Pat Rice's Arsenal vs Olympiacos Post Match Press Conference

Rice "The most important thing for us was to win, because it takes us closer to qualifying! Tottenham is a different ball game! Alex can go inside, outside, he's got that injection of pace now need to be consistent! Chamakh worked hard!” Mertesacker “I wanted to join AFC last season!” Hazard, Granero. Raffael Linked!

• Arsenal No2 Pat Rice admits they're pleased with their Champions League win over Olympiakos.

The Gunners restored some much-needed confidence ahead of what is sure to be a testing trip to arch rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

"Needless to say we will be very, very happy with the three points," Rice said.

"That is a completely different ball game at Tottenham.

"The most important thing for us was to win, because it takes us closer to qualifying.

"We will think more about the Tottenham game when we all get together again on Friday."

• Arsenal No2 Pat Rice hailed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after his goal scoring performance in victory over Champions League opponents Olympiakos.

It was the teen's second goal in a week after his effort in the Carling Cup.

Rice believes the youngster can follow in the footsteps of England winger Theo Walcott, out injured tonight, to play a big role for both club and country in the years ahead.

"From Arsenal supporters' point of view, they are going to be seeing a lot of this boy," Rice said.

"He has a big, big challenge to now get in front of Theo. I know that Theo is a very strong-willed guy as well and he won't give in easy. It all bodes well for England anyway."

Rice added: "Alex can go inside, he can go outside, he's got that injection of pace and I think what he needs now is to be consistent in his play.

"I am sure that is something he will be working on because he's certainly not a stupid boy.

"He has good people around him and they are telling him all the right things.

"Alex is very friendly with Theo and no doubt he will give him the benefit of his experience as well."

• Arsenal No2 Pat Rice says Robin van Persie needed a breather for last night's Champions League win over Olympiakos.

Arsenal went with Marouane Chamakh to lead the attack.

Rice explained: "Robin's been playing a lot of games lately and it was just a question of Chamakh needing games. We just thought that we would give him a go. You can't say that Marouane didn't try.

"If he had a little bit more luck he perhaps might have scored a third goal. But you cannot fault him for his work ethic."

• Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was delighted to score in their Champions League win over Olympiakos.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was playing for Southampton in League One last season and enjoyed his first taste of top-flight European action.

He said: "It was a really good experience.

"It's a big step up, but I want to play at the top level and I have plenty more time to play in the Champions League."

• Per Mertesacker has revealed that he would have joined Arsenal in the summer of 2010 had his move not been blocked by Werder Bremen.

The giant centre-half had given up hope of his dream switch to the Premier League until Arsene Wenger got in touch last month, three days before the end of the summer transfer window.

“I found out [about the Arsenal move] three days before the window closed,” Mertesacker said after his team’s 2-1 Champions League win over Olympiakos. “I did not know before. I was with Bremen in a good situation in the Bundesliga. I was the captain and was involved in everything to do with the club. My mind was there.

“Then Arsene Wenger called my agent and said that ‘perhaps you can be my man’ or something like this. I had to do what he wanted because, one year before, he asked for me and the [general] manager of Werder Bremen, Klaus Allofs, didn’t let me go.”

Mertesacker, who turned 27 on Wednesday, did not take long to accept Wenger’s offer to move to north London.

“I had to do it very quickly but that was kind of my wish to go to the English league a couple of years ago," he said.

“It is a big challenge for me and I said to my family and friends that if everybody agrees with this change, let’s do this together.

“It is totally different, especially in the training. There are more passing sessions every day compared to other clubs. There are the little things - games every four days, the Champions League as well, which is a great challenge for me and the club, and a very young team with potential.”

Mertesacker, who has started all five of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures since his deadline day move from Bremen, is unconcerned that he has joined the club at a time when they are struggling to reach the heights of previous seasons.

“I want to be part of this club; that was one my main reasons for coming here,” the defender said. “We have to do it in as quick and short a time as possible.

“We have good players who are not in the team and are on their way to fitness. When everybody gets fit we will have a great team. Until that day, everybody has to improve and adapt very quickly to this league and to London.

“We want to go through the Champions League; we want to go up the Premier League. We have great targets to come.”

Mertesacker has followed the path trodden by Jens Lehmann from the Bundesliga to Arsenal and admitted he spoke regularly to the goalkeeper about the club during their time together with the Germany national team.

He explained: “I got some advice from Jens. He was my goalkeeper since the 2006 World Cup. He gave me a lot of advice about the game in England. Living in London is very different to living in a little town in Germany. I got a lot of advice from Mikael Silvestre, who I played with last year.

“The Premier League is more intense, quicker and very physical. I have had to get used to it very quickly. Hopefully I will in the next few weeks.”

Next on the horizon for Mertesacker is Sunday’s mouthwatering north London derby against resurgent rivals Tottenham.

He continued: “A lot of people have been telling me about it, how massive it is and what a special experience. I am looking forward to it. It is an especially important game for Arsenal and for me. There is nothing similar in Germany. You cannot compare Bremen against Hamburg because they are not quite in the same city, so the London derby is bigger.

“In Germany I already know everything, I know every stadium. In a new league everything is different and new to me. Some players said a lot of things which I have to do on Sunday. I have to do this experience on my own.”

Mertesacker’s direct opponent at White Hart Lane is likely to be Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who has scored three goals in three games at the start of his season-long loan spell.

“He is tall but very quick in his movement and scores a lot of goals at Tottenham, Arsenal and Real Madrid,” said Mertesacker. “He is a fantastic striker and you have to be careful

• Arsenal are facing a transfer showdown with Real Madrid for Lille star Eden Hazard.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has zeroed in on Hazard as his number one transfer target after having an attempt to sign the Belgian forward turned down in the summer.

But Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane has also put Hazard at the top of his hit-list - and is going all out to convince him to move to the Bernabeu next summer.

Wenger, who has tracked Hazard for two years, had an enquiry knocked back for him this summer but is hoping to approach Lille again.

• Arsenal are ready to pounce for forgotten Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero.

The midfield schemer has spent much of this season in the stands and is weighing up his options ahead of the January market.

With no sign of his playing chances improving, Granero is likely to ask away when the transfer window reopens.

Admired by Arsenal chief scout Steve Rowley, Granero's style of play would fit perfectly in manager Arsene Wenger's system and he is under consideration as the Frenchman prepares to strengthen his midfield options.

• Hertha Berlin attacking midfielder Raffael is being watched by Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is having the 26 year-old playmaker watched leading up to the January market.

Raffael is under consideration by Wenger after losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer market and Jack Wilshere to injury.

Arsenal Vs Olmypiakos – Match Report for 28th September 2011

• Shot on goal from Orbaiz, far right
• Mirallas offside, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Torosidis fouls Rosicky, Andre Santos takes the free kick
• Oxlade-Chamberlain scores the first goal for Arsenal making it Arsenal 1- 0 Olympiakos
• Corner from Arteta, cleared by Fuster
• Fuster fouls Arteta, he takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Fejsa, blocked by Frimpong
• Shot on goal from Djebbour, blocked by Song
• Shot on goal from Djebbour, far left
• Andre Santos scores for Arsenal, Arsenal 2 - 0 Olympiakos
• Corner from Arteta, cleared by Marcano 
• Arshavin offside, Costanzo takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Chamakh, far right
• Fuster offside, Szczesny takes the free kick
• Rosicky fouls Orbaiz, Ibagaza takes the free kick
• Fuster scores for Olympiakos, Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos
• Orbaiz fouls Arteta, he takes the free kick
• Rosicky fouls Djebbour, Ibagaza takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Djebbour, saved by Szczesny
• Holebas fouls Sagna, Arteta takes the free kick
• Chamakh fouls Mirallas, Marcano takes the free kick
• Rosicky fouls Mirallas and receives a yellow card, Ibagaza takes the free kick
• Fejsa offside, Sagna takes the free kick
• Fejsa offside, Szczesny takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Mirallas, saved by Szczesny
• Shot on goal from Macrano, far left
• Frimpong fouls Mirallas, Holebas takes the free kick
• After 1 minute extra time the first half ends with score, Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos

• Frimpong fouls Torosidis, Fuster takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Mirallas, far right
• Holebas fouls Sagna and receives a yellow card, Sagna takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Oxlade-Chamberlain saved by Constanzo
• Arshavin fouls Fejsa, Mellberg takes the free kick
• Andre Santos fouls Fuster, Torosidis takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Holebas, far left
• Andre Santos fouls Djebbour, Song takes the free kick
• Mirallas fouls Sagna, he takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Arteta, blocked by Mellberg
• A substitution is made as Ramsey comes on in place of Oxlade-Chamberlain
• Chamakh offside, Mellberg takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Arshavin, saved by Constanzo
• Fuster fouls Arshavin and receives a yellow card, Arteta takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Van Persie comes on in place of Chamakh
• Mirallas fouls Sagna, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Modesto comes on in place of Orbaiz
• A substitution is made as Abdoun comes on in place of Mirallas
• Mellberg fouls Van Persie, Ramsey takes the free kick
• Arteta fouls Djebbour and receieves a yellow card, Torosidis takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Pantelic comes on in place of Fuster
• Mellber fouls Van Persie, Arteta takes the free kick
• Frimpong fouls Abdoun, Ibagaza takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Gibbs comes on in place of Arshavin
• Djebbour fouls Arteta and receives a yellow card, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Marcano fouls Rosicky, Ramsey takes the free kick
• Abdoun fouls Song, Szczesny takes the free kick
• After 3 minutes extra time the game ends, Arsenal 2 - 1 Olympiakos

Walcott, Koscielny & Gervinho OUT but should be fit for Sunday! AW “Champions League is a superior competition to the World Cup I’ve always said that! Arsenal’s medical staff, not to blame for Wilshere's injury! I have a high level of expectation for RVP! Per is getting stronger & stronger! Mikel is a complete footballer! J Y Park talks! Ream, Alvarez's Linked

• Theo Walcott, Laurent Koscielny and Gervinho have been ruled out of Arsenal's UEFA Champions League clash with Olympiakos.

