Arsenal Team and Transfer News - 16th August 2011

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expected to face protests from fans tonight during their Champions League qualifier against Udinese.

The fans called upon the club during Saturday's game to spend money and more frustration is sure to erupt if this tie, worth an estimated £25m, starts badly.
Wenger said: "Our fans can be proud of the way we run this club, of the quality of player we have and of the strong financial situation.
"We have built a team and a stadium and we always survived at the top level. There are more reasons to be positive than negative.
"Yes, we lost a world-class player and we are sad about it. We did fight to keep him but in the end we have as well to respect the desire of the player.
"This club is 125 years old this season. Many big players left the club and the club went on. We want to show that we have the strengths and unity to fight as we ever did at this club."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says their 0-0 draw at Newcastle United was a good result for the start of the season.

Newcastle did not trouble Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal and Wenger was happy with the nature of his team's display as the visitors matched last year’s opening-day draw at Liverpool.
"If we were not solid enough we would have lost the Newcastle game," he said. "A point is not enough for us but it is a good basis to start the season.
"It is a difficult one for us. The media environment is not positive and the only way we can convince people is to show the attitude, desire and hunger we had on Saturday.
"If we deliver performances we’ll get the credit we deserve."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits they could have made more money by putting Cesc Fabregas on the open market.

The Gunners allowed their former captain to return to Barcelona instead of selling him to the highest bidder.
"If he was on the market to any club we would have got more money but we did want to get a decent fee," Wenger said. "That’s what I’m paid for.
"You cannot say because you want to get the deal done as quickly as possible: ‘Just take him and give us what you want’. You have to fight for your rights.
"If Cesc is for sale and you can make an auction between Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City, you will certainly get more money, but he just wanted to go to Barcelona.
"We didn’t even try [to encourage other clubs to bid] because we did not want to sell the player. Our desire was to keep the player."

• Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has put his England place in jeopardy after criticising coach Fabio Capello in his new book.

The England manager is distinctly unimpressed with the 22-year-old Arsenal winger for trying to blame his omission from the 2010 World Cup squad on the Italian. Walcott pointed to a communication problem.
"I was confused," he said. "I never quite knew what was required of me."
Capello was alerted to the book, the first extract of which was serialised in The Sun newspaper yesterday, by FA officials on Sunday.
He was said to be extremely disappointed because he hates what he sees as a breach of trust as well as a challenge to his authority.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits want-away Nicklas Bendtner could feature tonight against Udinese.

The 23-year-old admitted that he was after a move while on international duty recently but Wenger revealed on Monday that he might feature in the Champions League this week.
“In his interview Bendtner said he was gone, but I checked and he’s not gone at all!” he said.
“I promised I would let him go if he found the right club and that has not changed because when I make a promise I keep it.
“But if he doesn’t find the right opportunity he will stay and fight for his place like everybody else. He looks sharp in training.”

• Arsenal fullback Carl Jenkinson admits he's amazed by his progression in the last six months.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game against Udinese, the summer signing admits he has come a very long way in a short space of time.
“It was only at Christmas that I was playing in the Conference so now to be here and potentially involved in a Champions League game is massive for me,” he said.
“It is something I am very excited about. Just to be playing for Arsenal is an honour in itself. Every player aspires to play in the Champions League so it is an exciting time.
“I have really enjoyed it [at Arsenal since joining]. The squad and everyone at Arsenal has been very welcoming so it’s a very nice environment to come into. I have thoroughly enjoyed pre-season and the games I have played.
“The lads have welcomed me with open arms and it’s been a nice place to come in to. That’s helped me with my football and helped me to relax and settle in.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged fans to forget about the price-tag of his players.

For Wenger, the price tag - big or small - is not the issue.
"Sometimes I think that the credit a player gets is linked to the amount of money paid for them," said Wenger after the draw at Newcastle. "When I look at Gervinho I think that he is a great player and I forget how much he cost. It is frustrating because it looks like the players are judged on the money they cost.
"We have all our scouts all over the world and we look everywhere," he added. "We are not scared to spend money if we find the right player. But spending money is not the right target in itself. We want to find the right player and whether it is for £2 million or £20 million we will do it."

• Arsenal are eyeing Sochaux sensation Marvin Martin.

The Gunners need to boost their midfield options after losing Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City.
Arsenal have already opened talks with a reluctant Sochaux about a deal for Martin.
Only last month, Martin said offers would be taken into consideration, but maintained the final decision would be the club's.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he's not under pressure to sell Samir Nasri.

While Wenger accepts there was little he could do to keep Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona, the Arsenal boss believes the situation with contract rebel Nasri, who could leave on a free transfer next summer, is completely different.
"The two things are not linked in my spirit," he said.
"Ideally I want Samir Nasri to stay, but as much as we were in a strong position on the contract side with Cesc, the situation is a bit different.
"Hopefully we can sort the situation out."

• Lille striker Moussa Sow would welcome a move to Arsenal.

Sow's former teammate Gervinho is already impressing fans at Arsenal.
"I want to play at Arsenal," he said. "I think my game is best suited to the Premier League.
"It is my dream and I want to be playing Champions League football.
"Real Madrid? They are one of the best teams in the world.
"We will see what can happen with these clubs before the transfer windows ends."