Wednesday, 29 February 2012

AW “I think RVP has an exceptional technique, I mean really exceptional, I’ve seen many great players over 30 years but his first touch is just exceptional!” Szczesny “RVP’s not bad is he? He only scored one goal today though, which is really disappointing for him! We’re used to him scoring a hat-trick!” Podolski personal terms agreed, fee yet to be agreed! Fiorentina £6m Chamakh bid! Nzonzi, Biglia Linked!



  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has discussed the quality of Robin van Persie's play this season.
The captain notched his 29th goal of the season in Sunday’s thrilling North London derby win over Tottenham and Wenger believes Van Persie is up there with the best he’s seen.

“I think he has an exceptional technique, I mean really exceptional,” he said. “I have seen many great players over 30 years but Robin van Persie's first touch is just exceptional.

“After that he has the qualities of left-footed players; they are very quick to finish, have great movement in the box and are very intelligent.

“When you look at great players, they are on the move and everybody else stands and watches the ball. That is the difference. They look like they attack the ball all the time but in fact it is because they anticipate a lot and they are a little bit ahead of the other players.

“It is a bit like rebounds in basketball, it is always the same players who catch the ball. In football you always have the same players like that - Robert Pires, for example, was fantastic like that. When you analysed him he was always moving when others were standing and Robin has that quality too.

“It's not the way you finish, it's the way you move that gets you into the position.”
  • Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is convinced skipper Robin van Persie is the best player in the Premier League.
The captain notched his 29th goal of the season in Sunday’s thrilling North London derby win over Tottenham.

“He's not bad is he?” joked the goalkeeper. "He only scored one goal today though, which is really disappointing for him! We are used to him scoring a hat-trick.

“But he set up a couple and he was great. He worked very hard defensively, headed a few balls away when we defended corners and scored a fantastic goal.

“That's what he is all about - he is the best player in the Premier League and we are very pleased to have him.”
  • Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny says Theo Walcott looks a natural finisher in training.
Szczesny believes that performance could spark an upturn in form in front of goal for Walcott.

"Theo scored two goals, which is all you can ask for,” Sczcesny said. “They were both very good. He has come under a little bit of stick for his finishing but he took those two very well and we are very pleased for him.

“He's a very good lad and he is probably one of the best trainers in the dressing room.

“He works very hard every day, scores a lot of goals in training and just needs to get the goals in games. But we are very pleased for him and we hope he can do it all over again in the games from now.”
  • Arsenal captain Robin van Persie admits he regularly chats with manager Arsene Wenger about his contract.
Van Persie says he'll sit down with Wenger and chairman Peter Hill-Wood to discuss new terms at the end of the season.

"I am a true Gunner. I love this club and that's no secret," said Van Persie today.

"We will soon quietly talk about many things. I do quite often with the trainer. Only later on that occasion will the president be there.

"I have been there for eight years and I'm proud of that."
  • Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni is delighted seeing Arsenal winger Ryo Miyaichi impressing on-loan at Bolton Wanderers.
Miyaichi was named last week in the Japan squad for tomorrow’s final World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan in Toyota.

“He has performed at Bolton well in an eye-catching manner. He has a lot of quality and that’s why I have called him up,” Zaccheroni said.

“He has tremendous speed and staying power as well.

“He will be able to change the rhythm of the game with his runs, both short and long. He has a chance to play.”
  • Arsenal still must settle on a fee with FC Cologne for striker Lukas Podolski.
It’s understood the 26-year old is happy with the terms on offer at Arsenal and a deal can go through at the end of the season, provided a fee can be agreed.

Cologne are ready to dig their heels in and demand around £15million after being left unimpressed by Arsenal's valuation of £8m.

The Bundesliga side are bracing themselves for some hard bargaining with their north London counterparts but sense Podolski will be spearheading Arsenal's attack next season.

Some high-profile signings would help under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger stave off a growing rebellion among supporters and dispel any misgivings Robin van Persie may have about committing himself to the club beyond a contract that runs out at the end of next season.