England winger Walcott picked up a knee injury late on during Arsenal's 3-0 win over Bolton on Saturday and he missed training on Tuesday.

Ivory Coast star Gervinho will also miss the visit of Olympiakos along with defender Koscielny meaning Arsene Wenger will have to shuffle his pack.

Koscielny has an ankle problem sustained in a challenge with Bolton's Nigel Reo-Coker, while Gervinho is struggling with a muscle strain.

Wenger is hopeful all three will recover in time to be fit for this weekend's North London derby with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

"Koscielny, Gervinho and Walcott are not fit," said Wenger.

"All three have a chance for the weekend. Walcott could make the derby. He has more than a 50-50 chance."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Manchester United rival Sir Alex Ferguson is right in saying the Champions League is a superior competition to the World Cup.

The Frenchman has built a cosmopolitan squad packed with top-class players from all around the world. He thinks the wider range of talents available to clubs makes them stronger than countries and makes the Champions League better than the World Cup.

"I always said that club football is better than national team football, by far," Wenger said.

"You have the best players from any country in the national team. In any big club you have the best players of all the countries in the world. It’s as simple as that.

"Take the world champions, Spain. What is Barcelona? It’s Spain plus Lionel Messi, plus Dani Alves, plus others. Logic says it is better than the national team. And Spain is the best national team in the world."

• Arsene Wenger is backing Arsenal’s medical staff, insisting they are not to blame for Jack Wilshere's injury concerns.

The 19-year-old has not played a competitive match for the Gunners this season and on Monday underwent ankle surgery, which is expected to rule him out of contention until late February.

The Gunners boss told declared: "I don't think that the medical staff made any mistake on this case.

"It is unfortunate, we are all very sad at the club that it has happened to such a young boy.

"We were even more worried, but it was a big relief yesterday for everybody at the club that the operation went well."

Wenger continued: "The fracture he had didn't heal, what I have been told is that we had to go in quite quickly to repair it and that's why we decided to do it so quickly.

"He had an earlier fracture at the age of 16 that healed and around that he created another opening.

"Is it down to a kick, is it down to playing too much? I don't know, I am not a specialist, but that is unfortunately what happened. He told me he felt it the first time [when playing for England] against Switzerland."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is pleased with the form of captain Robin van Persie.

The Dutch striker has been outstanding so far this season.

Wenger said: "I have a high level of expectation for him and his performances are as high as I expect them to be.

"He plays well with the team, with the other players, finishes well and his finishing record is absolutely fantastic - Robin has scored 26 goals in 31 games.

"Basically I am very demanding with Robin and he does as well as I expect him to."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is pleased with how new signing Per Mertesacker is settling in at The Emirates.

The Germany international was snapped up by Wenger before the transfer window closed to bolster the club's defensive option.

The experienced defender turns 27 this week and the French tactician feels he is now beginning to show his true form.

"Per is getting stronger and stronger," said Wenger.

"He is calm, intelligent and he is now showing clearly that he can lead the defence."

The former Werder Bremen defender is encouraged by Wenger's praise.

"If the coach is praising me, that is of course a great thing to hear," said the 76-cap international defender.

"But I have to keep working on things, I know I can play even better. I want to put in some good work, especially on defence, that's my job."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is excited by what Mikel Arteta can offer.

Wenger is delighted with his deadline day signing from Everton.

“He is not a newcomer,” Wenger said. “Everybody knows him in England. We all knew he is an excellent player. He has integrated very well into the group.

“Mikel is a complete football player - he can defend, he can attack, and is very ambitious. He wants to do well and is very professional.”

• Arsenal playmaker Mikel Arteta has no problem with the pressure of expectations at the Emirates.

Arteta admits that the pressure is greater at Arsenal than it was for him at Everton. But he likes it that way.

"You expect pressure," he said. "A club like Arsenal has to be in that situation [at the top in the Premier League and Champions League]. If they are not, it means people are not expecting big enough things.

"That [pressure] is what we all want, hopefully it will stay like that and we can respond to it."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists Andrey Arshavin is a big part of his plans.

The Russian hit the winner in the Gunners’ Premier League victory over Swansea two weeks ago and Wenger has backed the diminutive forward to continue in the same vein.

“I think he’s had a good start to the season,” said Wenger. “Gervinho was a little bit in front and he did very well, and he [Arshavin] is a bit in and out. Maybe you will see him tomorrow.

“I rotate more the strikers than anybody else and Andrey, you cannot fault.”

Wenger believes the Russia captain has an unfair reputation in certain quarters and remains adamant his No 23 is a model professional.

“There is a difference between the image that Andrey has and who he is really is,” said the boss. “He is a very conscientious hard-worker in training.

“Sometimes he has an image a little bit of a non-caring person and that is not at all [the case]. He is 100 per cent a professional player.

“I think what he needs more is confidence. He had a difficult end of season last year and I believe since a few weeks now, he is in very good form.”

• Arsenal signing Ju Young Park admits he had to defy his Mum back in South Korea to realise his dream to be a footballer.

Ju becomes the first South Korean to pull on a Gunners shirt. But it could have all been different if his mother had her way…

"I began kicking a ball when I was really little with my friends in my home town of Daegu - but when I got to about 10 or 11 I would keep it secret," he said.

"My mother was really against it and wanted me to study, so I'd play on the sly. Time passed, she watched me a few times and after a while she relented on her insistence that I shouldn't play anymore."

• Arsenal will have no problem tempting Tim Ream away from New York Red Bulls if it comes to finances.

An established USA international, young defender Ream is on a modest MLS salary of $52,000.
Ream's camp have confirmed Arsenal are keeping tabs on the young centre-half after his stellar performance in the Emirates Cup in August.

• Arsenal are monitoring Ricky Alvarez's situation at Inter Milan.

The 23 year-old former Velez Sarsfield star rejected offers from Arsenal and Manchester United in the summer to sign for Inter, but he has spent most of this season in the stands.

Alvarez's camp have already floated the idea of a loan move away in January, though Arsenal are expected to come in with a firm offer for the midfield schemer.

Having lost Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas during the summer market, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been left further reeling by news that Jack Wilshere could be out for six months following ankle surgery.

A dynamic midfield playmaker, who has been likened to Kaka, Alvarez fits the bill for an Arsenal manager fast losing quality options in his midfield.

RVP proud to be the 17th man for AFC to join the 100 club! AW "Now it will be down to consistency, Mertesacker is looking stronger & stronger he’s calm, intelligent & can lead our defense! RVP leaving? Robin is not from Barcelona!" RVP “Bergkamp is my idol!” Kroenke to talk soon! Parejo bid!

• Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie is proud to have cracked 100 goals for the club.

In the wake of his fresh-faced introduction as a mere 21-year-old, it has been some achievement for the Dutchman.

“It makes me very proud to be the 17th man in the history of Arsenal [to reach a century] - it is amazing,” the captain said. “It just gives me a very proud feeling to be a part of that history. To me it is a very special feeling.

“I have a couple of favourites. Obviously my first-ever goal against Manchester City in the Carling Cup because that is where everything started. That was special. It was an easy tap-in but it meant the world to me when it happened.

“There was one special one against Liverpool at home - a really good pass from Nasri, onto my chest, one touch towards my right foot and then I banged it in. The goal against Charlton was a special one and my goals against Chelsea.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was grateful for the fans' support in victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Wenger enjoyed his ovation but he insists that Arsenal still have a long way to go to complete their recovery from a poor start to the campaign.

"It's very nice [to hear the fans sing my name] because on that front we have struggled a little," Wenger said.

