Arsenal News

Sky Sports pundit admits surprise over Arsenal’s decision on Aaron Ramsey

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.”

Arsenal News

Unai Emery insists Arsenal can get better with their performance

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.”

Arsenal News

Martin Keown: Arsenal should build the team under Alexandre Lacazette

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.

Writing in his Daily Mail column, Keown was impressed with the way the Frenchman has performed since the start of the campaign and believes the Gunners should build the team around the former Lyon man, he penned: “I think special mention has to go to Alexandre Lacazette. How patient has that man been? His attitude has been impeccable.

Arsenal News

Matteo Guendouzi confirms he snubbed big club interest to join Arsenal

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.

Arsenal News

Ray Parlour: Giorgio Chiellini would be a dream signing for 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.

Arsenal News

Joachim Loew speaks about Mesut Ozil’s future with Germany

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.”

Arsenal News

Petr Cech welcomes chance to don Arsenal’s number one jersey

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.”

Arsenal News

Tony Adams aims dig at Tottenham Hotspur players ahead of 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.”

Arsenal News

Santi Cazorla Confident Of Returning To First-Team Action After 18 Months

Santi Cazorla has claimed that he wants a return to first-team action before the end of the campaign. The Spaniard has been unavailable for the gunners since 2016, as he has been suffering from an Achilles problem. This has forced him to undergo several surgeries. The forgotten man at Arsenal is aware that it will be an incredibly difficult time at Arsenal considering that manager Arsene Wenger is stepping down at the end of the campaign. The Frenchman has been in charge of the club for more than two decades and he was responsible for bringingCazorla to the club.

After having spent a huge amount of time on the sidelines, it would be difficult forCazorla to make a comeback without a pre-season. However, he says that he has done enough prep work in the last few weeks to think that his return before the end of the campaign could be possible.