AW “Koscielny was outstanding! People forget Wojciech, Ramsey & Wilshere are all 19-20 years old! Per is a great organiser!” Theo "We're enjoying our football, our run is great now & we're just going to keep on, everyone is buzzing at the moment! Summer signings proving their worth!” Gotze Jan bid! Granero, Handanovic Linked! CFC fans with Yossi celebrations!

AW "The experienced players took charge of the game Park, Arshavin & Benayoun made the difference! Vermaelen will be a bit short for Saturday! Andrey scored & made an assist, excellent performance tonight! Park is now getting up to speed! Ryo ready for Christmas! Fabianski is world class!” Coquelin “Carling Cup important for us young players!” Varas Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was delighted with the manner of their Carling Cup win over Bolton Wanderers.

The Gunners were saved by a quickfire double salvo from Andrey Arshavin and Park Ju-young as they continued their unbeaten League Cup run at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger's side had received a scare at the start of the second half when Bolton took the lead through former Arsenal midfielder Fabrice Muamba.

"The first half I believe we had the chances [to score] but in the second half we were caught straight away in losing the ball in our own half," said the Frenchman, whose side face Chelsea this weekend.

"They scored and from then on we were tested as the more experienced players took charge of the game, like Park, Arshavin and [Yossi] Benayoun. They made the difference.

"I have to congratulate the team as we had two young full-backs who are usually central players that played out of position.

"In midfield we were very young and we showed good spirit against a good Bolton side.

"When we were 2-1 up in the last 20 minutes, our legs had gone a little bit and we had to hang on, relying on a bit of luck because any players had not played at that level at that intensity.

"What was vital for us was not to go into extra-time."

• Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen made a successful playing return in their Carling Cup win over Bolton Wanderers.

The Belgium international has been out with an Achilles injury but started at the Emirates Stadium, playing 84 minutes before coming off with a "tight calf".

"He did very well but he had to come off for a calf problem," Wenger said. "I hope it is not too bad.

"He will be a bit short for Saturday. I do not know yet what has happened.

"We will have to test him tomorrow but it did not look too bad.

"He has been out for a long time and only had one training session yesterday with the team.

"I didn't expect a game of that intensity because it was a really tough game for a centre-back tonight as they put us under pressure in the second half."

He added: "I don't think it is a calf strain, I think it is just a tight calf because he has not played 90 minutes for three months.

"He wanted to come off. In fairness, I did not want to take him off because I thought it was stupid now with four minutes to go in case we concede a goal.

"He was adamant he could not go on so I hope it is not too bad."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was happy with Andrey Arshavin's performance in their Carling Cup win over Bolton Wanderers.

Wenger is happy to keep backing Arshavin, who he admits is a gamble with his passing.

"Andrey is a player who of course takes a bit gamble on nearly every ball he plays. Sometimes he loses balls he shouldn't lose but when you look at the end of the game he has always had a big impact. Tonight he scored and made an assist. He had a good performance tonight," said Wenger.

"You cannot play with two wingers and two offensive players like that, you are too short in midfield. He is normally a wide player but he wants to grow in a role behind the striker. Of course, he can do that. He plays where you want him to play but if you ask him honestly he will always tell you that he likes to play in there."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was delighted with Ju Young Park's performance in their Carling Cup win over Bolton Wanderers.

The South Korea international was impressive on the night.

Wenger said: "For me I am very pleased with his performance. He had a very, very good game. He has shown intelligence in his link play with others. The quality of his movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic. He has shown tonight that he is a very, very good player. He is ready to play in league games, yes.

"Compared to the player who played in the first match [against Shrewsbury] where he was a bit inhibited, tonight I felt he played with freedom and has showed what a good player he is."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Ryo Miyaichi will be ready for the first team in the second-half of the season.

The Japanese youngster is still adjusting to life in England.

Wenger said: "Ryo is a guy with heart. I don't think he played long enough and we were in a position where we had to defend more than we could attack. But you could see straight away that his heart, his determination and his pace in the game are big assets.

"He is like Oxlade-Chamberlain - they have to get used to the intensity of these games. When will he be ready? He just had one day training yesterday with the group because he was injured. He worked a lot with the fitness coach. I believe he will be ready at Christmas."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he has no doubts about goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.

The Pole has admitted frustration with his backup status at Arsenal this season.

Wenger said: "Lukasz is a world-class goalkeeper. I have always said that and I am convinced that we are very lucky here to have fantastic goalkeepers - Mannone as well is very good. The problem is when you are a goalkeeper only one can play. "

• Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin admits the Carling Cup is important for the club's young players.

The Gunners saw off Bolton Wanderers 2-1 last night.

“It is such a big competition,” Coquelin said. “Arsène Wenger has been playing the young players for quite a long time.

“Maybe last year he played a stronger team but usually he plays young players so obviously all the younger players look forward to this competition for their debuts.

“This year we have started again and hopefully he will do it again. “

• Arsenal crock Jack Wilshere is making steady progress from his ankle operation.

Arsenal are keen not to rush him back and do not expect him to be in first-team contention until February.

However, his recovery is going well and that he is slightly ahead of schedule.

• The talk of Spanish football is also being discussed at London Colney.

Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas, who saved a spotkick from Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi on the weekend, is on the radar of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Wenger has sought more information on Varas, who only signed a new deal with Sevilla earlier this month.

With Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski both planning to leave the Gunners in 2012, Wenger will need to find experienced competition for Wojciech Szczesny next season.

Vermaelen Returns! AW “We have always taken the competition seriously, its as an opportunity to give some young players its an opportunity for our fans to see the players of the future!" Gervinho "We’re starting to rediscover our self-belief; we’re already thinking of the next game and winning it!" Song “proud to be captain!” Wright, Graham sell shares to Stan!

• Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is in line for a comeback appearance in the Carling Cup tonight.

Vermaelen could make his comeback from a two-month Achilles injury layoff in the Carling Cup fourth-round tie against Bolton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium.

With one eye on Saturday's derby at Chelsea, manager Arsene Wenger is likely to rest the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Robin van Persie, and give starts to the fringe players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Francis Coquelin, Park Chu-Young and Emmanuel Frimpong.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he always takes the Carling Cup seriously.

Arsenal have reached two Finals during that period and Wenger will be hoping to go one step further this season.

"We have always taken the competition seriously," he said.

"We use it as an opportunity to give a chance to some young players and people relate that to not taking it seriously but it is the opposite.

"Because we take it seriously we want to always offer two things - the desire to win and the opportunity for our fans to see some of the players who represent the future for this club."

• Gervinho says Arsenal's confidence is returning after victory over Stoke City.

It was their third win on the bounce.

"I felt well and happy when I came off," he said. "It was a good game and the most important thing was to win in order to gain even more confidence in the squad.

"The team is starting to rediscover its self-belief, we have rediscovered our feeling for our game. The group is starting to gel and each of us are starting to understand our team-mates and find each other on the pitch.

"Before the win in Marseilles we’d also won here [at Emirates Stadium] and that did us good too and of course the victory in France also helped us. We try to take it game by game and each win does us good.

"It’s superb to have three consecutive wins now and we’re starting to let go on the pitch and enjoy ourselves without pressure. We’re already thinking of the next game and winning it."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is delighted with the attitude of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Wenger will not rush the young midfielder into regular first-team action at Arsenal but he believes Oxlade-Chamberlain's positive approach to football - and to life - is a major plus.

"That is one of his strengths," Wenger said.

"Alex has talent mixed with a relaxed, positive attitude. I like that in him, he is a positive boy and I think he will be loved by people because he has that up-front attitude. That shows that he deals well with the pressure.

"I am not surprised how well he has done because I had very good reports about him at Southampton so I expected him to adapt quickly. He is now getting to a level where we want him to be and he has an opportunity now to show again that he wants to compete for a place as a regular starter.

"He needs to add urgency to his game in the final third, on the defensive side and winning the duels against men. The Premier League becomes tougher, you have seen that again against Stoke. You need that capability to go from youth-team football or lower-level football to be a top-level athlete in the Premier League."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced Francis Coquelin has a big future at the club.

Wenger believed his compatriot had a future in the back four but Coquelin's progress while on loan at Lorient - and his performances this season - have convinced him otherwise.

"He is more a player who likes to cover ground than a player who starts from the back in a tactical position," Wenger said.

"He likes to be involved at the heart of things. A player's position has to suit his personality. When that is not the case, in the long-term you have no chance.

"I always thought he would be a player for Arsenal Football Club but he is a little bit in the situation of Jack Wilshere last year - the loan out to a top division club has done him good confidence-wise.