"It's been a long time since I could go home and relax after a game, I can tell you. I don't know [how long it has been].

"Our season started basically two weeks ago after the August 31 transfer deadline and I believe as well we paid a heavy price to knock Udinese out of the Champions League - that was very demanding for us. After that I feel this is the first time we have had a united squad together.

"We are conscious that there is a long way to go for us and Saturday's game is a little start. Now it will be down to consistency. But I would like to say on today that Per Mertesacker is looking stronger and stronger and that he is calm, intelligent and shows me that he can lead our defence."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has likened skipper Robin van Persie to Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Van Persie brought his Arsenal goal tally to 100 when he bagged a well-taken double to help the Gunners end a difficult week on a high, with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over 10-man Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium.

"I see similarities positional-wise with Messi. He comes deep, he likes to turn up up front as well," Wenger said.

"Positional-wise he doesn't play like a real centre forward. But when you look at his movement around the box he's very intelligent, goes on diagonal runs.

"I always thought his first touch was so good that he can make a difference even in a tight space."

• Robin van Persie doesn't regard himself as an outright striker at Arsenal.

Van Persie has been the lynchpin of Arsène Wenger’s front three for some time now but admits he still does not see himself as a traditional striker.

“I don't really see it as a main striker position,” he said. “In Holland we call positions by their numbers - No 9 is the main striker and No 10 is the one just behind.

“I prefer to call myself nine-and-a-half - I like to drop off sometimes and be part of the game. I'm still a bit of a behind-the-striker player when possible.

“When Theo, Gervinho or anybody goes through I need to be there normally at the first post and do my job as a main striker.”

• Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie admits Dennis Bergkamp was his idol.

Van Persie was added to the Dutch contingent at the Club in 2004 from Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord and revealed that one of his first actions was to watch the master at work.

“The first thing I did was watch the video of Dennis' best 100 goals, and I was like, 'wow',” the striker said.

“In my first season I scored five league goals and a couple in the Carling Cup and FA Cup. I thought it would take me 10 years.

“I didn't really start to think about it until I scored my 82nd, 83rd, 84th goals and then realised I only needed 16 more to achieve that."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger knows they have contract concerns with skipper Robin van Persie.

Van Persie is understood to have sought assurances from Wenger this summer that the club's future was still bright following the sales of Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who refused to extend his contract and was sold to Manchester City.

Wenger understands why Van Persie was worried about the club's direction.

"If you're in Robin's place and you see Nasri going, Fabregas going, then you can be worried of course," Wenger said.

The club could be faced with a similar problem to the Nasri one if Van Persie does not sign an extension to his current contract, which expires in 2013, but Wenger is not concerned.

"Now he (Van Persie) is out? No, I don't think that really. Robin is not from Barcelona," Wenger quipped.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Robin van Persie is growing into his role as captain.

Van Persie struck twice in victory over Bolton Wanderers yesterday.

Wenger said: "I think he is one of these guys who develops with responsibilities. You would think he is not natural at the start but when he has the responsibility he really grows well into the role. I have observed him and he does very well.

"He does not talk a lot to the other players because he is not a talker but he speaks his mind."

• Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke will break his silence with fans soon.

Kroenke, 64, has been dubbed “Silent Stan” for his refusal to discuss his plans despite owning 66.6 per cent of the club.

With more and more fed up fans favouring a possible takeover by Uzbek Alisher Usmanov, Kroenke’s vowed to address the issues faced by manager Arsene Wenger and the Gunners’ board.

A source said: “Mr Kroenke should provide answers to questions that fans and shareholders are asking.”
But season ticket holder Chris Adsett said: “Kroenke’s communication with fans has been scandalous.”

• Arsenal have begun talks with Thomas Vermaelen, Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie over a new contracts.

The defender’s contract runs out in 2013, meaning the club would be forced to sell him by next summer if they wanted any financial return.

Talks with Vermaelen are at an early stage, according to a source close to negotiations.

• Arsene Wenger is lining up a £7million move for Valencia midfielder Daniel Parejo in January. The mail says Arsenal representatives were in Spain last week to meet the 22-year-old’s agent.

It is reported that central midfielder Parejo is a graduate of Real Madrid’s academy and also had a spell at QPR three years ago before joining Valencia this summer. But Parejo is yet to feature for his new club and wants to return to England.

AW “It’s up to the players to lift the mood of the crowd. Our fans have been fantastic! We must all believe! We work on improving every day and practice! Defense will improve!” RVP “We still have plenty to play for, we must all stay positive! We should be proud of who we are THE ARSENAL!” Jack could be back ahead of schedule! Barca Laporta’s son signs for us! Bergkamp coming Home as coach?

• Arsène Wenger has urged his players to get the fans behind them by finding their form against Bolton.

Arsenal's supporters have given the side tremendous backing during recent defeats at Manchester United and Blackburn and, despite a nervous first half against Shrewsbury Town in midweek, the Emirates crowd helped inspire their team to a hard-fought victory.

Now Wenger has urged his players to take responsibility for lifting the mood of the crowd.

"I always feel that the vibes have to come out from the team," he said. "If the vibes coming out from the team are right, the crowd will follow and support us. "So let’s focus on us being right because the crowd feels that. We believe they have to trust us on that. "We will bounce back and I think it starts from us being determined, from us being united, from us trusting each other and us playing the football we want to play. Let’s focus on that quality. We had 20 shots on goal at Blackburn, let’s continue to play our game."
• Arsène Wenger insists that Arsenal are doing everything they can to improve their defensive displays.
The Gunners have been criticised this season after conceding 12 times in two away fixtures but they did register clean sheets against Newcastle, Udinese and Swansea along the way. Wenger says that his squad is working hard to address its weaknesses and he believes that every player must take responsibility when Arsenal do not have the ball. “We work on it every day and practice,” the boss said. “I believe that we have been solid quite recently - in Dortmund but not at Blackburn. There is a lot to improve in our defensive consistencies. “The modern game is a team sport more than ever because everybody has to defend completely. All the big teams do it. You do not get away with just seven or eight and the rest watching. “If you don't do it as a team it doesn't work. On the day [at Blackburn] I believe we were a little unlucky and certainly a bit naive as well - we have to concede that. We have played five games, but we started our season basically two weeks ago.” With four competitions to compete in this season, Wenger knows there is a gruelling year ahead and he pointed to the struggles of both Barcelona and Real Madrid in Wednesday night’s La Liga matches. “There is a physical factor, you could see that as well. When I watched the Spanish games last night the teams who played in the Champions League did not look completely on full cylinders. “[We can gain confidence] by focusing on the way we want to play football and the team spirit and attitude. That makes you feel stronger and overall I think there is no way I am going to put down the mental qualities of the squad. That will come out.”
• Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie insists morale needs to be maintained as there is still plenty to play for.
The Gunners had a welcome victory in midweek over Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup which eased some of the pressure on boss Arsene Wenger after following a dismal start to the campaign, including a 4-3 reverse at Blackburn last weekend. Van Persie said: "It is important that we stay positive - that can be hard because everyone is frustrated and we realise that this is our worst start in the league for a while, but we have to stay together, be strong and make sure not to hide or become introverted. "Games like Saturday's happen, but we must not go into our shell. "We should be proud of who we are and aware that we are only five games in with so much still to play for." The Dutch striker accepts there has to be an improved collective effort. "The facts are we went in front twice (against Blackburn) and didn't defend well enough thereafter," he said. "It is strange because in earlier games, Udinese being a classic example, we had managed to do it - fighting for a good result and keeping it. Now we have to show people we can do it week in, week out. "Yes, we were a bit unlucky at Ewood Park, but I am someone who believes you bring luck to yourselves - and scoring two own goals is not down to bad luck. "We don't blame individuals, but we have to look a bit more closely at things."
• Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood is in the dark over claims from QPR skipper Joey Barton that he held talks with the Gunners before leaving Newcastle United.
The 29-year-old said he might have joined Arsenal had he not been involved in Gervinho's red card on the opening day of the season while playing for his former club, Newcastle. He clashed with the Gunners' new signing at St James' Park, going to ground after a fracas which saw the Ivorian sent off. Barton believes that incident was pivotal in Wenger deciding against bringing him to Emirates Stadium. However, Arsenal chief Hill-Wood says he had no knowledge of the manager trying to sign the tempestuous midfielder. He said: "It's not something the board heard about and if it was a serious proposition I certainly would have expected us to."
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made a dream move to Arsenal over the summer, but admits he owes everything to his first club Southampton after they handed him his break in football.
The winger was just seven when his association with the Saints began and went on to break into the first team and make his professional debut aged 16. "I owe them massively - I'd been at Southampton since I was seven," the 18 year old said. "They put so much hard work into me and the fans down there welcomed me into the first team so warmly. "I couldn't have asked for more, so I've got a lot of time for them and I hope to be able to play there again one day and show my appreciation. I'll always have a place in my heart for them."
• Arsenal are hoping to have Jack Wilshere back ahead of schedule.
The England midfielder has not played this term after suffering an ankle injury during pre-season. It was feared the 19-year-old would be missing until November but Wilshere could make his comeback for the Gunners' Champions League clash at Marseille on October 19. Wilshere looked on from the stands as Arsenal came from behind to beat League Two side Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup last night. And he is reported to have told supporters that he expects to be back in action in four weeks' time.
• Arsenal have signed the son of the man who spearheaded part one of the campaign to bring Cesc Fabregas back to Barcelona.
Guim Laporta, son of ex-Barca president Joan, is now playing for Arsenal’s youth team after moving from Barcelona’s Infantil A side. Laporta Senior was the man who lodged the Catalan giants’ first bids for Cesc back in the summer of 2010. And he was still stirring things up earlier this year. He was quoted as saying: “The English come here to go ‘fishing’. They came to fish for Gerard Pique and they came to fish for Cesc Fabregas. It is an issue of justice that we (Barca) now want to recover them. “I would have liked it if Cesc came to Barca in the way that Pique came. He abandoned Manchester United, making it clear he was going to Barca. They were players who were formed here.” Alas, Guim’s move to the Gunners was nothing to do with English ‘fishing’. His mum has moved to London and the youngster has decided to switch clubs to stay with her. The 14-year-old is younger than Fabregas was when he moved to England. Arsenal will be hoping to make another nice return on another hotly-tipped youngster. Arsenal are once again showing an interest in PSV-Eindhoven striker Ola Toivonen, who has previously been linked with a move to the Emirates on a number of occasions. The Sweden international striker has previously been linked with both Arsenal and Liverpool, but it is the Gunners that have now emerged as the favourites to land the 25-year-old. Toivonen, who has 13 appearances for Sweden, signed for the Dutch side in 2009 for around €4million and has gone on to impress a number of European sides during his stint in the Eredivisie. It is believed that Arsenal were interested in signing the player during the summer, but PSV decided to hang on to the striker who has scored three goals in his last four internationals. Toivonen has scored 35 goals in 76 league appearances for PSV and according to Talksport is a legitimate target for the Gunners. Arsenal have plenty of money to spend during the January transfer window after the sales of both Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, while chairman Ivan Gazidis has made it clear that money will be spent in January. The Gunners have relied heavily on Robin van Persie in recent seasons and are desperate to give some help to the Dutch striker. Maraoune Chamakh has struggled to find his feet in the Premier League while Gervinho is viewed more as a support striker. PSV want at least £12million for the talented striker, which Arsenal would have no problem in matching.

