Wenger "close to signing contract" posted by at 11:44

Wenger was speaking after watching his side close the gap on Leeds at the top of the Premiership to just one point thanks to a 2-0 win at Southampton yesterday.

Goals from Thierry Henry and Robert Pires wrapped up the points for the north London giants but Wenger reacted coyly when asked about his contract negotiations.

"Nothing to say yet, but shortly. There is a promising future for the club," Wenger said.

Of The Gunners' victory, the Frenchman paid tribute to the central defensive partnership of Sol Campbell and Matthew Upson after The Gunners' impressive away form in the Premiership continued at St Mary's.

He said: "We dictated the pace of the game and were in control. The only disappointment of what was a great performance was that we were not clinical enough.

"Too many times we did not pick the right pass for the final ball. We could have scored the second goal several times before we finally did, but it was a very good performance and it makes me very positive.

"Matthew Upson was outstanding at the back for us and I thought Sol Campbell had his best game since coming to the club."

Wenger also took time to wish Gerard Houllier well after the Liverpool boss was taken to hospital at half-time during The Reds' 1-1 draw with Leeds.

"I wish Gerard all the best, he is a close friend of mine and I will try get in touch with him - but this job can damage your health," Wenger said.

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Wenger to mentor Adams as next Manager? posted by at 11:44

Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has suggested to support captain Tony Adams promoting him to a manager, ITV Football reports. Adams has undergone a right foot operation and will miss Arsenal's match with Southampton FC today. The 35-year-old central defender will be out of action for about six weeks. Adams has announced that he will retire at the end of this season.

Adams' readiness to undergo an operation yet again has nevertheless shown Wenger there is no chance of him giving up the game before then. "If he had wanted to retire, he would have said 'stop there, thank you very much'. But he did not even need a week think about it," the Frenchman said. "The fact that he took the positive step of saying 'let's do it, I'll be back in two months' shows there is no doubt in his mind about retiring now."

Wenger thinks that his captain can never be as happy as when he is a player and admits his captain would find difficult to stop playing. "He has time to finish playing, then learn the job for two to three years before going into management."

Former England international has been capped 57 times. The central defender joined Gunners in January 1984.

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Saturday, October 13, 2001

Five years of Arsene posted by at 00:34

Five years ago on Friday, Arsene Wenger delivered his first team talk as Arsenal manager as his team prepared to face Blackburn in the Premiership. Eight of his starting line-up at Ewood Park that day were in their thirties, but the old guard will be conspicuous by its absence when Arsenal face Southampton on Saturday.

The likes of David Seaman, Tony Adams and Lee Dixon have been the Gunners' heartbeat for more than a decade. They have done more than most to maintain Arsenal's status in football's elite, and all three have a host of medals for their troubles.

But all three are injured and, with Martin Keown suspended and Dennis Bergkamp unlikely to start, Wenger's team will be devoid of 30-somethings. Matthew Upson, supremely talented but hampered by injuries in recent seasons, will marshal the Arsenal back four and is finally getting the chance he has clamoured for.

Wenger is convinced that the England under-21 defender has a glittering career ahead of him at Highbury. "He's 22, and Keown and Adams played at that age. It is a job for a younger man now," he said. "If I wasn't convinced that he had a good future then I wouldn't play him. I wouldn't waste my time. And now it is his time."

Wenger bought Upson in the summer of 1997 as a long-term replacement for captain Adams, but he sustained a knee injury two years later which ruled him out for 11 months. "Before, he lacked confidence because of the injury and because he was always on the fringe of the team. When he got a run, he was injured. Now he is taking his chance," reflected Wenger. The Arsenal manager is confident that the wave of youth which has carried Manchester United and Liverpool to success in recent years is now washing over Highbury.

"At every club there is a cycle," he explained. "Manchester United had Beckham, Scholes and others, and then Liverpool also had good young players at the club, like Owen and Gerrard. "It looks like the next generation could be here. We have Pennant, Aliadiere, Cole, Upson, and hopefully that will guarantee the future of the club. It's easy to forget that Patrick Vieira is still just 25, while his French compatriot Thierry Henry is 24 and even Sol Campbell is only 27. Wenger's astute dealings in the transfer market and plenty of hard work within youth development have laid the foundations for success at Arsenal. Whether they can press on and establish a dynasty of their own remains to be seen.