"He has transferred that into our first team now. He was good at the [Under-19] World Cup with France, and he is moving on well and improving."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is adamant Ju Young Park will prove his value.

The 26-year-old summer signing from Monaco arrived with a smaller reputation than some of Arsenal's new recruits but Wenger believes he will make his presence felt soon.

"Some players like Pires and Henry took four, five, six months and they became exceptional players," he said. "Park arrived two months ago so that's normal.

"Some people judged our players very quickly in a negative way and slowly they changed their mind through their performances. I prefer it that way round than the other. Some players make you jump off your seat in the early stages and then disappoint you after. These players will win over all the sceptical people and Park is one of them.

"I have been impressed by his intelligence and his attitude. He is well-appreciated and rated by his team-mates and by the staff as well - we think he is a quality player.

"It is hard in the Premier League but Park is a player with quality and intelligence. On the longer term that will always come out and I am confident he will do that in the Premier League as well.

"What you need when you want to be successful at a club is three strikers, three central strikers. We have them and we are very happy with that."

• Arsenal's stand-in skipper Alex Song was grateful to Robin van Persie after his performance off the bench in victory over Stoke City.

Song took the captain's armband in Van Persie's absence.

He said: "For me he is one of the best players - I watch him every day in training. He has been unlucky in the past with injuries but now he is stronger and more focused. Today we are very happy because he is one of the best players we have played with.

"I am proud to be in a team with this guy. He came in, scored twice and that is why he is very good for us."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits their latest FA Youth Cup winners are beginning to make a first team breakthrough.

Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong are three graduates of the 2009 Youth Cup-winning side to go on and make their mark in the Arsenal first team. Wenger rates them highly.

"When a team wins at Youth Cup level usually there is some quality there," he said. "It happens sometimes that a team wins the cup and doesn't bring any players through but it looks like in this team many players will make it."

• Arsenal captain Robin van Persie is in a rich vein of form and teammate Johan Djourou has highlighted the importance of him staying at this level.

The Dutchman has scored six goals in his past four league outings, including a match-winning double in the 3-1 victory over Stoke city on Sunday after coming off the bench, and Djourou is hoping he can remain in fine fettle as he and Gervinho are beginning to strike up a deadly attacking partnership.

"Robin did [make the difference]. It is under no question how important he is to the team but I think Gervinho also had a great game," the Swiss international said.

"He got two assists for Robin and the two combined very well together. It was a great sub by the boss.

"We have to keep him [Van Persie] like this, it is good. He came on after being rested a little bit and made the difference again. It shows you how important he is to the team."

• Ian Wright has sold up at Arsenal - as has George Graham.

There are two illustrious names missing from the latest register of Arsenal shareholders, who expect club owner ‘Silent’ Stan Kroenke to explain his strategy at Thursday’s AGM.

Club legends Graham and Wright both sold their stake when the American made his mandatory £11,750-per-share offer on taking his holding above 30 per cent.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has likened Chuks Aneke to Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

Aneke is in line to play in the Carling Cup tonight against Bolton Wanderers.

“Chuks is a bit like Yaya Toure – he has body power and good technique,” Wenger said. “We had Yaya here [on trial] and for me Chuks is a bit similar because he can play behind the striker or in a deeper role as well.

“We will have to see where he will develop, it is not excluded that in the future he will play deeper in midfield.”

• Arsenal are watching CSKA Moscow sensation Sergei Revyakin.

Arsenal scouts are also running checks on Revyakin ahead of a ­possible ­summer move for the £5m-rated goalkeeper.

The 16-year-old caught the eye of Arsene Wenger’s spies at the Under-17 European Championship.

AW “Gervinho was very influential! I wasn’t sure if RVP was going to even be a sub today! Chamakh worked very hard, He’s running after a goal at the moment he’s coming close to the goal he needs! Ramsey can score double figures this season! We had a tall back 4 today!” AGM this week! Theo talks! Hewitt Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased with Marouane Chamakh's performance in victory over Stoke City.

Chamakh was recalled for the win.

Wenger said: "I think he worked very hard. He is running after a goal at the moment. I felt there were two or three occasions in the first half where he was nearly there on crosses and just didn't get in front of Shawcross. I am pleased with his effort. I think he knows in his mind that at the moment Van Persie is untouchable.

"Because we play with two wingers it is very difficult to play with two strikers because you are too open in the middle of the park. So unless I change the system it will be him or Van Persie. It is difficult. But he will get confidence by playing games and scoring goals like all strikers."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said he didn’t even know if today’s match-winner, Robin van Persie, would make it for the clash with Stoke City.

The Gunners skipper was the hero last week with two stunning goals to help beat Sunderland 2-1 and today was at it again at the Emirates with a brace in the 3-1 victory over Stoke City.

Prior to the match, van Persie was in doubt with Wenger admitting he was not sure if he would play but was delighted the Dutchman was able to come on and contribute, along with Gervinho’s opener, to send the Gunners to seventh.

"The second half was basically all us, especially after the first 15 minutes, and then the problem was to score goals and Van Persie can do that better than many people, and he did it when he came on,” Wenger said.

"He had muscular tightness, I was not even sure he would be on the team sheet but we checked him this morning and he was medically all right to be on the bench.

"Before you leave him out you think always 15 times 'do I really do it' but I felt at some stage, and looking at the number of games he has played and with his history, you have to be cautious.

"He played two full games with Holland and the whole game against Sunderland, he played up front alone in Marseille, so at some stage you have to give them a breather, but up front it's difficult.

"Of course Robin, with his two goals, deserves massive credit but I think Gervinho had a very lively and influential game as well."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Aaron Ramsey can reach double figures with his scoring this season.

Wenger believes he can push on to reach double figures before the season’s end.

“Yes I think he can,” the manager said. “He has scored against Tottenham against Marseille.

"He has that ability to get into the box and when he has a chance he finishes it. He has always had that since he started.

“There is much more to come from Aaron Ramsey and I believe he can reach double figures.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists they do not rely on Robin van Persie.

Van Persie came off the bench to inspire victory over Stoke City.

"I don't have that feeling at all. When you want to be a team with quality you always have a player who stands out and who gets on the end of things," Wenger said.

"We had Thierry Henry before. Robin has exceptional quality and so you get these questions."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased to see his selection work in victory over Stoke City.

Johan Djourou was played at fullback by Wenger.

He said: "Permanently I don't know [if he has made a case to play there] but he had a very good game today.

"What was good today was that we were tall at the back. We had Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Santos in the back four. When you face Stoke that is an interesting quality."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Manchester City's rout of Manchester United surprised him.

Manchester City's 6-1 mauling of rivals United rekindled memories of Arsenal's own horror show at Old Trafford earlier this season.

"That was a surprise. But France nearly beat New Zealand in the rugby today and that was a surprise as well," said Wenger.

"Like when we lost 8-2, the big scores have no special meaning, it only means something special happened in the game.

"It's not that you lost three points, what is more difficult to deal with is the emotional aspect of a result like that remains in your head."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is in agreement with his Stoke City counterpart - for once.

Wenger has agreed with Tony Pulis, saying that refs should allow more tackles during a game.

Wenger said: “Tackling is punished too much. Tackling is a technique, and if it is done well, with the desire not to hurt but to win the ball, it is a fantastic technique.

“I personally like players who are brave but with the right spirit. I think the bravest players I have met were physical, but didn’t hurt people.

“Usually the players who play to hurt are cowards.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is prepared to face shareholders at their AGM this week.

The meeting could well prove a stormy one for both the manager and the board as disgruntled Gunners’ diehards ask tough questions about the side’s desperate start to the season.

But Wenger said: “I do not meet with the shareholders expecting anything good or bad or fantastic. I do my best for the club and then I can accept the judgement of everybody with a clear conscience.

“What happened in the last few months is that Arsenal qualified for the Champions League for the 14th consecutive time.

“We’re respected all over the world and are one of the few clubs who live with a really healthy financial situation when the whole world is bankrupt.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must fight for his first team place.

Wenger explained why 18-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain has not featured in recent squads.

He said: "It's just a case of working with him on some specific things and there's competition. We had Andrey Arshavin, (Theo) Walcott, (Yossi) Benayoun and Gervinho who can all play on the flanks. Chamberlain will be there, give him until Christmas."

• Theo Walcott insists his priority is to sign a new deal with Arsenal.

The England winger has been linked with Juventus and Chelsea this season.

Walcott said: “Hopefully, we will sit down with the club and hear what they have to say.”

That news will be a ­further boost for ­manager ­Arsene Wenger after the difficult early ­season.