Oxlade-Chamberlain "Before the game I walked out on the pitch & realised what a big stage it is, it was brilliant!” Gibbs “AW is incredible. We are 100% together!" Ryo "It my dream to play on the Emirates pitch, I’m really happy!” Gazidis “funds are available to boost the team in Jan summer!" Yossi out for 10 days! Vargas Linked! Afobe Out for 4 Months!

• Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was delighted with his goal scoring performance in victory over Carling Cup opponents Shrewsbury.

It was his first start since arriving from Southampton.

He said: "I haven't been on the bench as much as I would have liked recently and that is due to some quality signings. I forgot what it felt like to be out there.

"Before the game I walked out on the pitch and realised what a big stage it is - straight away I was excited and it was brilliant to be involved. I gave it my all and I hope I did well."

Oxlade-Chamberlain sees no reason why the Gunners cannot use the win to kickstart their season, which continues against Bolton on Saturday.

"Even though you may say it is against lesser opposition, we still had to bounce back from the result at the weekend, put a statement down and make sure we qualified for the next round. With a younger, less experienced squad we did that," he said.

"We just need to keep plugging away and it will come right for us. There are a lot of quality, quality signings here and a lot of quality in the boys that are already here.

"We just need to gel together now and kick on.

"I think we have what it takes to get to the [Carling Cup] final and put in a good claim in the Premier League and the FA Cup too."

• Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs has made it vehemently clear that the players at the club are fully behind under-fire manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners have had a mediocre beginning to the Premier League season with just one win in five matches, prompting plenty of criticism to be delivered in the direction of Wenger.

But Gibbs has backed his gaffer, saying what he has achieved in his managerial career is superb and that all the players at the Emirates are as much to blame as he is for the subpar start.

"We have to stand up and not hide if the results don't go our way," he said.

"We'll see it change. It has not been the easiest of months.

"But the team is together and you can see from the stats of the games that what we are doing is right - but we are not getting the results.

"What Arsene Wenger has done is incredible. We are 100 per cent behind him."

He added: "We bring a lot of trouble on ourselves at times but it happens. At the minute we make one mistake and it's a goal.

"It's unbelievable how it has affected us but I'm sure we'll overcome it."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was encouraged by his young players in their Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Wenger handed full debuts to several members of his squad and was ultimately pleased with their efforts against the League Two outfit.

"The players took responsibility and grew into the game, especially the younger ones," the manager said.

"Of course we know [Emmanuel] Frimpong and [Ignasi] Miquel because they have played already but players like Francis Coquelin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain grew tonight. That is very positive.

"We will try to go for it [in this competition] and adjust the team to the difficulty we face in every game."

• Ryo Miyaichi admits he was nervous making his Arsenal debut in their Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury Town.

The Arsenal faithful were treated to their first home sightings of the 18-year-old for the visit of the League Two side, making their feelings clear before the youngster had even entered the pitch.

"It has been my dream to play on the Emirates pitch, it’s great and I am really happy,” Miyaichi said.

"One year ago I was still in Japan and playing high school football. I didn't even think I would be playing here so it was a surprise. I was working hard and now I am here I have to keep my feet on the ground and try even harder."

Miyaichi said: "It was a mixture of nervousness and being excited [before coming on]," he added. "I could hear the crowd before and then I got a bit more nervous.

"I could hear the calls and I was really happy. I wanted to respond by playing well and hopefully that can lead to the next step."

• Kieran Gibbs was delighted to break his duck for Arsenal in their Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Gibbs says the goal is a weight off his shoulders, having previously been the butt of his team-mates' jokes.

“In pre-season I scored a few and then when the season comes I always come close and never score,” he said. “But tonight my luck has changed.

“After they scored we were just on countless attacks and I thought eventually we would get it. It just came luckily to me and I managed to take my opportunity.”

• Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis says there is money available to spend in January.

It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be active when the transfer window reopens in January but Gazidis insists that funds are available should manager Arsene Wenger want to strengthen his squad further.

"Certainly in January and next summer there are significant funds available to bolster the team," he said.

"The important thing from our perspective is - and this is something that Arsène has been extremely disciplined in over time - that we are not just going to spend money because we are under short-term pressure.

"We are going to make sure that the players we bring in are the right players."

• Yossi Benayoun has broken down in Arsenal training.

There was some bad news for Arsenal last night when on-loan Chelsea midfielder Benayoun revealed he'd suffered an injury.

He tweeted: "Very disappointed as I have a strain and will be out for a week or so."

• Arsene Wenger is said to be set to go back in to take Fiorentina’s Juan Manuel Vargas to Arsenal in the January window.

The Boss was interested in versatile Vargas in the summer, but decided he wanted to continue to scout him this season.

Peruvian hardman Vargas, 27, can play left back, left midfield or central midfield and the Gunners face competition from Juventus for his signature, which would cost in the region of £10million.

• Afobe Ruled Out For Four Months

AW wants another 14 years in charge! Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain grew through the game & became stronger & stronger!” Gazidis “Kroenke is not silent! He’s been very involved for a number of years; he will speak out at the right time! Late summer spending all planned!” Alvarez, Rafa Alcantara, Zelalem Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was delighted with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's performance in their Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain certainly caught the eye following his all-action display, as the 18-year-old £10million signing from Southampton marked his first senior start with a fine strike.

"He grew through the game and became stronger and stronger," Wenger said.

"What came out was unbelievable - you didn't expect it after the first half.

"You could see that he will be a first-team player here, that is for sure. He has still things to work on but, very quickly, he will be knocking on the door."

• Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis insists club owner Stan Kroenke is happy to engage with the media and fans.

Kroenke has not been to a game this season or spoken publicly about his intentions outside official takeover documentation.

But Gazidis, speaking at the Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club in London, claimed: "The Silent Stan moniker is overused. The truth is that Stan is not silent. He has been very involved for a number of years.

"He is not media adverse either - at the right time he will come and speak. He has been limited by what he can say by the takeover panel but he is very personable, very interested in sport and has tremendous ambition for his teams.

"He is somebody that we know well because he has substantial experience in the US and now at Arsenal. It has been a very smooth transition. He is very supportive of the self-sustaining model and of Arsene Wenger.