Source: Sports.com
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Ashburton gets the Mayor's vote posted by at 00:31

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has backed Arsenal's dream of a new 60,000-seater stadium at Ashburton Grove.

The Gunners are currently awaiting planning permission for the £150million development next to Highbury, but Livingstone has boosted their chances by supporting the plans.

The Mayor is convinced the "local community benefits including health, education, leisure and employment training opportunities" offered by the plan should count in Arsenal's favour.

His planning decisions manager Giles Dolphin said: "Having considered the report, the Mayor has concluded that he supports the application proposals in principle because of the benefits involved."

However, Dolphin added: "Further negotiations are required regarding an increase to the public transport financial contributions that are currently on offer."

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Arsene warns players not to strike posted by at 00:31

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned the players that they could harm the game if they go on strike.

The dispute between the PFA and the Premier League and Football League might lead to a strike from televised game and Wenger thinks the whole thing is silly.

"Both sides have to be mature enough to come to a deal," he said.

A strike would make not only the players - but the whole of football look silly. The players are very intelligent, they know as well as anyone else it would be a very bad move.

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Friday, October 12, 2001

Bergkamp to stay posted by at 10:58

Dennis Bergkamp has refuted the suggestion that he wants to leave Arsenal, despite having been left on the substitutes' bench for much of the season.
Rob Jansen, Bergkamp's agent, had been quoted as saying that the player was starting to wonder if Arsenal where trying to force him out.

But Bergkamp has said that he wants to stay at the club.

"It would hurt if anyone at Arsenal wanted to sell me because I feel I've given and continue to give a great deal to this club," the Dutchman told the Sun. "I love playing Arsenal and have no intention of quitting. I'm happy at Highbury and there is no problem between myself and Arsene Wenger.

"People need to understand that my agent deals with people at boardroom level so that's why he may have different information. Mr Wenger has always made it quite clear that he wants to keep me and he isn't the type to say things that he doesn't mean. Maybe my agent has other information. Perhaps he has got another impression of things from (chairman) David Dein. But this would be a surprise as Mr Dein has given no indication that he wants me to leave. I want to make it quite clear that I love playing at Arsenal and have no intention of quitting."

The 32-year-old has started just four games this campaign, scoring three goals for the Gunners.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2001

Adams out for six weeks posted by at 18:21

Tony Adams has been ruled out of Arsenal's next three Champions League games after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot.

The club skipper missed the defeat by Panathinaikos two weeks ago, and is now out of next Tuesday's Highbury return plus the home clash against Real Mallorca eight days later.

His chances of being fit for the final Group C game in Schalke at the end of the month are remote.

Adams, 35 on Wednesday, has not played since September 22, when Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bolton, and he has been involved in just five Arsenal games this season.

Wenger's defensive injury problems do not stop there, as Sol Campbell is doubtful for this weekend's visit to Southampton with a hamstring injury and Lee Dixon will be out for another two months following a knee operation.

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French FA u-turn? posted by at 18:02

Bayern Munich have been told that both Willy Sagnol and Bixente Lizarazu will not be needed for France’s international friendly with Australia.

Coach Roger Lemerre had previously insisted that all players must be present for the November 11 clash, though his U-turn regarding the Bayern pairing is justified as both players must travel to Tokyo for the European Cup holder’s Intercontinental Cup clash with Boca Juniors just 10 days after the Australia match.

However, his turnaround will come as very interesting news for other clubs concerned – particularly Arsenal.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had initially voiced his disdain after the French FA had been so adamant that all players must make the long haul.

The London club will surely now launch an appeal to try prevent their French internationals from making the trip halfway across the world, when they will all obviously be needed for Premiership and Champions League duties.

Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord will be part of Lemerre’s plans, and with the quartet so crucial to Wenger’s side, the Arsenal coach will now be pushing for them to be spared along with the Bundesliga-based duo of Sagnol and Lizarazu.

Manchester United and Chelsea are also affected.