Polish-born Podolski is in his second spell at Cologne, after a three-year stay at Bayern Munich, and has impressed on the international stage.
  • Fiorentina are ready to splash out for Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh.
Chamakh has been offered a £6million escape route to Fiorentina.

The Italian club tried to sign him in January but Arsenal knocked back a loan deal as they wanted to keep the striker as cover. But Fiorentina have come back with a permanent offer.
  • Arsenal are lining up a bid for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Nzonzi.
The Gunners are plotting a move for Nzonzi.

The former France Under 21 midfielder has been a rare bright spot in a woeful season for Rovers.

Nzonzi's displays for Steve Kean's struggling side have caught the eye of the Gunners' scouts.

Senior Arsenal scouts will now step up their plans to launch a summer move by having the 23-year-old watched on a regular basis between now and the end of the season.

Tuesday, 28 February 2012

Ever wondered how much Squillaci gets paid a week? find out the Arsenal wage bill



Arsenal Football Club Board member: Wages per week

Stan Kroenke: £25,000
Ivan Gazidis: £18,000
Peter Hill-Wood: £1,500
Ken Friar OBE: £1,500
Sir Chips Keswick: £500
Lord Harris of Peckham: £500

 First Team member: wages per week

Arsène Wenger: £135,000
Pat Rice £30,000
Boro Primorac £30,000
Gerry Peyton £10,000
Neil Banfield £10,000
Tony Colbert £10,000
Colin Lewin £10,000
Gary O’Driscoll £10,000
David Wales £10,000
Simon Harland £5,000
Kieran Hunt £5,000
Darren Page £5,000
Vic Akers £5,000
Paul Akers £5,000
Paul Johnson £5,000
Tony Roberts £5,000
Marcus Svensson £5,000
Danny Flitter £5,000
James Collins £5,000
Ben Knapper £5,000

Player:  Wage Per week
Robin van Persie: £90,000
Andrey Arshavin: £80,000
Mikel Arteta: £70,000
Theo Walcott: £70,000
Thomas Vermaelen: £70,000
Yossi Benayoun: £70,000
Gervinho: £70,000
Manuel Almunia: £60,000
Per Mertesacker: £60,000
Sebastien Squillaci: £60,000
Tomas Rosicky: £60,000
Bacary Sagna: £60,000
Aaron Ramsey: £55,000
Alex Song: £55,000
Jack Wilshere: £55,000
Nicklas Bendtner: £52,000
Marouane Chamakh: £50,000
Abou Diaby: £50,000
Andre Santos: £50,000
Carlos Vela: £50,000
Denilson: £50,000
Johan Djourou: £50,000
Laurent Koscielny: £50,000
Lukasz Fabianski: £40,000
Wojciech Szczesny: £40,000
Ju Young Park: £40,000
Kieran Gibbs: £40,000
Vito Mannone: £20,000
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: £20,000
Carl Jenkinson: £20,000
Emmanuel Frimpong: £20,000
Ryo: £20,000
Francis Coquelin: £15,000
Henri Lansbury: £5,000
Ignasi Miquel £5,000

All 40 reserve and youth players are on £1,000 each at least a week

Monday, 27 February 2012

AW "Today showed Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought! We had an emphatic performance today where on the spirit and technical side, and the drive of the whole team! We can finish above 5pur2 now!” Sagna “We had to beat the enemy!” Theo ”We've brought them back down to earth!" Keown "That’s the best I’ve seen Rosicky play!” RVP to be offered £150,000 a week! Poll “Bale dived!”



  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was full of pride after their thumping win over Tottenham.
The Gunners completed an incredible comeback as they recovered from a two-goal deficit to win 5-2 in the Barclays Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

"Today showed Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought before the game," Wenger said.

"We had an emphatic performance today where on the spirit and technical side, and the drive of the whole team and style of the way we want to play, everything was perfect despite a very bad start.

"I felt in the first five minutes, Spurs started well. It was all us for the next 85 minutes. We were 2-0 down and just refused to lose the game and kept going no matter what happened.

"Once we were back to 2-2, you saw that if we maintained the pace we would win the game.