"Throughout the transfer window, he was intimately involved in the discussions that we were having, understanding the strategy and giving his support to it. I think Arsene and I and the people at the club are very well supported by a good experienced owner.

"Stan has said that he will talk to the fans the next time he is in the UK and he will."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was in defiant mood after their Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Gunners chief Ivan Gazidis gave his support to Wenger at a luncheon yesterday.

On his 'vote of confidence' from the board, Wenger said: "I am not bothered at all by this speculation.

"I am completely focused on doing well.

"I can understand that people are unhappy and criticise, but you know as well as I know people are very quick to go overboard.

"I accept critics and I do not say it doesn't matter that people criticise us, and like anybody else, I prefer it when they say I am good.

"When we do well we take all the plaudits, so we have to take as well all the blame when it doesn't go as well - but we have as well on both sides to take some distance.

"When it goes well we must not completely believe what people say and when it does not go as well, we must not completely believe it."

Wenger added: "I have just managed 14 years at this club and I have kept them 14 years in the Champions League and I hope it lasts another 14 years."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he doesn't need to hire a defensive coach to fix their problems.

Wenger was in defiant mood after their Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury.

Asked if he should consider bringing in a defensive expert, such as former player Martin Keown to help shore up the backline. The Arsenal manager responded: "I have just completed 30 years of coaching. I don't want to answer this kind of question."

• Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis has defended their late summer spending.

Gazidis insists manager Arsene Wenger's signing spree was all pre-planned.

"Believe it or not, he didn't suddenly become a bad manager or someone who is out of touch with the game. It is absolute nonsense based on the need to create crisis and drama," said Gazidis.

"Even in this transfer window we have seen a tactical adjustment of bringing in more experienced players. Overall, what we did was spend money early in the window on younger players and then sprinkled it with experienced players but over the course of the window, our squad actually became younger.

"Our strategy continues to be to focus on young players. We know we can't go out and compete with the spending that's out there and frankly, if we did, it would just push the spending to another level so it wouldn't be a successful strategy."

• Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis has dismissed claims their lack of silverware marks the club a failure.

Despite the present malaise, Gazidis insists the trophyless period should still be considered something of a success given the club's regular position in the top four and participation in the Champions League.

"When we look at Arsenal over the last six years that we haven't won a trophy, many people will say that is a total failure," said Gazidis.

"I understand that, I accept it and I embrace it because in a sense it shows where we are as a club, which is right at the top of the game.

"But at the same time, I cannot accept it's a total failure because actually we have been incredibly consistent over a long period of time - along with Manchester United and Real Madrid, the most consistent of clubs in Europe. We haven't achieved what we want to achieve and we need to adjust, not our fundamental strategy, but I am not sure that chasing after the same players as Manchester City or United would be sustainable or necessarily successful but we are adjusting tactics.

"You have seen that in this transfer window with the introduction of more experienced players, still aligned with youth development that we hope will deliver the level of success that our fans demand."

• Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis says manager Arsene Wenger knows fans are frustrated.

Gazidis says Wenger understands why the club's supporters are unhappy but has urged them to be patient in their demand for success.

"Arsene is frustrated, he shares the same frustrations that we all do," said Gazidis, who was speaking at the Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club in London this morning.

"The potential is very high but we have found self-inflicted ways not to achieve that full potential and that is why he is deeply frustrated.

"If you look at the last six years when we haven't quite got over the line for a trophy, if we hadn't had the potential to do it.

"That is something we need to correct because the potential is there.

"That is the frustration I think Arsene is wrestling with but he is absolutely not broken. He is as focused on delivering success to this football club as he has ever been."

• Inter Milan winger Ricky Alvarez, who slipped out of Arsenal’s clutches in the summer, could be set for a shock loan move to the Gunners in January.

Reports in Portugal claim Emirates chiefs have already held preliminary discussions with the struggling Italian giants, who appear willing to temporarily offload their £12million summer signing.

Alvarez has seen starting opportunities restricted at the San Siro, largely because Wesley Sneijder - who was expected to be sold to Manchester United - has stayed at the club.

As a result, the 23-year-old has struggled to find form, and Nerazzurri bosses are said to be considering letting Alvarez join the Gunners in order to build up his match fitness.

The former Velez Sarsfield star only really broke onto the scene last season following a slow recovery from a serious knee cruciate ligament injury, so it’s no surprise that a lack of regular football is stunting his progression.

Arsene Wenger, though, remains a fan of the attacking midfielder, and could be keen to take on the Argentinean should Inter be willing to deal.

Alvarez started the Italian Super Cup final defeat for Inter, and has since made just two apperances off the subs' bench.

• Arsenal are watching Barcelona youngster Rafa Alcantara.

The winger is the kid brother of senior Barca midfielder Thiago Alcantara and is rated a better player by their father, Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho.

Rafa, known as Rafinha in Spain, is waiting to open new contract talks with Barca, which has left the door open for Arsenal to pounce.

The Gunners have already raided Rafa's youth team this year for teammates Hector Bellerin and Jon Toral and now fancy adding the winger to their academy squad.

• US high school freshman Gedion Zelalem is highly likely to join Arsenal’s youth academy within two years.

The Walter Johnson High star has already trained with prospective Arsenal youngsters and according to his father, the family will move to London in January 2013 when Gedion turns 16.

The biggest advantage Zelalem has is that he is of Ethiopian descent and a German citizen meaning he will not have to gain a European or UK working permit.

His father, Woldyes, has confirmed that he trained in Colney in London with the Gunners and will return as soon as he is 16.

“My philosophy was to start with a smaller team and take it step by step,” Woldyes said.

“Arsenal felt like family, so we thought, ‘Why not?’ Gedion said to me, ‘Papa, I want to go to Arsenal.’

“For him to become a professional at Arsenal, it would be a gift.”

And Zelalem junior was very excited about the future opportunity which he says he will take with both hands.

“It’s a dream for me,” he said.

“I’ve always wanted it. I’ve gotten the opportunity, and I’m going to take it.”

AW "Santos & Mertesacker are new, but they were not guilty on the goals! A lack of concentration, a lack of communication, a lack of coordination and individual urgency! Our season depends now on how well we respond now! Oxlade-Chamberlain different to Theo! Park looking good! Montolivo, Polo Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists his defence will be strengthened once the new players have time to gel.

Wenger fielded two new signings in his back four at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday - Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos - and Arsenal's defence looked vulnerable to the counter-attack, especially in the second half.

The manager expects to see an improvement soon.

“I believe there is a little question of time and timing," he said.

"Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker are new, but they were not especially guilty on the goals. But maybe as a unit we need more time to work.

“A lack of concentration, a lack of communication, a lack of coordination and individual urgency [is behind the goals we have conceded].

"When you score an own goal, you have to look at yourself. It is never completely out of your reach where you have no chance at all. All the rest, you have to look at yourself.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits their season could be decided in the coming games.

Wenger said the Gunners were now at a point that could prove decisive for their whole season.

He said: "I personally want to focus on the positives because there is huge potential in this team. We had 22 shots on goal, 61 per cent of the possession.

"Our season depends now on how well we respond to this disappointment and how quickly we can cut out the mistakes we made on Saturday by giving away goals that we should never give away."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels comparisons between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott are wide of the mark.

Although Wenger can see the comparisons off the pitch, he insists that Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott operate very differently on it.

"They are quite similar types of players but Walcott is a bit more a striker and Oxlade-Chamberlain is more a midfielder," Wenger said.

"He [Oxlade-Chamberlain] likes more to be in the build-up of things and Walcott is more a guy who makes intelligent runs.

"So they are not that similar as players but they have some similarities physically already. They look the same size, the same type of player.

"But I believe that Oxlade-Chamberlain could be a central midfielder one day and Walcott a central striker one day. That shows the difference between the two players.

"I don’t know [if the comparisons are fair] but you can’t stop that."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels they will benefit from the versatility of new signing Ju Young Park.

Wenger had noted the South Korea captain’s ability to play all across the front line and admits it was a key factor in his decision to sign him.

“Park is good in every area,” Wenger said. “He is good in the air, good technically, he is mobile and that’s why he is an adaptable striker who can play up front behind the striker.

“That’s why we went for him. What I like with him is that he is very mobile and that’s the basis of our game.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced of big things from Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi.

Miyaichi has featured twice for the Reserves, scoring in his first match against Wigan before setting up a goal for Sanchez Watt against Bolton last week.

Wenger is a big fan of the exciting winger and says he will be eased into the first team. “We have to give him time and not put too much pressure on him but he is a fantastic player,” the manager said.

“A year ago, Ryo came here for a trial and we decided to sign him. We want to do things properly with him and not to rush him too much.

“He has pace, attitude, efficiency in what he is doing and complete commitment.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is eager for the club tap into the Asian football market.

Ryo Miyaichi and Ju Young Park have both arrived this season.