Sir Alex Ferguson will lose both Fabien Barthez and Mikael Silvestre, while Chelsea would be without the services of Marcel Desailly, Emmanuel Petit and William Gallas.

And with all clubs hoping for success in Europe this season, the three clubs have extra incentive to launch an appeal to the French FA.

But of course clubs outside the Premiership are also hit hard. Italian giants Juventus will be without three of their top players. Lemerre will call upon the services of David Trezeguet, Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram, so it remains to be seen what actions the Serie A side take.

The French FA may have justified their reasoning on omitting Bayern’s defensive duo, but many European clubs will obviously point out that the Champions League is of similar distinguished stature.

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Hammers after Parlour posted by at 18:01

Razor Ray Parlour is being chased yet again by West Ham, as the East Londoners recover from the immanent loss of playmaker Trevor Sinclair.

£7m is the figure being thrown around in the press but things are far from simple as Parlour recently signed an extension to his contract at N5.

Roeder may decide, however, that he needs to spend the money on more than one player. The West Ham manager still believes his squad is short on strength in depth and may bring in at least two players with the revenue from a Sinclair transfer.

Roeder said: 'I'm very uncomfortable talking about players who are with other clubs but I've always been an admirer of Ray Parlour.'


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Monday, October 08, 2001

Arsenal after Brett Emerton? posted by at 19:11

According to reports both Liverpool and Arsenal are closing in on Feyenoord midfielder Brett Emerton.

The Australia international have been eyed by a great number of Premiership clubs but now it seems as Arsenal or Liverpool can be his next destination.

Both clubs had £5 million bids rejected in the summer but they are now willing to pay around £10 million for the 22-year-old.
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Dein denies Vieira to Juve story posted by at 06:20

Vieira has been quoted as saying that Gunners vice-chairman David Dein has been in talks with the Turin giants about a deal, and that he would be interested in joining the Serie A club.

Reports in Italy claim that Dutch star Davids and a cash adjustment of £7million will head to Highbury, with Vieira moving in the opposite direction.

Vieira has been the subject of such speculation in the past, and has had quotes attributed to him that have later proven to be wide of the mark.

It now seems as though this could be the case once again as Dein insists that no talks with Juventus have taken place.

Source: Footy Mad
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Sunday, October 07, 2001

Dixon out for two months posted by at 10:53

Arsenal's defender, Lee Dixon, will be out of action for two months after undergoing knee surgery. The 37-year old suffered the injury in the Champions League against Maiorca
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Vieira: Waiting for offer from Juventus posted by at 10:52

Read this with a pinch of salt, but it's being widely reported....

Arsenal's French star Patrick Vieira is waiting for the approach from Juventus to lead him back to Italy and the Serie A. The French international, who was close to moving to Juve in the off-season, is reportedly willing to return to Italy but only if it is at Juventus.

Advice from fellow Frenchmen Zinedine Zidane and Lilian Thuram led Vieira to call on Juventus.

"I've spoken to Zidane and Thuram and they have advised me to accept a Juve offer."

Juventus are believed to be preparing a five year deal.
A likely scenario leading up to the move may involve a swap involving Juve's Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids.

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Saturday, October 06, 2001

Arsenal near quarter finals posted by at 06:21

Arsenal need only draw with Polish side Wroclaw in Switzerland tonight to secure a place in the women's European Cup quarter-finals.

They began this week's four- team tournament with a 4-0 win over hosts FC Bern and then beat Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv 7-0 despite fielding a weakened side.

The quarter-finals are due to be played over two legs next March.

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Henry: I see why Anelka quit Arsenal posted by at 06:20

Thierry Henry says he can understand why Nicolas Anelka quit Arsenal two years ago.
The French striker says the pressure coming from the English media is difficult to cope with and added:

"When I read unbelievable things in the paper where I criticise the club I understand how Nico feels. I have never said anything negative about the club.

"I am always the same - I love this club. I am fortunate here. I don't want to leave, but I know how Nico felt."

On his performances this season, Henry added, "I am very satisfied with my performance so far, although we have lost some silly points in the Premiership, and we've conceded two defeats in the Champions League."

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