he was in before getting injured.

Wenger now needs to bring his midfield to life, and after getting Wilshere back from a long injury break the Frenchman is looking to add some further value to the squad. Surely Hazard is exactly who Arsenal need?

Pat Rice played nearly 400 games at right back for the Arsenal first team, after joining the club as an apprentice in 1964. He spent 12 years in charge of the youth team until, after three games as caretaker manager in 1996, he was appointed as assistant to Arsene Wenger. He actually has a 100 percent Premier league record as he won all three games. The long serving Rice went out on a high as Arsenal beat West Brom on Sunday amidst great scenes.

Wojciech Szczesney, who joined Arsenal’s academy in 2006, has told Arsenal Player of his respect for the 63-year old. “He has been unbelievable since I came here six years ago. He has always been very supportive and always gave us good advice. We are very happy that we actually won the game and that he can celebrate, but we are very sad to see him go to be honest with you. He has been fantastic as an assistant manager or when he had to take charge of a few Champion’s league games this season.”

On his replacement, the keeper said “we are very sad to see him go but, at the same time, Steve Bould has been a very good coach for the youth team over the last few years. I have worked with him and I am confident he will do the job just as well.”

Thanks Pat!

Pictured this week in his new Arsenal kit, new signing Lukas Podolski seems like he is chomping at the bit to begin his career at the Emirates. Speaking to Arsenal Player, the 26-year old German international said: “At the time the transfer negotiations started between the two clubs the decision was made really quickly. I’m now looking forward to the challenge at my new club, and cannot wait to start after Euro 2012.”

Podolski has a great record with the German national team, netting 43 goals in 95 games. He scored three times and claimed three assists in Germany’s qualification campaign. Hopefully Germany will exit the tournament early so Podolski can be fresh for Arsenal.

On his step up to being a Gunner, the striker said: “For me it doesn’t really matter when you take such a step in your career, whether it is now or a few years earlier. It’s difficult to say when the time is right. But I’m now 26, and nearly 27 so this step in my career might just be the right time to do it.”

“Arsenal are a great club, here in Europe and all over the world.”

Recent rumours have been linking the Gunners with a possible summer move for German side Borussia Dortmund’s striker Robert Lewandowski, but it now seems pretty clear that the striker is going to join Man United instead.

The Polish forward’s agent has declared that a deal with Dortmund has yet been reached, and that Manchester United have made their interest in the 23-year-old’s services.

“I can confirm that the new contract offer of Borussia Dortmund is insufficient,” Barthel told Bild. “I am also able to confirm an interest of Manchester United in the services of Robert Lewandowski,”

It’s sad to say that the Gunners are due to lose another top transfer target, and unfortunately the market is a bit low on top notch strikers at the moment as only Giroud and Huntelaar might be on the move. The good thing is that this transfer would get United off Huntelaar and would allow the Gunners to get a bit closer to the Dutch striker, whom they can pair up front with Robin Van Persie.

Montpellier’s Olivier Giroud still seems like a very good possibility after recent developments and after the form he keeps on showing week in week out. Who do you think would be better to join?