Wenger is no stranger to Asian football having enjoyed a successful spell as manager of Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan. He believes that the mentality of that continent’s people is a perfect fit for football.

“Asian culture, usually, is well suited to team sports,” he said. “Their culture is very collective and once they get the technical level they are very at ease in a sport where, in England, you need commitment, focus and team attitude.

“Their culture is well suited to that.”

• Arsenal are ready to pounce for Fiorentina contract rebel Riccardo Montolivo in January.

Reports in Italy suggest Arsenal are leading the chase to sign him and he has now asked Fiorentina for more time to consider his long-term future.

Montolivo has already turned down one offer of a new deal from Fiorentina as he is reported to want a release clause which allows him to join a top European club.

His current deal expires in June.

• Peruvian wonderkid Andy Polo is being watched by Arsenal.

Polo was linked with Arsenal during the summer.

The 16-year-old striker is currently on the books of cash-strapped Universitario in Peru.

It is understood that Universitario are currently in some financial trouble and will consider selling Polo for around £800,000 when the winter transfer window opens.

Arsenal's Latest Vodcast

Djourou does say that (1min 50) ‘defensively he did well’ doesn’t he?? That’s a worry!

AW “we were punished for every one of our ‘weak moments’ overall we never looked completely secure! At this level, on set-pieces you cannot make the mistakes we made, the confidence in our defenders has gone and it's important to find it back! Djourou "We have to bounce back!” LNBS Doubts AW’s future at Arsenal! PSG want AW! Alcacer Linked

• Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal were punished for every one of their “weak moments” at Blackburn on Saturday.

The visitors were leading 2-1 and seemingly in control at Ewood Park only to ship three goals in just over 20 minutes after half time. Marouane Chamakh’s late header gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope but time ran out on the them.

Afterwards, Wenger was able to draw comfort from certain aspects of his side’s performance. However he felt the midweek trip to Europe had taken the edge off his side and all their errors were seized upon.

“The positives are that we created many chances and, away from home, that is not easy,” he said. “We dominated the game but in the weak moments we had we were not strong enough to resist. We didn’t have many weak moments in the game but, every time we had one, we paid for it.

“We gave a lot at Dortmund [on Tuesday]. It is difficult to go away from home in the Champions League and go away again on Saturday morning. You could see in the second half that it had an influence. But it is the same for everybody and we have to deal with that.

“It is two different results because, on Saturday, I felt it was a lack of sharpness. It was a bit unfortunate as well because we had two deflections in our own goal. But overall we never looked completely secure enough.”

• Arsene Wenger has admitted his Arsenal defenders have lost confidence following the 4-3 defeat by Blackburn making it the club's worst start to a season for 58 years.

The Frenchman said: "At this level, on set-pieces you cannot make the mistakes we made.

"That's where we were guilty. The second, third and fourth goal are all goals where we made basic errors and you just have to focus on the next game.

"You could see that the confidence in our defenders has gone and it's important to find it back.

"We have the potential to do well, you could see that so overall I believe it's important that we get our confidence back quickly.

"It's very difficult to accept that you lose a game when you have that much domination, that many chances. It's unbelievable."

• Johan Djourou insists Arsenal will bounce back from their shock defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

The Switzerland defender looked short of confidence himself during the seven goal thriller.

"We have to bounce back because we have another game and we have to be ready for those," he said. "We are disappointed but there is still a long way to go and things are not over yet.

"The team is building together and we are getting stronger together. We could have won the game but this team has got a lot of potential and we have to work hard to be the best."

• Doubts are growing over Arsene Wenger's future at Arsenal after their defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

His record of success at the club, including three Premier League titles and four FA Cups since he joined in October 1996, is in his favour.

But against that is the growing discontent among the fans - and the nagging feeling that the season is already a lost cause.

Former shareholder Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith greeted Saturday's defeat by tweeting: "I've always been a great admirer of AW. He has been immense for Arsenal. However there is something amiss."

• PSG are ready to offer an Arsenal escape route to Arsene Wenger.

Wenger will be handed the chance to walk away from Arsenal straight into the top job at Paris St-Germain if he fails to win silverware again this season.

Moneybags PSG have got Gunners boss Wenger as their top target.

They want him back home to turn the French club into a European super force with the help of their billionaire backers.

And to sweeten the deal PSG’s owners, the Qatar Investment Authority, will give him a £150m transfer war chest next summer.

The super-rich Arab owners spent £75m on players ahead of the new campaign and will happily double that amount if they can secure Champions League football.

• Fresh interest from Arsenal in Paco Alcacer has kicked Valencia into action.

Arsenal and Barcelona are tracking the exciting teenage striker leading up to the January market.

Aware of the interest, Los Che president Manuel Llorente met with Alcacer's agents yesterday to discuss a new deal.

The striker's current contract runs to 2013 and carries a €9 million buyout clause.

Arsene Wenger's Blackburn Post March Press Conference

AW “It is terrible, it is just not good enough, it’s was not all negative today, that is the frustrating thing, you cannot come here and concede four goals the way we did today! Kroenke lets us do our jobs!" Benayoun wants permanently deal! Sagna, Gervinho talk!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is happy working for Stan Kroenke.

Wenger claims majority shareholder Stan Kroenke is behind his methods:
"He lets us do our jobs."

• Twice Arsenal took the lead but in the end went down 4-3 at Blackburn Rovers whose second half performance bullied the Gunners out of three points.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said his team are struggling to concentrate at the back for ninety minutes.

“It's difficult to explain. I feel overall we created many chances, even in the second half. It just looked like we had a lack of focus for what we knew they were good at - corners and free-kicks.

“You cannot say you are not worried (defensively) when you see the performance we put in today. It's just not defensively solid enough. When you are 2-1 in front against Blackburn and you know that you are solid defensively, we will score goals.

“It was not all negative today, that is the frustrating thing. There were a lot of positives as well, we just didn't bring the focus to get anything out of the game. At the moment we do not have the capability to focus defensively for 90 minutes to win games. It is important you do not give cheap goals away like we did.

“The spirit in the team is quite willing but if you look at the number of goals we have conceded it is just not good enough. You cannot come here and concede four goals the way we did today. On the other hand I believe that the group will take off but it is important that we can get results.

As to talk about the Frenchman’s future at The Emirates.

“Speculation is part of modern life, there is nothing I can do about that. My future is focused on me giving the best for the Club.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger turned on his players after their shock 4-3 defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

It means the Gunners have just four points from five games in the league this season, their worst start since Wenger came to the club in 1996. They have also conceded 14 goals, more than any other side in the top flight.

Wenger said: "It is terrible, it is just not good enough. Of course we are very frustrated, the spirit in the team is quite willing but if you look at the number of goals we have conceded that is not good enough.

"You cannot come here and concede four goals the way we did today.

"On the other hand I believe that the group will take off but it's important that we get quick results."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger waved away speculation over his job after yesterday's shock defeat at Blackburn Rovers.

The defeat is likely to spark further questions about Wenger's future at the club, but he refused to get drawn into such discussions.

"Speculation is part of modern life, what can I do about that?" he said. "My future is focusing on what I do well and that means giving my best for the club. I have no influence on the speculation."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he is embarking on a new era after his deadline day signing spree.

Mikel Arteta, Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun all arrived during the closing stages of the transfer window.

"It starts again because we have taken five players," said Wenger. "How long does the cycle take? In the modern society zero days.

"We were a team on the up and that was not rewarded last year because we were a bit hungry to go for all four trophies.

"The basic quality was there and we were certainly very close to winning last year. But now we've been were hit by major departures that were not planned so we had to review a little bit.

"There's a difficult balancing act between starting a new cycle and fulfilling the fans expectations.

"But we want our fans to be happy, we want to win trophies and we will give absolutely everything to do it."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he hasn't abandoned their youth policy after his deadline day signing spree.

Mikel Arteta, Andre Santos, Park Chu-Young, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun all arrived during the closing stages of the transfer window.

"Because we lost key players and the because of the injuries we've had we couldn't survive without buying players," said Wenger. "And the players available had a bit more experience than what we usually sign. But we have invested as well, our highest investment has been in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a young player.

"We have the work permit for Ryo Miyaichi, we still will not give up on our youth policy."

• Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun wants to sign permanently for Arsenal.

The Israeli is currently on a season-long loan with the Gunners.

He said: "Of course, I think any player would want to do that. But, for me, the main thing is concentrating on having a good season and trying to take this opportunity with both hands. I’m sure, if I do well, the connection will continue together.

"In some countries 31 is a bit old but in England it is the height of your career and you still have lot of years in front of you. Look at Lampard and Gerrard who are about the same age."

• Bacary Sagna insists Arsenal pal Carl Jenkinson will bounce back from their thrashing at Manchester United.

The fullback was sent off during the 8-2 humiliation.

Sagna said: "I don't need to say anything to him, he gives his best day by day. The whole team struggled, not only him. It was difficult to defend as a team and Manchester United played really well.