"There was a good balance between offence and defence, between creativity and going into the space behind their defenders and we showed good maturity. We had a great spirit."
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels they can still finish above Tottenham after yesterday’s massive derby win.
The Gunners now also lie just seven points shy of third-placed Tottenham and Wenger believes his side could yet end the season above them.

"It is still possible, if we keep our run going," the Frenchman said. "Why not?

"But before the game it was 'impossible'. I always thought it was possible, but it would be down to consistency. Everybody in the Premier League can lose points.

"They have a different schedule to us, but if we continue to play like that, then why not?"
  • Bacary Sagna says Arsenal's victory over Tottenham can help them finish above their North London rivals.
The fullback claims that it is possible to overthrow Harry Redknapp’s side, but only if they take one game at a time and don’t focus on what can happen at the end of the season.

“Of course we can catch them,” Sagna said. “We just need to play game-by-game without thinking about what will happen at the end of the season.

“We still have time to come back. We have dropped points and now we have to stay professional and play like we did today.

“We are not far, we have to keep playing and focus on every game until the end of the season and we will make it.”
  • Arsenal ace Theo Walcott says they've handed Tottenham a reality check after yesterday’s 5-2 thumping.
The two-goal England star defied the Gunners' boo-boys, who had turned nasty after Spurs went 2-0 up.

Walcott said: "We showed great character in the first half, going two down when they were playing on the counter-attack.

"But, hopefully, we've brought them back down to earth."
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was full of pride after their thumping win over Tottenham.
The Gunners completed an incredible comeback as they recovered from a two-goal deficit to win 5-2 in the Barclays Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

"Today showed Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought before the game," Wenger said.

"We had an emphatic performance today where on the spirit and technical side, and the drive of the whole team and style of the way we want to play, everything was perfect despite a very bad start.

"I felt in the first five minutes, Spurs started well. It was all us for the next 85 minutes. We were 2-0 down and just refused to lose the game and kept going no matter what happened.

"Once we were back to 2-2, you saw that if we maintained the pace we would win the game.

"There was a good balance between offence and defence, between creativity and going into the space behind their defenders and we showed good maturity. We had a great spirit."
  • Arsenal hero Martin Keown hailed the performance of Tomas Rosicky in victory over Tottenham.
Keown wrote: "That is the best I have seen Tomas Rosicky play for Arsenal. He’s been a spectator this season until now but he played with so much drive and purpose.

"For his goal he made a run he would never have normally, darting into the box. He looked to play decisive passes, was tenacious in the tackle and looked like the player Arsenal signed in 2006. An all-action performance."
  • Arsenal winger Theo Walcott admits he could hear the boo-boys before their fight- back againstTottenham.
Walcott admitted his first-half showing was poor but insisted he showed the guts to see the job through after the break.

He declared: "You always have to get on with the game when things are not going too well.

"I can hold my hands up and say I didn't have the greatest of first halves. But it just shows the character, not just from me but the team.

"If you work hard, hopefully good things will come to you. And it happened for me."
  • Arsenal are ready to smash their wage ceiling to convince skipper Robin van Persie to stay.
Arsenal are ready to offer Robin van Persie an unprecedented pay deal, thought to be worth more than £150,000 a week and far in excess of what had previously been expected, in a bid to keep the striker next season.

The offer is likely to include a signing-on fee of about £5million in addition to a wage packet of more than £130,000 a week, which would comprise a record deal for an Arsenal player - though the club are aware that Van Persie's decision will not be wholly down to the money on offer but by the future prospects of the club.
  • Arsenal are confident of landing German pair Lukas Podolski and Mario Goetze in the summer - if they can qualify for the Champions League.
Arsenal seal a Champions League qualification, there is a feeling that they can reconstruct a great team, with Borussia Dortmund star midfielder Goetze and Cologne's Podolski likely additions.

Podolski is keen to join while Arsenal are currently in pole position to sign Goetze. But that could all change if they do not make the top four.
  • Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud is chasing a move to Arsenal.
Giroud has 16 goals this term and is rated at £13million.

The France star said: "I like the Frenchy feel at Arsenal."