• Macclesfield Town defender Elliott Hewitt is attracting Premier League interest.

Arsenal are looking at Hewitt, 17.

He is a Wales Under 21 international and has also been attracting attention from Everton and Chelsea.

Macclesfield rate him at around £1.5million.

In case of emergency call RVP! Arsenal 3 - 1 Stoke #thearsenal49ers

• Crouch fouls Koscielny, Djourou takes the free kick
• Walcott offside, Begovic takes the free kick
• Whelan fouls Song, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Handball from Andre Santos, Wilkinson takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Etherington, far right
• Shot on goal from Walters, far right
• Upson fouls Chamakh, Ramsey takes the free kick
• Delap fouls Song, Ramsey takes the free kick
• Handball from Whitehead, Szczesny takes the free kick
• Wilson fouls Walcott, Arteta takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Ramsey, far right
• Walters offside, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Arteta fouls Delap, Wilkinson takes the free kick
• Song fouls Wilkinson, Arteta takes the free kick
• Gervinho gets the first goal of the match, Arsenal 1 - 0 Stoke
• Djourou fouls Crouch, Wilson takes the free kick
• Whitehead fouls Arteta and receives a yellow card, Mertesacker takes the free kick
• Koscielny fouls Crouch, Whelan takes the free kick
• Crouch scores a goal for Stoke, Arsenal 1 - 1 Stoke
• Ramsey fouls Whitehead, Whelan takes the free kick
• Koscielny fouls Crouch, Shawcross takes the free kick
• Delap fouls Koscielny, Arteta takes the free kick
• After 2 minutes extra time the first half ends with score, Arsenal 1 - 1 Stoke

• Whelan fouls Arteta, Koscielny takes the free kick
• Wilkinson fouls Walcott and receives a yellow card, Andre Santos takes the free kick
• Song fouls Walters, Begovic takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Diao comes on in place of Delap
• Andre Santos fouls Etherington, he takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Van Persie comes on in place of Chamakh
• A substitution is made as Arshavin comes on in place of Walcott
• Van Persie scores making the score Arsenal 2 - 1 Stoke
• A substitution is made as Jones comes on in place of Crouch
• A substitution is made as Jerome comes on in place of Etherington
• Andre Santos fouls Whitehead, Whelan takes the free kick
• Jerome fouls Szczesny, he takes the free kick
• Andre Santos fouls Whelan, he takes the free kick
• Van Persie scores his second goal this match, Arsenal 3 - 1 Stoke
• Whelan fouls Van Persie, Szczesny takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Gervinho, saved by Begovic
• A substitution is made as Frimpong comes on in place of Gervinho
• After 4 minutes extra time the game ends with the score, Arsenal 3 - 1 Stoke

AW “Every Monday I want to rest RVP then every Friday I pick him again! RVP is growing as captain! For me, Olympics, is not a real football tournament; it’s for track and field! Confidence will improve free-flowing play! Szczesny is a real No.1!” RVP “Koscielny is the man!” Koscielny “Me & Per work well together!” Toni Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger doesn't want his players taking part in the London Olympics.

Wenger doesn't rate the football tournament.

He declared: "For me, it is not a real football tournament. The Olympics is for track and field basically.

"If you look at the organisation of the whole summer, it makes life impossible for the clubs and especially the players.

"At some stage you have to decide how far you can go medically for the players to play so many games under so much pressure.

"I would say there is already no real break because of the European Championship and the Olympic tournament."

Wenger then joked: "Why not organise another tournament behind that, so we lose the players again?"

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Robin van Persie is growing into his captaincy.

Wenger admits he did not look a natural leader when he joined for a bargain £2.75million from Feyenoord seven years ago.

Wenger said: "He's made a big improvement on the mental side since he has arrived at this club.

"And I think the final step was the armband. Yes, he had a history of being a bit temperamental. But he is a guy who takes things on board."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits their football hasn't been as free-flowing as previous seasons.

While they have not played sparkling football, Arsenal's results have certainly improved.

And Wenger still insists that his team will eventually deliver the type of football for which they are famous.

He added: "Our football doesn't trouble me too much at the moment. I do not want to convince people that we play in a fantastically eye-catching way at the moment — but I believe the critics go overboard because, in the past, we've played exceptionally well and they are used to that kind of game.

"And because we have bad results people have just put in their mind that we have a bad team.

"But if you analyse our games deeper, and if you are watching it again, we have some improvements still to make — but it is not as bad as people say it is."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists Andrey Arshavin is a valuable player in his plans.

Wenger insists Arshavin still has a lot to offer the north London club and is convinced the diminutive playmaker will prove his critics wrong in the next few months.

Wenger said: "You would not be surprised that I disagree with that [George Graham's comments]. That is his opinion. I think he has been great for us and he will still be great in the coming months.

"He is a great player and you have to give him credit for that. He stands up for his performances. I personally respect him highly and I think he's a great player.

"I like Andrey because he has a great attitude. It was a difficult game for him on Wednesday and for all the players who played up front because Marseille defended, they played for a point.

"There was not a lot of space for the strikers and as long as you don't find an opening they will not come out, and that is what happened in the game."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits skipper Robin van Persie is too important to rest.

The Dutchman's awesome strike rate of 28 goals in 35 games for the Gunners means Wenger is unable to give his injury-prone talisman a much-needed break.

The Arsenal manager revealed: "On a Monday, I always decide to rest him and on Friday, I play him again.

"It is always a difficult decision to make but I'll have to do it at some stage. Robin has scored 28 goals in 35 games so you always have that dilemma. But, as well, you know you cannot continue like that.

"In the last six months he has certainly been at his most efficient.

"You like Robin because he's not a typical goal-scorer. When you see him play it never comes to your mind that this guy is a goal-scorer.

"And then you look at the record and think he's not only a good player, he's a top-class goal-scorer as well.

"For all the other goal-scorers you do the opposite. You think they do not contribute too much to the game but they score the goals. For him it's the opposite. You look, see this is a good player — and then you see that he scores many goals as well."

• Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has heaped praise on defender Laurent Koscielny for his recent improved performances.

The Frenchman was at the heart of the Gunners defence which kept a clean sheet against Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday and has been impressive lately after a shaky start to his career with the North Londoners.

“He played very well in Marseille. From the moment he came here he’s been really good," van Persie said.

“Every player has his unlucky moments but he has done really well for us since arriving. After just one season in the French top division he came to Arsenal and I’ve always liked him, he’s strong, quick, physically good, heads the ball well.

“For me he has everything to be one of the top centre backs around. When you have all those things it just needs a little fine-tuning here and there to become one of the best defenders.”

• Laurent Koscielny is happy over the way his defensive partnership with Per Mertesacker is developing at Arsenal.

The Frenchman fees comfortable alongside the German .

"Personally, things are getting better and better with Per," he said.

"He is a very experienced player, he is an international player, he knows what the very high level is about.

We know that the English league is very different than the other European leagues and there is always time to adapt. Soon he will become a key player in this team."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is delighted with what he's seeing from goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny this season.

And Wenger feels the Pole is far from the finish article.

“It's difficult to say how much but what is for sure is that he has improved - especially in his confidence and his decision-making,” Wenger said.

“I think his determination to come for crosses is calm but commanding. Many aspects of his game he has improved and I expect more to come because he is a young goalkeeper.

“I think he has convinced people that he is at the level to play for us, along with Fabianski and Mannone who I believe are at the level to do that too.

“There is a good competition going on there.”

• Arsenal starlets Conor Henderson and Sanchez Watt have both signed contract extensions with Arsene Wenger.

Henderson has yet to make the breakthrough into the first team but the Republic of Ireland Under-21 midfielder was a regular for the reserves last term.

Striker Watt has scored five goals in six appearances for the second string this season, and the 20-year-old had loan spells at Southend and Leeds.

• Arsenal are being linked with a surprise move for Juventus veteran Luca Toni.

Turin media sources say Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is lining up a January move for the Italy World Cup winner.

Toni, 34, is off contract in June and Juve are eager to cut him loose when the market reopens.

The Bianconeri are unlikely to demand a fee for the striker, instead being satisfied just to get his big wages off the books.

The arrival of Toni would allow Robin van Persie to drop into his more natural position as a 'second striker' working off the big Italian centre-forward.

Happy 62nd Birthday Arsene Wenger!

Vladimir Petrovic tonights Arsenal 49ers 'Who am I?'

Marseille 0-1 Arsenal AW “We’ve made a little step forward but we have to be humble, we must continue to grow & we have to show that, It’s an important win, we are slowly getting there confident & tonight will help!" Ramsey talks! Jenkinson knee problem! Vargas, Torje Linked!