"They gave a hard job to everyone, not him in particular. I think he is a good player. He is very talented and is is still learning - he is still only 19 years old. He still has time to improve and he will for sure."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says they finished potless last season because they were too greedy.

Wenger says Arsenal lost out on a trophy last season because they were too eager to win all four competitions.

And he said: "We were a team on the up and that was not rewarded last year because we were maybe too hungry to go forward for four trophies.

"But the basic qualities were there and we were certainly very close. Then suddenly we were hit by major departures.

"The cycle starts again because we have taken five players as well as our highest investment in Alex Chamberlain, a young player."

• Gervinho says his move to Arsenal is a boyhood dream come true.

He has been a lifelong Gooner and grew up idolising the club's record goalscorer Thierry Henry.

Gervinho said: "Playing for Arsenal is a dream come true for me. I never expected to become an Arsenal player this early in my career.

"But there were times I thought the move would never happen. I had been linked with Arsenal for the last two summers — but nothing came of it.

"A couple of other English clubs were also interested in me this summer but then I got a call from my agent and Lille saying they were talking to Arsenal.

"However, I didn't believe them until Arsene phoned me. Even then I tried to recognize the voice I had heard so many times on TV to convince myself it was actually him."

Blackburn Vs Arsenal – Match Report for 17th September 2011

• Formica fouls Koscielny, Andre Santos takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Rochina, far right
• Yakubu fouls Mertesacker, he takes the free kick
• Rochina fouls Andre Santos, he takes the free kick
• Hoilett fouls Sagna, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Gervinho scores for Arsenal giving them the first goal, Blackburn 0 - 1 Arsenal
• Nzonzi fouls Arteta, he takes the free kick
• Handball from Ramsey, Robinson takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Petrovic comes on in place of Salgado
• Shot on goal from Arshavin, blocked by Lowe
• Handball from Petrovic, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Gervinho, over the bar
• Yakubu evens the score, Blackburn 1 - 1 Arsenal
• Ramsey fouls Hoilett, Robinson takes the free kick
• Yakubu offside, Koscielny takes the free kick
• Arteta fouls Formica, Robinson takes the free kick
• Nzonzi fouls Ramsey, Andre Santos takes the free kick
• Arteta gets Arsenal another goal, Blackburn 1 - 2 Arsenal
• Formica fouls Song, he takes the free kick
• Song fouls Hoilett, Rochina takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Gervinho, blocked by Dann
• Handball from Gervinho, Robinson takes the free kick
• After 2 minutes extra time the first half ends, Blackburn 1 - 2 Arsenal

• Arshavin fouls Lowe, Rochina takes the free kick
• Song makes an own goal, Blackburn 2 - 2 Arsenal
• Shot on goal from Arshavin, blocked by Nzonzi
• A substitution is made as Djourou comes on in place of Sagna
• Hoilett fouls Djourou, Szczesny takes the free kick
• Lowe fouls Arshavin, Arteta takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Olsson comes on in place of Rochina
• Djourou fouls Hoilett and receives a yellow card, Hoilett takes the free kick
• Yakubu scores a second goal from Blackburn, Blackburn 3 - 2 Arsenal
• Shot on goal from Van Persie, blocked by Formica
• A substitution is made as Walcott comes on in place of Arshavin
• A substitution is made as Vukcevic comes on in place of Formica
• Djourou offside, Robinson takes the free kick
• Dann fouls Walcott and receives a yellow card, Van Persie takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Ramsey, blocked by Petrovic
• Koscielny gets an own goal making the score Blackburn 4 - 2 Arsenal
• Olsson receives a yellow card
• A substitution is made as Chamakh comes on in place of Song
• Chamakh fouls Givet, Robinson takes the free kick
• Petrovic fouls Arteta, he takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Nzonzi, saved by Szczesny
• Ramsey fouls Olsson, Robinson takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Vukcevic, blocked by Andre Santos
• Hoilett fouls Arteta, Andre Santos takes the free kick
• Givet fouls Gervinho, Arteta takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Walcott, blocked by Samba
• Shot on goal from Andre Santos, over the bar
• Chamakh gets a goal in for the Arsenal bringing the score to Blackburn 4 - 3 Arsenal
• Djourou fouls Yakubu, Robinson takes the free kick
• Vukcevic fouls Koscielny, he takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Van Persie, Robinson takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Andre Santos, blocked by Dann
• Shot on goal from Chamakh, far left
• Shot on goal from Walcott, cleared by Lowe
• After 3 minutes the game comes to a close, Blackburn 4 - 3 Arsenal

Nikolay Valuev against Andrey Arshavin in a freek football match!

Arsène Wenger's Blackburn vs Arsenal Pre-Match Press Conference

Cesc "I’d never speak 1 bad word about AFC; I want Arsenal to be successful as much as every single fan. That’s not why I left, AFC made me who I am today!” AW “The fact that we were quite solid in our defending and were calm under pressure, I liked that!” Chu-Young set to get some game time! Gervinho “away draw in CL is priceless!” Kovacic, Drame Linked!

• Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas denies comments attributed to him writing off Arsenal's title chances.

The Spain international, who returned to his boyhood club this summer, was reported to have told Sport magazine that uncertainty over the Gunners' short-term goals played a part in his decision to leave.

However, the 24-year-old took to his Twitter account on Thursday evening to deny ever making such comments.

He tweeted: "I’d never speak 1 bad word abt AFC, here there's once more prove that so many people put in newspaper wtv they want and it’s not professional.

"I want Arsenal to be successful as much as every single fan. That’s not why I left, it was never in my mind. AFC made me who I am today.

"And nobody will ever change that. I never gave any interview away since my press conference at my presentation and there I just said the truth and what came out of my heart. Great words abt this great football club cause that just what they deserve: success and trophies.

"People can hate me for leaving or remember that I gave my all for the club. But me talking 1 bad word or saying something against AFC will not seen."

• Arsène Wenger has been quick to praise his side’s defensive qualities in Dortmund.

Wenger looked on from the stands as his side battled to a draw against the German champions at Signal Iduna Park and said he enjoyed what he saw from his resilient side.

“The fact that we were quite solid in our defending and were calm under pressure, I liked that,” the boss said.

“At some stage you accept it in the second half, that it will be difficult to combine to get out and that you will be tested defensively. The fact that we came out with some credit is a positive for the season.

“If you want to be successful that is needed in some games. Ideally you want to dominate every game from the first to the last minute.”

The point was greeted well by both manager and players, and Wenger was quick to sing the praises of his side for standing tall and not conceding a second goal on the night.

“At the moment, I feel the team looks for confidence,” he said. “I hoped for a long time that we would win it.

“At the end of the day I know how important it is for the confidence not to lose it. Once you go back to 1-1 with the atmosphere that you have experienced there, you know that you are under threat.

“Just not to concede the second goal shows the mentality of the team. For me, it was positive in the end.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his players deserve recognition for their efforts away from home.

Arsenal had the best away record in the Premier League last term, losing just four of their 19 fixtures and amassing three more points than the second-best travellers, Manchester City.

"You have to consider that last year we were the best away team in the league, and Old Trafford was a one-off result," he said.

"You cannot take that as a general rule, and what we have achieved over the last few years away from home is what people forget. We put a lot of effort in at Udinese, and lost a lot of players before that game at Old Trafford.

"Blackburn is Blackburn. We have had good experiences and sometimes disappointing ones there over the years. Over the years they have always had good teams. In the Premier League when you go away from home you want a top performance to make the result, but I am confident we can do that.

"You lose confidence quickly with the result we made at Old Trafford, and gain it back slowly. We will try to do that from game to game - work hard for each other and get back. Then the other side of our game will come out."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no doubts his late summer signings will all prove themselves.

Wenger added five signings in the week leading up to transfer deadline day, with only South Korea captain Park Chu-Young yet to get some game time, but he is expected to feature at Blackburn Rovers.

The Gunners manager is confident his choices - also bringing in defensive duo Per Mertesacker and Andre Santos as well as Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun - were sound.

"I believe that if you look at the class of their attitude we were right, at their intelligence level we were right and at their quality we were right," Wenger said.

"They need a little bit of time to get to know the other players well and find a balance in the team."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no problem with the big wages being paid top players.

Samuel Eto'o is now the highest ever paid athlete thanks to his €20 million-a-year contract with Anzhi.

"I believe you spend the money you have in the club and [give it] to people who deserve it," said the Arsenal manager.

"I am very happy when the players make a lot of money, with one restriction, that the attitude has to be right.

That means you have to show you give absolutely everything to deserve it.

"For the managers it is exactly the same, that you have an honest behaviour towards your club, that means you give everything to justify the money you make. If that money is what the club earns, I am alright with that."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the Champions League will become less and less competitive in the future.