Saturday, 25 February 2012

RVP "What better way to set things straight again than to beat Spurs! I'd rather be playing them now than on any other day, and we know that a win is vital!” AW "No matter what we say at the moment it will be printed in a negative way. It is up to us to transform that into a positive way!" Sagna “Hazard joining Tottenham would be a massive error by him!” Arshavin gone! Sessegnon linked!



  • Arsenal captain Robin van Persie is adamant they'll prove themselves superior to Tottenham in their derby clash.
Van Persie is adamant Arsenal can prove they are still the best team in North London — despite their rivals' huge lead over them.

He said: "What better way to set things straight again than to beat Spurs?

"I'd rather be playing them now than on any other day, and we know that a win is absolutely vital.

"I don't think anybody would deny that Spurs have a really good side — and they've added consistency this season.

"They're winning the tougher games and, as a result, have made that next step towards the top teams.

"Spurs have invested a lot of money over the past few years, and when you look at the figures it's reflected in their league position.

"Quality players like Rafa van der Vaart, Manu Adebayor, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Aaron Lennonwill win you games when the going gets difficult — any one of them can step up and make the difference at a given time."
  • Robin van Persie admits Arsenal must beat Tottenham to keep their top four hopes alive.
With 13 games to go, Arsenal skipper Van Persie admits time is running out for his side to prevent Tottenham finishing above them for the first time since 1995.

The Dutch striker said: "A draw will not be a good result for us, either in our bid to catch up with Spurs or in our efforts to fight off our other challengers for a Champions League place.

"They're above us for the first time in many years but it's in our hands to change the way things are going, win the game and start moving closer to them."
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger doesn't want his players complaining about their bad press.
Wenger maintains it would be "criminal" for Arsenal to just sit and feel sorry for themselves ahead of Sunday's north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

"No matter what we say at the moment it will be printed in a negative way. It is up to us to transform that into a positive way," the Arsenal boss said.

"You can't complain. We are in a fantastic job and we have a big game in front of us - to feel sorry for ourselves would be criminal.

"We have a good opportunity to show that we have character, that we have the mental qualities to play for this club and let's go for it.

"When you are in our situation at the moment, it is important you show faith in your players and stick with them.

"We live in a world where everybody is positive when it goes well, but life is not only ups, it is ups and down, successful lives are how people respond when you are down."
  • Andrey Arshavin left a short note on his website after leaving Arsenal for Zenit St Petersburg.
The Russian champions have been after the 30-year-old forward for the past 12 months and are believed to have offered a £1million loan fee.

They will also stump up the Russia international's wages.

Arshavin, who cost the Gunners a club record £15m from Zenit in 2009, had fallen out of favour with boss Arsene Wenger.
The player told his official website: "I have moved to Zenit. On loan, will play under No 29."
  • Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna feels this weekend’s North London derby clash with Tottenham holds extra significance for him.
The French full-back suffered a fractured fibula in the White Hart Lane fixture which the Gunners lost 2-1 in early October and has only recently returned to the line-up.

When Arsenal host Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday, Sagna says it will be an extra special moment for him with bouncing back from the absence firmly in his thoughts.

“The first game was a nightmare for me because I got injured and was four months out,” he said.

“This match is a good opportunity to show that I am back and to be decisive even. I would like to win the game because it would be special to me.

“Every game is important but the derby is the killer one. This is one of the biggest games of the season and we know we have to win it. It will give us even more power to move forward.

“We play Tottenham, they are the enemy this weekend and we lost the first game and we want to bounce back from it. For the fans it is even more important because it is a derby and we can't lose.”
  • Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs is hoping he and his teammates can produce a morale-boosting victory this weekend.
The Gunners host third-placed Tottenham in the North London derby on Sunday and Gibbs feels a winning result would be the perfect tonic to get back in the good books of the clubs supporters following two disappoint losses which sees their Champions League campaign hanging by a thread and ended their FA Cup run.

"It's more than just another fixture, it has something special and we can use it to put things behind us," he said.

"We owe the supporters a lot - we have to hold our hands up about what's happened in the last week or two, we know that we didn't do what was required of us and everybody has been feeling very apologetic towards the club and the fans.

