Arsenal Team and Transfer News - 14th August 2011

  

•  Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced Joey Barton should have seen red after their stalemate at Newcastle United.

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, making his competitive debut following his summer move from Lille, went down under a challenge in the box and Barton hauled him to his feet. Gervinho slapped Barton in response, and was sent off by referee Peter Walton, who booked Barton.
Wenger felt the referee was influenced by his assistant and suggested he might appeal against Gervinho's dismissal.
He said: "I think Gervinho didn't deserve a red card, he should give a red to the two players or a yellow to the two.
"I feel the referee has not seen it and the linesman has not seen it properly. I'm 100 per cent sure that the referee did not see the incident so I would like to know who made the decision."
The Arsenal boss was also clear on why his side did not pick up all three points in their season-opener.
"We had a solid performance where we controlled the game. We missed our chances in the first half and missed a little accuracy with the final ball," he said.
"They tried to slow the game down and defend well, we were pushing to score and it is difficult to say whether we would have scored or not (without the sending-off)."    

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says fans shouldn't question his players' commitment to the cause.

Wenger was pleased with the spirit his players showed in their 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.
"It is important that there is a love between the fans and the players," Wenger said.
"The players today have shown a commitment that deserves the support of the fans."  

• Arsenal's Champions League qualifier with Udinese is their biggest game of the new season.

That’s the view of the Gunners’ chairman Peter Hill-Wood who believes his club could lose a £20million pay day if they’re knocked out of the Champions League by Udinese.
Hill-Wood insisted: “Financially, it is a very big deal for us to reach the group stages.
“How much you earn depends on how far you go but it could be worth around £20 million.
“Even before the season is properly underway, these could be the most important matches in the next ten days.”
Arsenal’s first leg against the Italians is at The Emirates on Tuesday with the trip to Italy a week later.
Hill-Wood added: “It is very important for the fans that we are in the Champions League and it could be the difference between the club making a profit this season.
“We have managed to do that in recent years through the property deals but that will not last forever. To go out would make a nasty dent in the income, there is no doubt about that.” 

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists they will be out ahead when UEFA bring in their Financial Fair Play laws.

Neither skipper Cesc Fabregas nor fellow midfielder Samir Nasri were involved in the 0-0 draw at Newcastle United. Wenger confirmed that both men remain Gunners players for now, but voiced his frustration at the prospect of losing them.
He said: "Yes, we are concerned by that because when you take players at 16, 17, 18 years old and you play them in the Premier League, you need to be brave.
"But you do it first of all because you think they deserve it, but secondly as well because you think the club will be rewarded when they are 23, 24 and are in a position to deliver.
"It is a concern, of course - but if the financial fair play comes in, I think we will be in a very strong position. But at the moment, it doesn't exist."  

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he's not frightened of spending money.

Wenger was asked about strengthening his squad after their 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.
"I am not against spending money if the players we buy can improve our squad," he said.
"We have a big squad and if some players leave we will try to bring players in. We request top quality and we are not scared to spend money. 

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to pull the trigger on a bid for Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.

Chief scout Steve Rowley watched the Bolton Wanderers centre-back in action against QPR will surely tell his boss that Cahill is made for the Gunners.
In fact, the goal Cahill despatched to set Bolton on their biggest away win for six years was good enough to grace the Emirates or any other home of Champions League football. Arsenal are well aware there’s a get-out clause in Cahill’s current contract which values him at around £16.5 million.
Cash-rich from the impending departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, a move for Cahill makes absolute sense.
Wenger has been searching for a new central defender for months. Cahill is the clear favourite and has moved ahead of Blackburn’s Chris Samba. 

• Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will look to use some of the funds generated from the deal before the transfer window closes and reports in France suggest he has identified two main targets.

Arsenal are said to have already made an informal approach to Sochaux about France midfielder Martin.
The Ligue 1 club's president Alexandre Lacombe apparently said he had no interest in selling the 23-year-old.
However, Martin has indicated he is keen to move to a bigger club as he looks to establish himself as a regular in the national team and a sizeable offer may persuade Sochaux to rethink their stance.
Arsenal are also said to be keen on Marseille winger Ayew, who could come in as a replacement for Samir Nasri if and when the Frenchman joins Manchester City in a £23million deal next week.
The Ghana international has an £11.5million release clause in his Marseille contract - a figure that is unlikely to deter the Gunners. 

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has a star-studded shopping list drawn up for the remaining weeks of the summer market.

Wenger has been told he should spend nearly all of the £58million recouped from the pending sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri on improving his Arsenal squad.
Wenger is keen on Lille midfielder Eden Hazard and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, while Everton's Phil Jagielka remains his No 1 defensive target.
Gary Cahill (Bolton Wanderers), Chris Samba (Blackburn Rovers) and Scott Dann (Birmingham City) are also on his list. 

• Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Mircea Lucescu claims Arsenal want their Brazil international playmaker Jadson.

The Gunners have been tipped to move for the 27-year-old with midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri expected to leave.
Jadson's name was mentioned to Arsene Wenger recently, but he stated the club was not in talks with Shakhtar for his services.
However, the Ukraine outfit now claim the Gunners are interested and that a move now depends on the Brazilian himself.
"I can confirm Jadson is wanted by Arsenal, " said Lucescu. "Now it all depends on him."