Wenger believes that the pool of clubs capable of winning the Champions League will diminish as wealthy owners enter the sport.

"At the end of the day, you know you will not see the poorest teams winning the Champions League," he said. "That is impossible.

"Money is a very important factor in success, not the only one, because it is also the quality of the work, the length of that work which plays a part. Of course money has a big input, but we will see at the end of the season."

• Arsenal striker Gervinho feels that Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in Germany was a decent result despite the late equaliser robbing them of all three points.

The Gunners eventually conceded in the 88th minute at Signal Iduna Park after being under fire for some time from the German champions and Gervinho said it was good to get a point away from home although it did feel like a loss when Ivan Perisic fired home the leveler.

“In the Champions League we did very well by returning from Germany with a draw,” he said.

“Dortmund are a very good team but to concede three minutes from the end was like losing the game.

“In the Champions League, if you can win at home, the draw away is priceless.”

Gervinho also said that the Gunners would now look to the Premier League with a vital game against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park next on the agenda.

“Now our focus is on the league. We need to keep track of the leaders,” he added.

“We have to win over the weekend and hope Chelsea and Manchester United drop points meeting each other.”

• Barcelona star Cesc Fabregas won't rule out one day returning to Arsenal.

The Gunners insisted on a clause in the Spaniard’s contract allowing them to buy him back if he ever leaves Barcelona, and the midfield ace has refused to rule out the possibility of an emotional return to north London.

He said: “It’s absolutely fine by me [that the clause was inserted into the contract]. I enjoyed my time in Arsenal. I had some great years there. I developed as a player and as a person. I finished there as captain of the club and I will still follow the club and their results.

“I don’t know if it’s realistic that I would return one day. But maybe I said the same when I left Barca, so you never know. If that was the final thing Arsenal needed to agree on to let me go, then I’m satisfied.”

• The agent of Dinamo Zagreb starlet Mateo Kovacic says his client is likely to end up in the English Premier League.

The 17-year old Croatia youth international midfielder is reportedly wanted by Italian club Juventus but his representative Marcel Kacinari insists England is where he will land.

"I will not hide the fact there was interest from Juventus a couple of months ago but nothing since then," Kacinari said.

"It is most likely that he will go to England where the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United are leading the race. Dinamo Zagreb have done business in the past with several Premier League teams.

“Those clubs [Arsenal and Manchester United] are spending a lot of money investing in young talent and have the patience to wait.

"All the major European clubs are following him and with him playing against Real Madrid on Wednesday, the list of suitors will increase."

• Arsenal are watching Padova striker Ousmane Drame.

The Gunners had scouts posted to check on the Serie B striker last weekend.

The 19 year-old has a Mali family background, but carries a French passport and is being watched by Arsenal leading up to the winter market.

Thierry Henry's 226 Arsenal Goals in 14 Minutes

Young Arsenal striker Benik Afobe Exclusive!

Arteta “Cesc helped advise me on the areas to live, about the team-mates, about the club & how good they are, the people at the club. It was very good!" Szczesny “we defended fantastic!' Koscielny "I think we defended very well - all the team defends together!" Yossi delighted to be an Arsenal player! Fellaini Linked!

• Mikel Arteta says Cesc Fabregas has helped him settle at Arsenal.

Arteta revealed that former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas advised him on how to adjust to life at the club.

He said: "I talked to him the day after I signed the contract and he helped me on two or three things. He was really nice to me.

"He advised me on the areas to live, about the team-mates, about the club and how good they are, the people at the club. It was very good."

• Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has told his defensive teammates he's proud of them.

Per Mertesacker and co came together to secure a point at Borussia Dortmund this week.

Szczesny said: "I said to the guys after the game, 'listen, we defended fantastic', and if you're going to concede that is the way you want to do it. It was a deserved draw for both sides.

"We gained a point in Dortmund in one of the toughest fixtures, which will give us a confidence boost. Hopefully we can go to Blackburn and get the three points."

• Former Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta says he's ready to meet the higher expectations at Arsenal.

The Gunners are used to expectations but new signing Arteta says the team should accept and embrace them in their quest for silverware.

“With a club like Arsenal, you are going to be under pressure and you need to handle it and try your best,” he said. “At every club I have been at, I have had pressure and this is not going to be different.

“But being under pressure is good because it means people expect something from you.

“The challenge here is to win trophies and at Everton I didn’t have the chance to do that. Hopefully we are going to have it here and we can make it.”

• Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny hailed their defensive performance in getting a draw at Champions League opponents Borussia Dortmund.

Koscielny partnered Per Mertesacker in the heart of defence and had to cope with a barrage of 17 shots on goal from the home side.

Koscielny told the club's official website: "It was a hard game, Dortmund played very well. We defended well, but to concede a goal two minutes before the end was difficult for us.

"We didn't lose, which was good. We have a game at home, and it is important to win that.

"I think we defended very well - all the team defends together."

• Yossi Benayoun is delighted to be an Arsenal player.

The Chelsea loan signing made his first start in last night's draw at Borussia Dortmund.

"The manager decided to bring a few players in, I am one of them, and I am sure we will add something to the team and together we will take the team forward," he said.

"It’s lovely to play for a big club like Arsenal and it’s a big challenge for me. I was happy that I have the chance to play and hopefully, with every chance I get, I will justify myself.

"I am enjoying it. The guys gave me a good feeling from the beginning and it is a big challenge. Like I said, any chance that I get I will prove that I deserve to be here. Hopefully we will have a great season."

• Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny felt Alex Song's return was crucial in their draw at Champions League opponents Borussia Dortmund.

Song returned to the squad after missing the last three games through suspension and Koscielny was pleased to see him back.

He said: "It's very important to have Alex [Song] near the centre-backs, because he stops the opportunities coming to the other team. It's good for us.

"We are in a good place now and we want to go and win at Blackburn."

• Arsenal loan signing Yossi Benayoun has no regrets over his time with Chelsea.

Benayoun endured a frustrating time at Stamford Bridge with injuries and said leaving the club was the only option for him when the time came.

“I didn’t get a chance at Chelsea because I was injured,” he said. “I was unlucky. I felt I would not get many chances so I wanted to leave first.

“For me, it was great opportunity for me to play in a great club and in the Champions League.

“I don’t want to show anything to Chelsea. I want to show Arsenal that I deserve to be here and I will prove it. I know they were unlucky in the last few years.

“They were always close and I believe that we can win something. There is a long way to go and we have to improve but we have a lot of quality and will do everything to win a trophy.”

• Francis Coquelin is delighted for Emmanuel Frimpong over his first team breakthrough at Arsenal.

Frimpong has gone on to feature regularly in Arsène Wenger's first team this season and Coquelin says his fellow midfielder has encouraged him to push on and work hard for his place in the squad.

"I am really pleased for him," Coquelin said. "He had a big injury last season, and now he's back in the first team.

"It shows me that I can do it because the manager has confidence in younger players. I will just keep working hard in training and show the manager I can play in this team."

• Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin is not taking his first team chance for granted.

The young Frenchman is determined to remain in Wenger’s line of sight following his loan spell at Lorient last season and wants to let his time on the pitch do the talking.

“If he uses me that means he has got confidence in me,” Coquelin said. “I have to keep showing I have the quality to play in the first team, and I can show that in training and in the games.

“Obviously I played a lot [at Lorient] so it gave me a lot of experience. I will try and bring that to Arsenal and keep improving.”

• Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini could be set to follow Mikel Arteta to Arsenal in January after David Moyes admitted he could be forced to sell.

The big Belgian is out of contract in 18 months, meaning if no new deal is agreed at Goodison Park by January, his value would plummet to almost half of his £15million value in the summer.

Fellaini has been in discussions with Toffees chiefs for the past six months, and although Moyes is confident a deal is ‘close’, the Scot knows that selling star man Arteta could have temporarily held up negotiations.

‘Yes, there is a danger that selling Mikel could set a precedent, but I hope not. I would like to think we can hang onto our best players,’ said Moyes.

‘But there is always a danger when someone goes after saying they want to leave that it could set a precedent, and we will have to be careful of that.’

Fellaini, 23, was rumoured to be interesting the Gunners this summer, and would likely jump at the chance to play Champions League football in the New Year.

Arsenal will be without Emmanuel Frimpong for the month of January if he's called up to Ghana's African Nations squad, meaning Arsene Wenger may be forced to enter the market for a dominant midfielder.

• Arsenal summer signing Joel Campbell made his European debut on the weekend for Lorient.

Campbell's international clearance from Deportivo Saprissa came through last week in time for the Costa Rica international to make his debut for Lorient in their 1-1 draw at Sochaux.

The teen joined Arsenal in August ahead of being loaned to Lorient after failing to gain a UK work permit.
Campbell came off the bench with Lorient 1-0 down and created the equaliser for Innocent Emeghara.