Arsenal Team and Transfer News – 7th September 2011

• Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has dismissed reports that Arsene Wenger's future is in doubt as "absolute nonsense".

Wenger is presently enduring arguably the most difficult period of his 15-year tenure with the Gunners, with a poor start to the season and questionable dealings in the transfer market leading many to question whether the Frenchman could be nearing the end of his time with the club.
A return to France with PSG has been mooted by some, but Hill-Wood has rubbished talk of Wenger leaving Emirates Stadium, insisting the board have not even considered the prospect.
"It's complete and utter rubbish and absolute nonsense. I think he is happy enough and we are happy enough," Hill-Wood said. "We have brought some new players in and although I don't know that much about many of them I think, generally speaking, they are going to improve the squad."
Having sold star players Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas to Manchester City and Barcelona respectively, Arsenal brought in Park Chu-Young, Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun ahead of the transfer deadline as Wenger looks to improve on the Gunners' current total of one point from three Premier League games.

• Mikel Arteta is counting down the days for his Arsenal debut.

The former Everton midfielder joined the Gunners last week.
"I can't wait to start playing," he said. "I can't wait to play at the Emirates, I think it's an unbelievable stadium. I'm so excited.
"I have always been a big admirer of the Arsenal philosophy, the way they play, the way they do the job, and it's always exciting watching Arsenal play. In England there is no better team to watch than Arsenal.
"Hopefully I will not take long to adapt but obviously you need to meet new characters, new personalities and new players with different abilities so you need to pick that up as soon as possible to get an understanding on the pitch.
"But I have been watching a few videos and have got some work done before training and hopefully that will help me."

• Havard Nordtveit has slated former Arsenal teammate Nicklas Bendtner.

The Norway defender says Bendtner was never going to make it at Arsenal because of his attitude and poor work ethic.
Nordtveit, 21, who joined Borussia Monchengladbach last December, said: "You could not say much to him (about his game) because it doesn’t take much for him not to like you.
"He has his own way of doing things, but he could have made more of an effort in training when he was at Arsenal.
"It was disappointing for Bendtner to have so little time on the field in the last half year. But Arsene Wenger always wants to play with his best players and that’s what he did."
Bendtner joined Sunderland on-loan last week.

• The president of Ghana's FA has said Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has pledged his future to the country.

The 19-year-old was recently called up by England's Under-21 side but is still eligible to play for the West Africans.
"We met Emmanuel in London last night and after talks, he has signed the document confirming he wants to switch nationality to play for Ghana," Kwesi Nyantakyi said.
"He is a player with enormous potential and will be a great addition to Ghana."
"This is a huge step in his career as he will join a talented squad with experienced players who are ready to help him improve," continued Nyantakyi.
"We are not relenting on Frimpong as we will continue to seek Ghanaian players both at home and abroad to continue to make the Black Stars among the best teams in the world."

• Arsenal and Chelsea are both considering offering a professional contract to Barcelona starlet Gerard Deulofeu said.

The Spanish youth international, 17, has apparently been watched by scouts of Arsenal and Chelsea with the Premier League clubs potentially looking to activate Deulofeu’s £3m release clause.
Players in Spain are only allowed to sign professional contracts at 18 and until then are able to move abroad for just a fraction of their realistic valuation.
Arsenal have already infamously took advantage of this ruling in the past when they snapped up a 16-year-old Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona’s academy.

• FC Basel winger Xherden Shaqiri fired a hat-trick for Switzerland last night.

The Gunners boss Arsene Wenger failed to lure the winger, 19, away from FC Basel this summer.
Shaqiri showed Wenger what he missed with a hat-trick in victory over Bulgaria.

• Arsenal striker Benik Afobe wants to be Robin van Persie's attacking partner.

Afobe hopes to taste Premier League action this season.
"That's what I have always been dreaming about, to play in the first team with the likes of [Robin] van Persie and the rest of the squad,” he said.
"Football is a funny old game, and hopefully I will get my chance this season."

• Arsenal striker Benik Afobe says he's not ready to go out on-loan just yet.

Afobe spent last season on-loan at Huddersfield.
"When I first came back from the summer holidays I was thinking that I would be maybe going out on loan but the boss [Arsène Wenger] and reserve team manager Neil Banfield have both told me they think it would be better for me to stay and keep improving aspects of my game," Afobe said.
"Obviously we know that the boss likes playing youth players and he likes to give the youngsters a chance if you are good enough to play.
"But I know it is only the beginning and we know that when we get a chance we have to take it and keep working hard. It doesn't just end here - we need to keep on doing better.
"The likes of Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong - they played once or twice, did well and until now they still play well."