• Gunners boss delighted with fourth Champions League triumph of the season

Arsene Wenger saluted his ‘patient and intelligent’ team after Aaron Ramsey’s injury-time winner in Marseille sent Arsenal to the top of Champions League Group F.

The Gunners know that another victory over the French club when they visit north London on November 1 would take them to the brink of qualification for the last 16 with two games to spare.

“We’ve made a little step forward but we have to be humble,” said Wenger. “We are a team who must continue to grow and we have to show that. The next game at home against Marseille is very important.

“Marseille defended very well but you could see in the last 15 minutes we created some chances and were rewarded because we kept going and got an important victory.

“I felt like we needed to be patient and intelligent. You could see our midfield had experience - we didn’t make stupid mistakes and we didn’t play stupid balls. It’s an important win but you take any win away from home in the Champions League.”

Arsenal’s European away form is in direct contrast to their fortunes on the road in the Premier League where they are yet to taste victory and have lost three out of four games on their travels, conceding 14 goals in the process.

This priceless victory made it four wins out of five in the Champions League this season, and two of those victories have come on the continent. This was a result, if not a performance, to rank with the crucial 2-1 play-off win over Udinese back in August.

It was not pretty and the game looked destined to be goalless before substitute Ramsey’s goal deep into stoppage time, but Arsenal had already created two good chances for Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie, and when a third presented itself, Ramsey made no mistake.

In some ways the goal was a triumph for Wenger as it was created and finished by all three of his substitutes. Johan Djourou, who had replaced the injured Carl Jenkinson, crossed from the right flank, the ball was nudged on by Walcott’s replacement Gervinho, and Ramsey arrived in acres of space to crash the ball low past Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced his team are back on track after victory over Champions League opponents Marseille.

Wenger, who saw the Gunners come perilously close to going off the rails at the start of the season, has now overseen five wins in six matches in all competitions and believes the confidence is coming back.

"We've made a little step forward but we have to be humble," said Wenger after seeing Aaron Ramsey come off the bench to net the winner.

"We are a team who must continue to grow and we have to show that. The game at home to Marseille will be very important.

"Yes, this will help us with our confidence but if you look back at the last six games you will see we only have one defeat.

"We are slowly getting there and tonight will help."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was disappointed to lose Carl Jenkinson to injury during victory at Marseille.

The summer signing from Charlton has been covering at right-back for Bacary Sagna after the latter broke his leg, while Kieran Gibbs is also out with a stomach muscle problem.

Johan Djourou came on out of position at full-back when Jenkinson hobbled off, and Wenger could be short if the news is not good.

"Jenkinson has a knee problem," said Wenger. "He overstretched his knee and we will check that tomorrow."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is wary of asking too much from last night's matchwinner Aaron Ramsey.

Wales captain Ramsey has been struggling with a hamstring strain.

Wenger hinted he would like to continue treating his match-winner with kid gloves but was delighted to have him on the pitch when the key chance came.

"I do not want to overplay him," said Wenger.

"I've seen in my mind that he has been injured for a year and that Wilshere played a lot last year (and is now injured). I try to be a bit more cautious when I can.

"But it was a great finish. When you see Aaron Ramsey in front of goal you know you have a good chance to score. He is a goal scorer."

• Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey says a few wins on the trot will help the players get their confidence back which will in turn make for a much more positive campaign.

The Gunners have stuttered in the early stages of the season to be sitting 10th on the Premier League table but the Welshman is positive that a few more victories will help lift everybody at the Emirates out of the doldrums.

“It's been a tough start for us and in some games we've done really well and in others we've not done so well but I think what the team needs now is a few wins on the bounce and then you'll see our true qualities,” he said.

“I think we will be much more of a threat then.”

• Aaron Ramsey has welcomed the addition of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal.

Ramsey has been impressed by his new midfield colleague.

"He has fantastic technique and he can pass the ball really well so he will definitely bring that to the team," he said.

"He can create opportunities and he will bring his own style which will hopefully help us."

• Aaron Ramsey is impressed by Arsenal's young players breaking through this season.

Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin have both caught the eye this term.

"They've done well, they are always eager to play and train extremely hard," he said.

"It means there's a bit of competition in there now and everybody is working hard. Everybody is keeping each other on their toes I think and it's nice to have that competition."

• Arsenal are being linked Fiorentina wing-back Juan Manuel Vargas.

Vargas is on the outer after flouting team rules and Florence sources say Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to bring the Peruvian to London in January.

Fiorentina patron Andrea Della Valle insists: "Vargas is an important player, I think it's just a fleeting moment,

I am sure he will recover, but there is a code, there are rules and they must be respected."

Despite Della Valle's words, sources insist the most likely outcome is Vargas' sale in the New Year.

• Arsenal are watching Udinese winger Gabriel Torje.

The Romania international only moved to Udine in the summer, but has started his Serie A career in thrilling form.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on Torje's performance, though Inter Milan and Sevilla are also posting scouts to track his progress.

AW delighted with Vermaelen's new contract "It is a privilege to play for AFC & many players understand that!" TV "AFC is a fantastic club, we have great supporters, we’re looking very good for the future!" AW “pressure on for top 4 finish! Narsi went for cash not trophies!” Gibbs talks! Musa Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is delighted with Thomas Vermaelen's new contract.

Vermaelen arrived in north London in 2009 and enjoyed a stellar debut season before injuries restricted his appearances. The Belgian is close to returning to full training and Wenger welcomed his decision to commit his future to Arsenal.

"It is a privilege to play for Arsenal Football Club and many players understand that," said the manager.

"On our side we are happy to extend his contract because he has shown he has the quality to play for us. He is a leader as well and he is a left-footed player, you do not find many of them. It is important to find a player in his position who has a good first pass with his left foot.

"He is versatile too, you could imagine him playing in midfield or left back in an emergency."

• Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has signed a new contract.

It's understood the Belgian's new deal runs to 2015.

"I am really happy to have signed a new contract with Arsenal. I always had the intention to stay here. I feel there is a big belief in me from the club, from the boss and from the fans and that is one of the reasons why I stayed," he said.

"Arsenal is a fantastic club. We have great supporters, we're doing well financially and we are playing with some quality young players now and they will develop, which is very good for the future."

Manager Arsene Wenger was equally thrilled with the news, adding: "We are absolutely delighted that Thomas has signed a new long-term contract.

"Our plan is always to sign top-quality players and with Thomas extending his contract, we have done just that. Thomas is a special player, who has always made a huge contribution on the pitch and we are looking forward to him being a part of our future at Arsenal Football Club."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits the pressure is getting to him.

Wenger, who has shown signs of the increasing pressure recently, admitted he is tired.

He told French radio: "I have periods where I am tired, yes. It's true that the close season makes people think you're resting but it's during that that you work the most.

"I got in the habit of working all the time. I think I must have been lazy in a previous life and was punished to come back in a very tiring and stressing job.

"I'd like to go to Tahiti for a month but I can't. From time to time I would like to because I'm running out of time. Everyone gets older."

He added: "When I arrive at the gates of Heaven the Good Lord will ask 'what did you do in your life?'

"I will respond 'I tried to win football matches.' He will say: 'Are you certain that's all?' But, well, that's the story of my life."

He added: "The season is long. I am positive but you will say it's my job to be positive. I feel there is potential in the team and good mentality.

"We will be judged on the level of our game throughout the season. We are on the way up — we will tell if we get there in May."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits concerns missing out on a top four finish.

He is scared about losing Arsenal's Champions League status.

Boss Wenger, 10th in the Prem, said: "I am worried about us not finishing in the top four."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says finances are dictating football success.

Wenger believes Manchester City are a "force" this season, but only because of their "financial clout".

"Players go to Manchester City because they pay much better than Arsenal," he said.

"They are a force clearly, because they have exceptional financial clout, so it's not surprising what they've done. Look at Paris Saint-Germain. They have more money than anyone else in France and they're top of the league. There's always a financial logic behind who ends up being successful in any league. If Barcelona or Real Madrid paid three times less than Malaga, players would go to Malaga.

"That's always the case. It's as simple as that. So when a player has the choice between two clubs who have the same ambitions, if he can earn three times as much at one club, he'll go there. That's logical."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says defender Per Mertesacker will get better.

The former Werder Bremen captain is still adjusting to the pace of the Premier League.

Wenger said: "I believe Mertesacker had to adjust to the pace and commitment of the English game but I feel that in every game he gets stronger. Let's not forget that we missed Koscielny as well. I personally feel that the defensive frailties we had recently were more down to other departments in the team than the defenders."

• Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal were on the verge of meltdown during the summer market.

Wenger said he has never had to deal with so much strife in his 15-year reign as players wanted to jump ship after the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

"This summer was the most agitated I've ever known. I had half the players in the dressing room who wanted to leave," he revealed.

"You prepare a season, we go to Asia, we don't know who's coming, the players who are still there are asking themselves what is happening and if an earthquake is hitting the club. It's extraordinarily difficult.

"I think that what saved us is that we are a club which is extremely solid and united. There are many other clubs who would have exploded."

• Kieran Gibbs says Arsenal will survive the sales of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

Much has been written about the departures of Fabregas and Nasri but Gibbs harbours no animosity.

"Obviously, we became an easy target when the players left but we've made some excellent signings," he said. "I wish all the best to the players who left because they served their time at Arsenal really well and the players who have come in will do the same.

"Per [Mertesacker] speaks the language well and is a good organiser. Mikel [Arteta] and Yossi [Benayoun] have Premier League experience so they settled really quickly. The other players might take longer but they have started well. Gervinho looks very dangerous. It's nice to see new faces at the club and it has brought a new energy."

• Kieran Gibbs is determined to come good for Arsenal.

Gibbs is determined to overcome his injury problems this season and follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, Gael Clichy and Ashley Cole, who were such a success at left-back for Arsenal.

"I learned a lot from Gael when I was behind him and I always watch the top left-backs like Ashley," the 22-year-old says. "I try to see how they play but also add my own game into that.

"But when you look at Gael and Ashley, they're always fit. I want to be a regular starter like them."
Gibbs also said: "I've struggled in the last two years with bad injuries so I want to get as many appearances as possible this season and reach a high level of performance.

"When you play regularly you improve."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he tried to sign Olympique Marseille midfielder Lucho Gonzalez in August.

He admitted he looked to tie up a loan deal for Gonzalez in the summer but it fell through.

Wenger said: "Lucho was a player I liked. They didn't want to give him out on loan. We didn't go as far as discussing a permanent move."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Olympique Marseille midfielder Andre Ayew is not a transfer target.

Wenger admits he is an admirer of Ayew but he is happy with his options in wide positions.

"I like the player but we didn't approach him," said the Arsenal manager.

"We have many wingers. We brought in Gervinho and we have Arshavin, Walcott and we brought in Oxlade-Chamberlain too.

"Ayew is a very talented player but in the middle we have a lot of players too. On Wednesday we have eight midfielders and we could have had Jack Wilshere too but he is injured."

• Arsenal are interested in VVV Venlo striker Ahmed Musa.

The exciting attacker is regarded the best young player to emerge from Nigeria in years.

Musa turned down Manchester United and Barcelona to join Venlo two years ago, but is expected to leave in the next 12 months.

Arsenal are keeping tabs on his form this season - which has been welcomed by Musa. The youngster admits he grew idolising Gunners legend Nwankwo Kanu and would love to follow his path to London

• Arsenal are set to recall striker Wellington Silva from his loan with Levante.

The Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has high hopes for the 18-year-old, who was signed for £3.5million from ­Rio de Janeiro club Fluminense last season.

But Wellington has struggled during two loans spells at Levante - and got into trouble last season for eating too much pizza and spending too much time on Twitter.

The Brazil youth international went back to the Spanish club for another season in the summer, but has not impressed coach Juan Ignacio Martinez.

Arsenal will now look to loan him out elsewhere in January.

• Rhys Murphy remains on the books at Arsenal.

The former England youth international had trials at Rangers in August and is available from the Gunners.

But the attacker featured for Arsenal reserves yesterday in defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

RVP scores after 29 secs! "I'm committed. This is my 8th year, if you can say of one player that's committed, it's me! I have a very nice new house in London!" AW "I inherited a fantastic defense but I built the 'Invincibles' defense! RVP is a special player & a true leader!” Ramsey & Gibbs 50-50 for Marseille! Koscielny, Fabianski talk! Gourcuff loan deal!

• Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie scored after just 29 seconds of the 2-1 win over Sunderland, and in his programme notes reaffirmed his commitment to the Gunners.

"I guess it was my first touch," Van Persie said.

"I was a bit surprised as well, but it was a really good pass from Gervinho, I took a good touch with my left foot and it went in.

"But I didn't know it was such a quick goal. How long was it?"

The Dutchman then fired in a fine free-kick with eight minutes left to put the Gunners back in front after Sunderland had levelled before the break.

"I felt confident because it's my favourite position, but I have to be a bit critical and look at myself because I have missed many chances, so it was about time to be honest."

There was a nervy finish as Arsenal clung on for a vital three points.

"We've been there before in the last couple of minutes trying to hold on to a 2-1 score and we did well," he said.

"They pump in every single ball and they can cause problems, but we have to handle them and all of the back four defenders and the midfielders try to help each other, so credit goes to the whole team."

Before the match, Van Persie had used his programme notes to dismiss speculation about his future at the club.

"I had seen loads of comments about a story like that, I thought after one or two days it would go away, but it didn't so I felt it was time to explain things and I did that.

"I'm committed. This is my eighth year. If you can say of one player that he's committed, it's me."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he's capable of building a quality defence.

When Wenger arrived at Highbury in 1996 he was handed some of the Premier League's finest - and most vocal - defenders on a plate. Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Martin Keown, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn were all at the club but their old manager rejects claims that he has not or cannot build a defence.

"I inherited a fantastic defence but what people forget is that it was not the unbeatable ['Invincibles'] defence, it was not the best defence," he pointed out.

"People say we never had to build a defence but that defence with Lauren, Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and Ashley Cole was the unbeatable one. The four defenders we had were talkers as well.

"We have had quieter defenders recently but I think Mertesacker can be a talker. He will come out of himself, don't worry."

• Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has assured fans he's not planning to quit the club in January.

Van Persie raised fears that he would be the next big star out of the door at the Emirates Stadium when he said recently that he was in no rush to extend his contract, which expires in 2013, but he denies he wants to leave.

"There have been many stories in the media lately. I am committed to Arsenal. That's how it is," said Van Persie, who has been annoyed at a recent report that claimed he had put his house up for sale to help him secure his exit from Arsenal.

"I moved house last year. I see stories which make me laugh, but I can see how frustrating it is from the fans' point of view," the Dutchman added in his programme notes for the win against Sunderland.

"I am committed to Arsenal. I am the captain. Don't believe everything you read.

"As for that house story, the house has been for sale for a while, but I'm not living on the streets or anything.

"I have found a really nice house, and yes, it's

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no doubts over the commitment of skipper Robin van Persie after victory against Sunderland.

Van Persie moved to allay fears about his future in his programme notes, insisting he is totally committed to the Arsenal cause, and Wenger is also not worried about the former Feyenoord man's relaxed attitude towards penning a new deal.

"The ideal situation is that he extends his contract and if he doesn't you have to respect that. What is important is he plays how he plays," Wenger said.

"We are all eager to see special football players and he is a special football player.

"For me commitment is [giving your best] as long as you are at the club, not how long you are at the club.

"If you give absolutely 100% until the last day of your contract, that is what I call commitment.

"For me it is not commitment to have a long contract.

"He knows that we are ready to talk about it (a new contract), but the most important thing is what you do on the pitch and how much you are committed to the cause as long as you are at the club."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Robin van Persie is proving himself a top Gunners captain.

Van Persie struck twice in victory over Sunderland yesterday.

"Many people question his leadership qualities but I believe he is completely committed for the cause on a daily basis. What's even more important is that he does the job on the football pitch," said Wenger.

On his free-kick ability, Wenger said: "Yes he among the best in the league, with Sebastian Larsson. I think Larsson is maybe the best free-kick taker in the league."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits their injury woes continued in victory over Sunderland.

Wenger could be without Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs for Wednesday's Champions League match against Marseille.

Ramsey was left out with a hamstring problem and Gibbs came off five minutes in to the second half with a stomach injury.

The Arsenal boss, who is already without key defenders Bacary Sagna and Thomas Vermaelen, says Ramsey and Gibbs have only a "small chance" of playing in France.

• Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny insists they have the quality to shake off their poor start to the season.

Koscielny, like many senior teammates, has been hit by injury so far this term.

"I think we have the quality," he said. "The team has good players but the difficulty is playing together - to defend and attack together.

"It's the little details that will be the difference in winning the games."

• Lukasz Fabianski feels he should be Arsenal's No1 ahead of Wojciech Szczesny.

Szczesny has since made the position his own for club and country, leaving a now fit-again Fabianski to cut a frustrated figure on the substitutes' bench amid reports he is considering quitting the club.

