- Arsenal’s crushed players were read the riot act and told to “look at yourselves in the mirror” by club quiet man Pat Rice after the derby defeat at Tottenham.
Arsene Wenger’s No2 usually leaves all the talking to his boss but he could not control himself after witnessing another dismal performance from the dugout.
An Arsenal source said: “Pat went crazy in the dressing room. He left the players in no doubt they have to improve–and quickly. He told them to look at themselves in the mirror.
“It is quite out of character for Pat to be so outspoken with the players, but it shows how passionate he is about the club.”
- Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has urged teammates not to drop their heads.
Song said: "We need to try and keep going because it is not good to drop now. We need to keep our heads up and try to push ourselves to learn and give the best for the future.
"Arsenal being in this position is not normal. We now need to show something very good, not just for the fans but for us as well. Arsenal always fight for the first place, the top places. Now we are not in a good situation."
- Alex Song says Arsenal must go on a winning run to rescue their Premier League season.
Song said: "We don't have any choice now We just now need to take the good things and win every single game. We just need to be more focused now, try to defend together and try to attack together because the fans need it. We need just to make them happy. We need to win our games now. The fans did very well today and we didn't do very well for them.
"The next five games are very important for us. We need to win every single one to come back and show the fans that we are ready and that we are tight to fight for the league."
- Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is upbeat over his progress from Achilles injury.
The 25-year-old Tweeted: "Great step forward today. First run outside without any pain or discomfort. Hopefully I can make good progress this week."
- Arsenal hero Martin Keown admits Tottenham coach Clive Allen has been chipping away at Arsene Wenger for years.
Keown said: “I think there’s a little bit of history with Clive Allen.
“A few times in the past, and I’ve been privy to it, he’s goaded Arsene Wenger, certainly in Martin Jol’s time [at Tottenham].
“I think Wenger was just trying to avoid him really, feeling as he was after that game, and I think Clive was just trying to push the point.
“He wanted a bit of eye contact because he’s just won a game or just been part of the team that’s won a game. Clive should know better really.
“You’re looking for him to be above all that, let’s hope he is in the future.”
- Arsene Wenger has identified the France international as his key target after losing Jack Wilshere for five months and is prepared to break the club transfer record in new year
Arsene Wenger has identified the France international as his key target and has accelerated plans to bring the midfield anchorman to the Emirates Stadium after receiving the news last week that Jack Wilshere will be on the sidelines for five months
Arsenal are prepared to shatter their transfer record to land M’Vila by bidding in excess of £25 million for the 21-year-old.
The Gunners were named by Rennes coach Frederic Antonetti as one of four Champions League clubs to make offers of “around €30m [£26.5m]” for the player in August.
Arsenal’s scouting team have continued to keep close tabs on the player, who has started all nine of Rennes’ Ligue 1 matches this season and is set to add to his 13 international caps when France take on Albania on Friday and Bosnia four days later in their Euro 2012 qualifiers.
M’Vila is contracted to Rennes until 2015 but Arsenal believe there is a strong will on the player’s behalf to follow what is a well-trodden path from Ligue 1 to north London. The French club were unwilling to sell the midfield enforcer in the final days of the August window because they had no time to find an adequate replacement.
Wenger will rotate Mikel Arteta, Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey with rookies Emmanuel Frimpong and Francis Coquelin in the three central midfield berths between now and January.
Wenger is privately concerned about how much of an impact Wilshere will have this season as the manager attempts to end the club’s six-year trophy drought.
Even if Wilshere’s recovery from ankle surgery last week goes smoothly and it corresponds to the 22-week schedule mapped out by the club’s medical department, by the time the teenager returns to the team in late February or early March, he will have been out for seven months in total.
- Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin felt they were unlucky in defeat at Tottenham.
"We started off quite well and we were moving the ball around. We played a good Tottenham team but we could have done better because I don't think they were better than us. Now we go home with a 2-1 defeat which everybody is disappointed with," he said.
"Of course, I was a little bit surprised (to start) but as soon as the manager needs me I have to go on the pitch and give everything. That is what I tried to do today."
- Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has had to pull out of the Poland national team squad for upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Belarus.
It is believed that Szczesny’s withdrawal is just a precautionary measure and the fact that the two Poland matches are friendlies forced the vigilant decision to be made.
- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has rubbished Clive Allen's claims he snubbed the Tottenham coach.
Wenger hit back: "I shook the hand of the manager and the assistant manager.
"How many hands do I have to shake? Is there a prescription?
"No words were exchanged and if the story of the game is Clive Allen, you must ask him.
"He wanted to make himself the story? Yes."
- Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin is staying grounded over his latest first team chance.
"Obviously there are always things to improve and I still have a lot to work on. I will keep training and see if I can do better," he said.
- Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has revealed that Arsenal attempted to sign him on the final day of the transfer window and admitted that he was flattered to be linked with the north London club.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger knew that he had plenty of money to spend, but was unable to complete a number of deals and it seems he attempted to land Gourcuff in a late deal.
Lyon decided that they wanted to keep the midfielder, but Gourcuff has declared that he would be interested in playing for the Premier League outfit.
"I am flattered by the interest shown by Arsene Wenger," Gourcuff said. "He is one of the top coaches in the world, he loves technical players so I am very, very happy to know that he was interested in me."
The former AC Milan midfielder returned to France in 2008 and has once again rediscovered the form that had him being compared to French great Zinedine Zidane.
The 25-year-old has played 28 times for France and is considered one of the best attacking midfielders in France.
Arsenal brought Mikel Arteta to the club as a direct replacement for Fabregas, but it is assumed that Wenger will once again look to strengthen in January and may once again make a move for Gourcuff.
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