Arsenal Blog
The first post-Wenger season of Arsenal has been a thing of beauty, with an early goal of the season contenders from Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and, more importantly, some delicious nutmegs from Alex Iwobi.
The north London side is playing with all the flair and swagger of a team that blitzes through their World Cup group before hitting a wall in the knockout stages and look capable of continuing to play as if nothing can go wrong, right up until the point that it does.
Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham has admitted that he is surprised about Arsenal’s decision to not reward Aaron Ramsey with a new contract. The Wales international is presently the Gunners’ longest-serving player having completed a decade of service this year but he appears set to leave the club when his existing deal concludes at the end of the season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Higginbotham said that he is surprised by the decision taken by the club’s hierarchy and believes the Gunners may miss the peak years of the Welshman, he quipped: “It has surprised me. I think he’s an integral part of Arsenal Football Club, he’s been there a long time. I think there are a number of new players coming to the football club. He’s a player probably not even at his peak yet and potentially his peak years are going to be away from Arsenal. I think obviously in January he can speak to clubs abroad, I think Juventus were actually linked a month or so ago. So he’s going to have plenty of options.”
Read More “Sky Sports pundit admits surprise over Arsenal’s decision on Aaron Ramsey”
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has said that the Gunners can get better with their performance following the resounding 5-1 Premier League win over Fulham on Sunday. The victory was the club’s ninth straight one across all competitions but Emery feels there is still room for improvement in terms of the showing.
He said: “I don’t think it was the best. We can get better from this performance. It depends, each match, how it is happening on the pitch in the 90 minutes. When we have scored the first goal, it’s the moment and we can play with more confidence on the pitch. We worked hard in the second half to impose this result and this position and moment on the pitch. We are happy but also calm because we know each moment, each match, is difficult. We will continue with this victory.”
Read More “Unai Emery insists Arsenal can get better with their performance”
Arsenal legend-turned-pundit Martin Keown has praised the attitude of Gunners striker Alexandre Lacazette after starring during the 3-2 triumph over Cardiff City. The France international had impressed from the bench in the first three league games and this earned him a start versus the Bluebirds against whom he contributed a goal and an assist.
Read More “Martin Keown: Arsenal should build the team under Alexandre Lacazette”
French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi has confirmed that he snubbed advances from Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund among others to join Arsenal this summer. The 19-year-old was a rather surprise signing from Lorient last month but he has since adjusted fantastically to become one of the regulars under manager Unai Emery.
Speaking to The Evening Standard, Guendouzi confirmed that there were plenty of suitors for his signature but ultimately, he had no second thoughts about heading to the Emirates Stadium. He added that former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere also encouraged him to join the north London giants, he said: “It’s true there were a lot of clubs interested in me — I had talks with some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Read More “Matteo Guendouzi confirms he snubbed big club interest to join Arsenal”
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes the club may need to strengthen the defensive department further before the transfer deadline. Unai Emery’s side have shown a keen emphasis to bolster the backline with the likes of Stephan Lichtsteiner and Sokratis Papastathopoulos joining the club but Parlour feels the club should bolster the ranks further.
In a report covered by Goal.com, Parlour has highlighted Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini as a dream signing for the Gunners, though the Italian has reached the twilight of his professional career, he said: “Arsenal badly needed to improve their defence following last season and Emery has clearly made that a priority this summer.
Read More “Ray Parlour: Giorgio Chiellini would be a dream signing for Arsenal”
Germany head coach Joachim Loew has refused to rule out the involvement of Mesut Ozil during the latter stages of the summer World Cup. The Arsenal star was hugely criticised following his average showing during the shock 1-0 defeat to Mexico and this witnessed him being benched for the 2-1 triumph over Sweden.
As such, there have been suggestions that Ozil may no longer command a significant role at the tournament but Loew has seemingly denied the claims by suggesting that the 29-year-old can still make an influence, he said: “We have strong competition with us in the squad. We will still need his creativity in the tournament.”
Read More “Joachim Loew speaks about Mesut Ozil’s future with Germany”
Petr Cech has welcomed the opportunity to wear Arsenal’s number one jersey for the 2018/19 season. The 36-year-old joined the Gunners from Chelsea during the summer of 2015 and he spent the past three seasons wearing the number 33 shirt. Speaking on the club’s official website, Cech admitted that he wanted to make the change much earlier but had to wait until Wojciech Szczesny, who previously wore the number, left the club.
He told the club’s official website: “I already wanted number one when I came but it belonged to Wojciech Szczesny at the time. Last season when he left, it was at the last possible moment so I couldn’t get it either.When they asked me if I would take it this year, of course I was happy to have the opportunity.”
Read More “Petr Cech welcomes chance to don Arsenal’s number one jersey”
A magnificent seven Arsenal players were selected for the 2018 World Cup finals, yet just one Gunner made it to the quarter-finals.
How have your Emirates Stadium favourites been faring in Russia? Here’s how the Arsenal players got on at the World Cup.
Read More “Arsenal Players Struggle in Tournament or for Game Time at World Cup”
Arsenal legend Tony Adam has claimed that England’s chances of winning the World Cup could be hampered by the presence of Tottenham Hotspur players in the squad. The Gunners favourite has suggested that the Spurs’ players don’t possess a winning mentality from the club level and this could have an effect on the Three Lions squad this summer.
Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Danny Rose, and Kevin Trippier are the Spurs players representing England at the tournament but Adams doubt their credentials on the bigger stage, he said: “You must be able to handle winning emotionally and mentally and if they don’t know how to win it, they aren’t going to win it. I’m really worried about these Tottenham players. I don’t think they know how to win. They’re very good players, but at certain points in seasons and tournaments, you have to step up. There’s a psyche [that] players must have.”
Read More “Tony Adams aims dig at Tottenham Hotspur players ahead of World Cup”