"If it wasn't for my injury, he wouldn't be here today where he is," said Fabianski. "I'd still be the number one - I didn't lose my place because I played badly but because of the shoulder mishap. The same applies to the Poland national team. I didn't let down the coach, I did well in the games I played."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is preparing a new offer for Olympique Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff.

Wenger will make a cheeky bid to take Gourcuff on loan to Arsenal in January ahead of securing a permanent deal for the Lyon star.

The Gunners chief had a £20m bid for the playmaker turned down in the summer but remains resolute in landing his No.1 target.

The fee is a stumbling block and Wenger is keen to bring the midfielder, 25, to the Emirates before thrashing out a deal.

“Arsene wants the player but is aware of his injuries,” said an Arsenal source. “A loan period could solve all the problems for all parties. It is now up to Lyon.”

ROCKING ROBIN! Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland #thearsenal49ers

• Robin Van Persie scores within the first minute, Arsenal 1 - 0 Sunderland
• Koscielny fouls Sessegnon, Larsson takes the free kick
• Richardson fouls Walcott, Arteta takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Walcott, saved by Mignolet
• Shot on goal from Van Persie, hits the bar
• Colback fouls Koscielny, Rosicky takes the free kick
• Gervinho offside, Mignolet takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Van Persie, far left
• Elmohamady fouls Song, he takes the free kick
• Sessegnon offside, Gibbs takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Richardson, far right
• Turner fouls Gervinho, Van Persie takes the free kick
• Larsson fouls Arteta, Jenkinson takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Arteta, over the bar
• Gibbs offside, Mignolet takes the free kick
• Van Persie fouls Cattermole, Larsson takes the free kick
• Larsson scores for Sunderland, Arsenal 1 - 1 Sunderland
• Brown fouls Van Persie, Arteta takes the free kick
• Cattermole fouls Song, he takes the free kick
• Cattermole fouls Rosicky, Arteta takes the free kick
• Song fouls Sessegnon, Mognolet takes the free kick
• Colback fouls Koscielny, Gibbs takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Song, saved by Mignolet
• Mertesacker fouls Colback, Larsson takes the free kick
• After 2 minutes extra time the first half comes to a close, Arsenal 1 - 1 Sunderland 

• Richardson fouls Van Persie, Arteta takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Andre Santos comes on in place of Gibbs
• Vaughan fouls Rosicky and receives a yellow card, Andre Santo takes the free kick
• Mertesacker fouls Sessegnon, Richardson takes the free kick
• Larsson fouls Van Persie and receives a yellow card, Arteta takes the free kick
• Elmohamady fouls Song, he takes the free kick
• Song fouls Sessegnon and receives a yellow card, Larsson takes the free kick
• O'Shea fouls Rosicky, Arteta takes the free kick
• Cattermole fouls Song, he takes the free kick
• Brown fouls Walcott and receives a yellow card, Walcott takes the free kick
• Koscielny fouls Sessegnon and receives a yellow card, Larsson takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Dong-Won Ji comes on in place of Larsson
• A substitution is made as Arshavin comes on in place of Gervinho
• Turner offside, Jenkinson takes the free kick
• Sessegnon fouls Song, Szczesny takes the free kick
• Shot on goal from Arshavin, far right 
• A substitution is made as Benayoun comes on in place of Rosicky
• Benayoun fouls Cattermole, he takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Wickham comes on in place of Sessegnon
• Brown fouls Van Persie, Van Persie scores from the free kick Arsenal 2 - 1 Sunderland
• Van Persie receives a yellow card for his celebration
• Dong-Won Ji offside, Szczesny takes the free kick
• A substitution is made as Gardner comes on in place of Cattermole
• Richardson fouls Benayoun, Van Persie takes the free kick
• Handball from Song, Vaughan takes the free kick
• Elmohamady offside, Andre Santos takes the free kick
• Song fouls Gardner, Mignolet takes the free kick
• After 5 minutes extra time the game ends Arsenal 2 - 1 Sunderland

Everyone Fit apart from Diaby, Vermaelen, Sagna & Wilshere! Usmanov is wont buy another club but AFC! Bergkamp “RVP can play on the right, left, up front, behind the striker, he can play everywhere. It's as simple as that! Theo gets too much of a hard time! Bendtner could come back! England are "outsiders" for Euros!”



• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has delivered an injury report on defensive pair Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna.

Wenger revealed he was hopeful Vermaelen would soon be back.

"He's two weeks away. He is running out on the pitches," said Wenger.

"He looks alright but we have to respect the progression, you still have to give him two to three weeks to be competitive again.

"Basically we have Diaby, Vermaelen, Sagna and Wilshere out - the players who have had surgery - everybody else is available."

He also had updates on both Abou Diaby and Sagna.

"It is very good news," he said of Diaby.

"He's coming back in full training now so he is 10 days away to be competitive to play.

"All being well he should be available for the Carling Cup or the game before."

On Sagna he added: "He is down of course because when you are used so much to playing every three days and suddenly you are at home without any movement it is very difficult to take."

• Alisher Usmanov is ready to make a play for Arsenal.

Despite apparently being outflanked by Stan Kroenke, he has still not given up hope of taking control of the Premier League club.

The Uzbek billionaire has been offered other clubs but has told all-comers that he's not interested. It's either Arsenal or nothing. And it seems he is preparing his tactics.

Much has been made of Usmanov writing to shareholders ahead of next week's annual meeting to try to scoop up enough shares to push his 29.5 per cent holding over the 30 per cent mark by offering £14,000 a share. But the move is not especially significant. It means Usmanov can take the revamped Premier League test for owners and directors – formerly known as the fit and proper persons test – but it does not allow him a place on the board.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has denied claims by club legend Dennis Bergkamp that captain Robin van Persie is being misused.

The Dutch great said earlier this week that his fellow countryman should not be deployed as a striker as he is more creative than an out-and-out goalscorer but Wenger does not agree with Bergkamp, saying van Persie’s stats prove he is being used in his correct position.

“Robin's best position is on the football pitch,” Wenger said.

“On the right, on the left, up front, behind the striker, he can play everywhere. It's as simple as that.

"He is most suited to the team and adapted [and] adjusted to the quality of the other players. In this position he has scored 26 goals in 32 games so you cannot say he is in a bad position because the numbers go against you.

"But you have to be open-minded. He can play as well behind the striker, on the right and on the left.

"When I bought him he played on the left wing. At Feyenoord he has been educated like that. I put him central, because he is a quality player."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has blasted the critics of winger Theo Walcott.

As Wenger prepared for tomorrow's home clash with Sunderland, he launched a passionate defence of Walcott.

He said: "When you look at Theo, he's a player who you think sometimes 'He could have contributed more', but then you think 'Who scored the goal? Him'.

"Or 'Who made the pass? It's him'. He's a player who is very efficient. Theo has made progress as a team player. He works very hard. He's naturally a guy who thinks forwards and is working harder for the team.

"You feel now there is a real desire to play with others, which was his weak point a little bit.

"There is a bit of a problem in England. As much as I feel the Press protect the players in the club, they put them under too much pressure in the national team.

"Sometimes at the clubs the players are over-protected but in the national team the pressure is unbelievable. In England your expectation level is too high."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Theo Walcott must be patient over plans to play as a striker.

Walcott has pestered Wenger to play him more centrally which, could allow Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to take over the right-wing berth.

But Wenger said: "There are other players who can play in this role so Walcott at the moment is for me suited to play on the flank.

"Later certainly he will move inside."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists on-loan Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner can still have a future at the Emirates.

Bendtner is spending the rest of the season with the Black Cats and Wenger accepts the striker needs the desire to come back.

"In our job, you never say never," commented the experienced French tactician.

"You do always what is right for your club. If it is right for the club to get Nicklas Bendtner back, the club will do it. I like him as a player.

"It will not only depend on us, it will depend on him. But we are not there yet - there is a long way to go."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rates England as "outsiders" for next year's Euros.

Wenger does not rate England among the favourites for Euro 2012, especially now Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is banned for three games.

Yet he still would not bet against them pulling off a shock triumph.

He admitted: "I feel England are outsiders.

"They can maybe win it if they click just right at the time of the competition and their main players are in fantastic form.

"Steven Gerrard has not played for a long time now. But if he comes back in after a good rest in top form, then why not?

"And Capello has the quality to get the best out of the team. You cannot deny that."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can make England's Euros squad.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has yet to start a Premier League game since his £12million summer move from Southampton but has impressed in the League Cup and Champions League.