"But this is the game in which we can overcome it, and there's so much to lift ourselves for. We're still in the top four in the Premier League and I'm sure we can stay there.

"Spurs have improved a lot, though, and you have to give them credit. Any team that's in their position at this stage of the season has clearly done well, so we're in for a real battle. All I can say is that we'll be ready."
  • Bacary Sagna has called on Eden Hazard to make the move to Arsenal, with the Gunners defender claiming it would be an "error" if he joined Tottenham.
Belgium international Hazard has been making positive noises about heading to the Premier League in the summer, with his comments putting the likes of Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United on alert.

The Lille winger would add a dynamic option to the Arsenal squad and Sagna is clearly eager for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to win the race for Hazard's signature.

On the eve of the North London derby, Sagna said of a possible move for Hazard to Spurs: "I think it would be an error for him.

"I watch the French League and Hazard is an excellent player. It would be a major signing for Arsenal, but it's up to different people to decide his destination.

"He needs to reflect and make the choice of club for the style of football.

"Hazard has the perfect profile for the Premier League because he has swiftness, is a very good dribbler and is able to find spaces for team-mates. He is a player who can change the rhythm and provoke problems in defence."
  • Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is determined to prise Stephane Sessegnon away from Sunderland.
Sessegnon, 27, has impressed boss Martin O’Neill, who has described him as 'essential' to his plans at the Stadium of Light .

The Benin ace has scored nine goals in nearly 40 games for the Black Cats since a £6million switch from Paris Saint-Germain.

His arrival could prompt the sale of underachieving England winger Theo Walcott, 22.

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Why is Usmanov’s Red & White Holding buying up all these shares now? The answers



Many people have been asking this question and also will he take over at when he gets to 30% share holding in Arsenal. Well below should hopefully answer whys he’s buying and what 30% means to Arsenal now.

  • ·         Premier League rules regard someone with 30% or more of the voting shares of a club as in control.
  • ·        So if you have 30% you are deemed to be in control, and if you are in control then you are deemed to be acting as a Director, even if you’re not actually on the Board.
  • ·         So Premier League rules state the responsibilities of Directors are reporting all “material transactions” to the Premier League (a material transaction is one of £25,000 or more) in respect of pretty much anything including agents fees “third party payments” (bills and such),  players wages.

So if,
·         Usmanov gets to 30% he is treated by the Premier League as a de facto Director and Directors have a duty to sign off reports to the Premier League as correct these  reports include most transactions over £25,000.

So how is a Usmanov supposed to sign off the books if he doesn’t have full access to the them? This will be the argument that Usmanov will be use!.

§  If he is allowed access, he will get all the details of who is paid what, where all the income comes from and where the expenditure goes.
§  This knowledge will allow him to judge whether the business is being run well much better than by reading the published accounts that are available to anyone. There is a wealth of detail that can be hidden in ‘overall wages’ and ‘miscellaneous expenses’.

What else does a 30% shareholding mean?

§  Nothing anymore at Arsenal. When there are a group of small shareholders with no single person in majority control, 30% is the magic figure at which a shareholder has to make a bid for all other shares in a company.
§  This is designed to stop shareholders avoiding responsibility. It stops them building a big stake in a company without taking on any of the duties of ownership.
§  Remember that Kroenke bought enough shares to take him to just below the 30% threshold, then stuck on that level until it suited him and the rest of the Board to make his move. At that point he agreed a price with Danny Fiszman and the other Board members, and was obliged to make an offer for all the other shares.
§  Now that that there is a majority shareholder, there is no rule that says Usmanov getting to 30% obliges him to do anything. He does not have to make an offer to Kroenke if and when he reaches 30%, and this is not his reason for wanting to get there.
§  30% doesn’t entitle Usmanov to a seat on the Board. The Board is voted for by the shareholders and votes require a majority, 50% plus one share. As Kroenke has about 67% his vote wins. So Usmanov would not join the Board.

When can Usmanov make an offer for the club?

§  Anytime he wants to today, tomorrow whenever.

@thearsenal49ers & @AngryOfN5