"I don't rule him out. It depends on his progress here," said the Frenchman. "You cannot rule him out because he has the basic talent. In the next five, six months we will see how he adjusts to the physical intensity of the game.

“I did not expect him to be so comfortable as quickly as that so he has done extremely well," he added.

"He still needs some more time to adapt to the intensity of some of the games. He has the quality already for top-level Premier League games."

AW “It’s frustrating because the basis inside the team is very good, the quality of our play is improving game-to-game! Now it’s time to transform all of that into positive results! The OX is ahead of schedule!” Wenger wants a major signing in Jan Gourcuff, M’Vila, Hazard being top of the list! Torje Linked! Rodriguez to sign!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says his players require absolute focus to turn results around.

Wenger saw glimpses of Arsenal's best form at White Hart Lane last time out but once again he was left to bemoan the lapses that cost them a chance of victory.

"I would have loved to have played three days later," he said, "because I felt the quality of performance was there but the outcome was very frustrating and somewhere I felt we punished ourselves.

"It is frustrating because I feel the basis inside the team is very good, that the quality of our play is improving game-to-game, that the attitude of the players is very good.

“But now it is time to transform all of that into positive results, knowing that to win or lose is not down to coincidence. It is down to concrete facts and these at the moment are details and not really basic qualities.

"We were not beaten on the day by a bad performance but because the details you need in big games were not on our side and that was very frustrating. The disappointment was big and ideally I would have loved to have played again soon afterwards. But maybe to get that game out of the players' heads it was better for them to have the international games."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reluctant to compare Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Theo Walcott.

Wenger played down the pair’s similarities ahead of the Carling Cup victory over Shrewsbury, noting that the former may eventually suit a central midfield position.

For now though Wenger wants him to master his wide role despite showing his goal-scoring credentials with last week's hat-trick for England Under-21s.

“Let's not be too quick,” he said. “I think he has a fantastic quality of crosses. He can cross it, chip it and personally I don't think he is ready at all yet to play in a central position in the Premier League.

“Let's get him there first on the flank and get him to adjust to this position.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is pleased with the instant impact of teenage signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

While some supporters may be itching to see the 18-year-old in league action soon, Wenger believes patience is required.

“He is ahead of schedule,” the Frenchman said. “Overall I think he has to add some ingredients to his game that will be absolutely necessary at the top but he has the basic talent - nobody can dispute that.

“I am very happy for bringing him here. But of course now we want from him the commitment and the urgency that is requested in the Premier League.

“One second of lacking attention defensively can cost you a game. That has changed in the modern game and that is why he is ahead of schedule. I think in the next few months he can add that to his game.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits his players feel more settled playing in Europe.

Wenger believes Arsenal’s impressive start to their Champions League campaign is linked with confidence.

“It's linked with confidence,” Wenger said. “I think when you look at Newcastle today and then the 0-0 we played with ten men, everybody slaughtered us. Now suddenly you see that Newcastle are doing well.

“It's the same with Udinese in the Champions League, they are joint top of the Italian league. That means we had good performances overall away from home in some games.

“At the moment I do not think we have been rewarded but maybe in Europe we are under pressure less.”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists Francis Coquelin isn't ready to play at fullback.

Coquelin and Carl Jenkinson are in the frame to cover broken-leg victim Bacary Sagna.

"It's more down to Jenkinson because Coquelin has never been at ease as a right-back player," Wenger said.

"He is not somebody who likes to play at right-back and his confidence is not high when he plays right-back."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger plans to make one big name signing during the winter market.

Wenger has £50 million to spend during the next 12 months.

He is likely to try to make at least one major signing in January, with French-based midfielders Yoan Gourcuff (Lyon), Yann M’Vila (Rennes), Eden Hazard (Lille) and Marvin Martin (Sochaux) still being monitored, as well as Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze.

• Arsenal are watching Udinese winger Gabriel Torje.

The Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is mulling over a move for Udinese's Torje — dubbed the Romanian Messi.

But the Gunners would have to pay big money for the winger, 21, who has been a hit in Italy since his £9million summer move from Dinamo Bucharest.

• Arsenal are close to completing a deal for Real Madrid youngster Jose Rodriguez, the 16-year-old has already been to London to check on the clubs facilities.

Rodriguez was brought to the attention of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger by the clubs chief scout in Spain Francisco Cagigao who suggested the club attempt to lure the midfielder away from Real Madrid.

Wenger has already brought Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin to Arsenal from Barcelona over the summer while central defender Ignasi Miquel is a regular for the Spain Under 19's.

Now Arsenal plan to bring Rodriguez to the club and are hoping to convince the Spain Under-17 star to choose north London, despite interest from a number of Spanish clubs.

The player has reportedly been to the capital to check on Arsenal's training ground and has also spoken to Cesc Fabregas who has advised him to make the move to the Premier League.

During his time in England, Rodriguez was offered a deal with the Gunners and was also told that he would have the opportunity to play first team football within two seasons.

Madrid cannot offer the player a professional contract until he turns 17, but have already become destined to the fact that he looks likely to choose a move to Arsenal.

Usmanov wants to put pressure on the board about squad & wage structure! AW "A lot (of deals) were planned beforehand; it just took a lot longer than expected! Captains can get us over the line! Signs will all gel!” AFC to open contract talk with RVP! Arshavin “expect more from me to come!" Drame, Shaqiri, Biglia Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he always had the backing of the board to buy in the summer.

Some reports have claimed that Arsenal waited until Champions League qualification was secured before spending big in August. Wenger denies this.

"A lot of it was planned beforehand, it just took a lot longer than expected," he explained. "It was nothing to do with the Champions League, because we would still have wanted to go for the league even if we weren’t in the Champions League.

"If we were in the Europa League, we would still have wanted a strong squad. We are not the only ones who decide how long it takes to complete a transfer."

• Alisher Usmanov could get his hands on Arsenal's books as he attempts to increase his stake in the club.

Usmanov owns 29.35 per cent of the club but has sent a letter to select shareholders offering to buy their shares at £14,000 each - significantly more than Kroenke's last offer. The approach is being made through his investment company Red and White Holdings with a source saying they are "working their way through the register".

If Usmanov buys the 405 shares needed to increase his stake to more than 30 per cent he would be subject to the Premier League's Owners' and Directors' Test, their updated Fit and Proper Persons' Test.

Assuming he passes, then Usmanov will increase his demands to have a seat on the board - something that Kroenke, who owns 66.7 per cent of the club, has always refused.

But crucially, the American could not stop Usmanov from inspecting the club's accounts and the contracts of the squad and staff. The Uzbeki could use that to put pressure on the board by drawing attention to a number of issues - principal among them being the club's wage structure. Arsenal have struggled to keep their top earners with Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Kolo Toure all leaving to Manchester City in the last two years.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced of the leadership and character inside his locker room.

The Frenchman drafted in Per Mertesacker, Mikel Arteta, Yossi Benayoun, Ju Young Park and Andre Santos in the final days of the transfer window to add quality and raise the average age of his first-team squad.

“Sometimes we are reproached for not having enough captains in our squad, now we have plenty,” Wenger said.

“Overall we have more experience and this could be important if we are in a strong position should we have interesting challenges in March or April. That could have a big part to play.

"We got criticised a lot last season for not getting over the line, but I believe that we were so close, so, so close that it was unbelievable to accept. But we have added more experience. Also last year we lost important players in March and April because we went for all the trophies, so hopefully we have the squad to do it and this time it will happen.

“In every position you always have number one, two and three, knowing there is a not a lot between them. But basically I’m very happy with the signings we made and my challenge now is to prove that I made the right decisions. I have great belief in the players I bought in and I am convinced they will prove me right.”

• Arsenal are pushing to open new contract talks with Robin van Persie.

The Gunners will attempt to open contract talks with their star player next month amid fears vultures from home and abroad are already circling ahead of the January transfer window.

Van Persie has raised doubts over his future by revealing he does not wish to discuss a new deal before the end of the season.

Gazidis is understood to have given Richard Law the green light to try to tempt Van Persie, who will be 29 in August, with the offer of a four-year contract and increase his wages to £90,000 per week.

• Corinthians chief Edu admits he's been tapping into his Arsenal network while in London.

Edu has been back in London to gather ideas for Corinthians’ new stadium project having been appointed general manager back in Brazil. So, has he sought out Arsène Wenger for advice on his new role?

“Yes I have spoken to him but the advice he gave to me was during the times I was with him,” Edu said.

“They were great times, I learned a lot and I told him this week that everything I learned was from him.

“Now I am manager of Corinthians it is quite different to managing in England. In Brazil we have a coach and then a manager. The coach looks after the team on the pitch and the manager looks at everything around that - they have to sign players and get other things done.

“But I learned a lot of things from Arsène Wenger and many things in Brazil too.”

• Andrey Arshavin admits he is yet to come to the party for Arsenal this season.

The Russian international has been a shadow of the man who had a brilliant debut season for the Gunners in 2009 and knows he is yet to produce his best for the North London club in the early stages of this campaign.

Arshavin says he plans to give more to the club and hopes that the fans start to really get on his case to help produce his best.

“They should expect more from me, of course," Arshavin said. "They should expect some more tricks, goals and unbelievable passes.

"To be honest I am still expecting more from me as well. But believe me, I do everything I can do.

"I just have to give everything I can at the moment, just on the pitch. I want to score more goals and bring my team to the title."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident his late summer signings will prove good decisions.

Wenger would rather have held onto a couple of the players he let go but the manager believes that Arsenal will be stronger after bringing in a number of new faces.

“It was all change in the summer and some of that was for unwanted reasons,” Wenger said.

"We lost some players that we didn’t want to lose, also we had some players that hadn’t played for a while, so we thought it was important to renew the whole squad, and that’s what we did.

"It was a challenge, and believe me it demanded massive work – day and night. But overall I’m confident. I believe there was some anxiety around the Club and the team, but I always felt in our situation that a lot would happen in the last 48 hours, because I’ve experienced that before. And that’s what did happen.

"So let’s show that we have made the right decisions – I’m confident that we have – but only the results will tell."

• Arsenal scouts feel Ousmane Drame could be an instant hit should he make the move to England.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is in regular contact with the Padova attacker's agent, George Atangana, about the 18 year-old.

Despite his tender years, Drame's physique makes him ideally suited to the Premier League and observers say even at this early stage of his career, he would have no problem handling the physical demands of English football.

Drame can play as a striker, but favours the right-wing and his pace and power has drawn comparisons with Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.

• FC Basle winger Xherdan Shaqiri is happy being followed by Europe's biggest clubs.

The youngster has been tracked by the likes of Arsenal over the past year.

"I'm in good form and obviously I am pleased that so many clubs have noticed me," Shaqiri said. "But I am just thinking about helping my team win the championship in my country and qualify for the next round of the Champions League."

• Anderlecht star Lucas Biglia is aware of Arsenal's interest.

The Gunners and Liverpool are watching the Argentine as they consider strengthening their midfield options in January.

Biglia said: "I know that there are movements but they are just usual events to me."
Anderlecht rate Biglia at £8 million.

Silent Stan to be quizzed at clubs AGM this month! Usmanov trying to buy up 1% more to secure a seat on AFC board of directors! Bergkamp “AFC are missing a pure goal scorer, RVP should play my role!” Grimandi “We have a good team, but we have compete with our own economic limitations!” AFC want Hazard! Montolivo, Abdennour, Vargas Linked!

• Arsenal majority owner Stan Kroenke will be quizzed by Arsenal supporters when he attends the club's Annual General Meeting later this month.

The Gunners hierarchy are confident the American businessman - who owns 66.1 per cent of the club - will attend the meeting on October 27.

His expected presence will be the first time Kroenke has engaged with Arsenal fans since his takeover was ratified by the Premier League in May.

Kroenke has lived up to his billing as 'Silent Stan' during his time as Arsenal's majority shareholder.

He has attended just one Arsenal fixture since his takeover, the 1-1 home draw against Liverpool on April 17 - leaving some supporters questioning his commitment to the club.

• Alisher Usmanov is planning to buy up more shares in Arsenal.

Usmanov, the club's second biggest shareholder, is trying to increase his stake to 30 per cent.

He currently owns just over 29 percent but will write to the club's smaller shareholders this week, offering to buy shares at £14,500 each.

Reaching the 30 per cent threshold would make Usmanov eligible for the Premier League's owners and directors test.

Passing the test would clear the way for Usmanov to secure a seat on Arsenal's board of directors.

• Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp says they're missing a pure goal scorer.

Bergkamp, now coaching at Ajax, feels Robin van Persie is playing out of position.

He said: "When I look at Robin van Persie, he is the front player, but he is better in my old role. They are missing an out-and-out goalscorer. Now they play with an extra midfielder instead.

"The midfielders are all the same sort of players. You need one who wants to get in behind Van Persie."

• Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi has criticised the make-up of the current squad.

Grimandi, who won two Doubles in five seasons with Arsene Wenger’s side and is now Arsenal’s chief scout in France, said the current players are too small and injury-prone.

He said: “We are convinced we have a good team, which can play a spoilsport role in the league this season.

“We have some quality and have to believe in our work. We were left with little time to act in the transfer window and we opted to pad out our squad in terms of numbers. There are no proven big stars currently on the market.

“Besides, we are not competing on a level playing field with Manchester City and Chelsea. Our means are limited by comparison and our pay structure prevents us going crazy when we sign players.

“The fans want us to bring in star names, but they don’t all grasp our economic limitations.

“We have so many injuries because we keep hold of the ball more than other teams and this exposes the team to more knocks from opponents. It is also because we have a lot of small-sized players, and the fact we take part in so many competitions increases risk of injury.”

• Sao Paulo chief Edu says Andre Santos will be a success at Arsenal.

Edu is a former Gunners favourite and is pleased to see his countryman now with the Londoners.

“He is a very good player and a very good guy,” Edu said. “With the ball he is technically fantastic, a typical Brazilian player.

“But every Brazilian needs time to adapt to the league because the English league is so different. I am 100 per cent sure that the fans will love him because he is very good with the ball.”

• Sao Paulo chief Edu says Arsenal is still a popular destination for Brazilians.

Edu is a former Gunners favourite and back in London for talks over Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez.

“I know the Brazilian players at Arsenal very well, all the Brazilians follow them,” he said. “I follow Arsenal as well.

“Before he came to London, Andre spoke to me and asked me about Arsenal - and it's nice to see so many Brazilians here. If they are here maybe it is because me, Silvinho and Gilberto did something good.”

• The agent of Lille star Eden Hazard admits he's a target for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

John Bico cannot rule out an early January move for the Belgian whiz.

He revealed: "Wenger wanted the player but Lille said no to the sale last summer. It's certain that Real Madrid have been watching.

"I don't think Zidane's presence will necessarily decide things. Zidane has always praised him but that, on its own, will not be sufficient."

• Arsenal are back in for Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo.

Montolivo attracted enquiries from Arsenal during the summer as they prepared to lose Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona.

With the midfielder's agent admitting he could be sold in January, Arsenal are ready to try again.

In the Gunners' favour is Fiorentina's position: while AC Milan are keen, they would prefer to sell to a foreign club.

The 26 year-old is off contract in June and will not sign a new deal.

• Toulouse defender Aymen Abdennour has revealed that Arsenal are interested in his services and admits he would love to eventually move to a big club like the Gunners.

The 22-year old Tunisian international insists there is curiosity from Arsenal but has made it clear he is keen to develop further with his current club before making the plunge.

"It's [Arsenal's interest] true, I've heard a lot of talk while I've been at Toulouse," said.

"They come to watch and scout players. They came to see our last three matches in which I put forward excellent performances for my side.

"My agent, Mr Abdelkader, he's the one focused on these things. He's a professional and he always tells me to work hard and whatever is good for me, God will help it through. I need to work and stay focused with my side.

"We're going through a good period a Toulouse, God willing, we'll continue on this path and then hopefully the two sides can come to an agreement. I'm not going to get involved.

"If there's something good for the player and for Toulouse in me being transferred to a big club like Arsenal then why not? Right now I'm still happy at my club. I want to improve at Toulouse."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is targeting Fiorentina wing-back Juan Manuel Vargas.

Arsenal have already made contact with Fiorentina about Vargas' availability and a January move could be on.

Vargas can play at fullback and in midfield.

• Chuks Aneke has told Arsenal fans to look out for Ryo Miyaichi.

The pair are playing together for Arsenal reserves this season.

Aneke said: "It is hard of course but he is a very good player.

"He is very quick and has a lot to offer the team. We saw the other day that he got an assist [for the Reserves] and he is a very good player. His English has developed since he first came and he is a good lad. He is doing well."

• Arsenal midfielder Chuks Aneke has reaffirmed hopes of getting a loan move away.

Aneke is currently playing for the Gunners' reserves.

"Personally I haven't really got a preference," he said.

"I just want to start playing some regular games and if that means going out on loan to get them then I am ready for that. I don't think playing for Arsenal regularly is a viable option at the moment."