Lifelong Gooner Jenkinson is proud of his Arsenal DNA “Yennaris is the same!” Henry "The thing with Arsenal is you never really that club. The stadium & the players have changed, but it is a family club! Alex Chamberlain is really good!” Wilshere could be back for the final 5 games of the season! Rosicky “I love it here!”

• Arsenal fullback Carl Jenkinson is proud of his club merchandise.

Supporters saw evidence of this in a photo posted on Twitter recently, and Jenkinson said how it all began.

“I think I asked for all the wallpaper one Christmas and then was given more things for birthdays, and the collection gradually built up,” he said.

“A lot of the pictures on the wall are laminated copies of signed pictures and I used to collect them, picking them up whenever I went to a game. So I picked up little things here and there; it took a few years but it’s definitely an Arsenal room now.”

The right back isn’t alone in being a diehard fan since childhood. Nico Yennaris has a similar treasure trove of material at home, and Carl is quite happy to compare notes.

“I know Nico Yennaris has a similar stash of things,” he laughs. “It’s quite refreshing to have another lad at the Club who has felt the same way as me about it for so long."

• Thierry Henry says that players who spend time at Arsenal never really leave the club.

The veteran striker recently had his second spell at the club where he holds the all-time goal scoring record and has not closed the door on a potential third stint in 2013.

But regardless of that, Henry feels that it is difficult to really leave Arsenal as the club becomes so engrained in your life.

"Will I come again in 2013? It happened that way in 2012, but it was not forecasted. I was a help and that was all," he said.

"The thing with Arsenal is you never really leave that club. The stadium and the players have changed, but it is a family club.

"I am not alone. It is the same with other former players. It is the impact of the club."

• Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is of the belief that young gun Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will have a stellar career.

The French striker spent six weeks back in North London on loan from New York Red Bulls and has seen firsthand what the 18-year old winger is capable of.

"Alex Chamberlain is really good,” Henry said.

"He reminds me of himself and no-one else. He is writing his own story.

"I hope he will remain at Arsenal for a long time and he could forge a career we will never forget."

• Arsenal have announced a Hong Kong leg as part of their Far East tour this summer.

The Gunners will take on champions Kitchee FC at the Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday, July 29.

The squad will travel to Hong Kong from China, where they will be play Manchester City in Beijing two days earlier.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "It's great that Arsenal Football Club is visiting Hong Kong again after 17 years.

"We have many followers in Hong Kong and it's wonderful that these special fans will have an opportunity to see the first team live in action.

"The match will follow on from our visit to Beijing, where we play Manchester City in the Bird's Nest, and is another indication of Arsenal's commitment to Asia.

• Tomas Rosicky insists his great form has nothing to do with a new Arsenal contract.

Rosicky denied his recent purple patch was anything to do with his contract saga.

He said: "I want to say that what was sometimes written, that I have played better because I'm fighting for a contract, had nothing to do with it.

"Although it is now signed, it was just a matter of preparing the paperwork.

"I had given my word to the coach that I would stay much earlier.

• Arsenal crock Jack Wilshere could be back for the final five games of the season.

Arsenal’s medical team have been working around the clock with Wilshere on the ankle injury that has kept him out for the entire season and the 20-year-old is now confident he is closing in on a return.

Barring any more setbacks, Wilshere is hoping to play in at least five games before the end of the season to prove his fitness for England.

• Tomas Rosicky admits he rejected a mega offer from Russia to sign a new deal with Arsenal.

He signed a new contract with the Gunners on Monday.

He said: "In both cases, it was financially huge numbers, so that somehow you had to entertain it - it's not easy. Some days I thought about it, but money is not everything.

"I'm glad I'll be able to continue at Arsenal."

He added: "Arsenal let me get to the point where I had just half a year on my contract and could talk to anyone I wanted.

"It started to get interesting because I had very lucrative offers. This turned my head a little, but I have to say that Arsenal were my priority."

Ref Skomina "Wenger's complaints say a lot about him, Arsenal’s game was to disrupt Milan’s game, it almost worked!” Rosicky "I’m proud of my team-mates because what we produced was great football, but it's sad because blew it in Milan! The fans we’re amazing!” Vermaelen "If we can play like that, there’s is no way that we will not be in the top 4!" Podolski "Money is not the most important thing for me; I want to develop my game!"

• Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky feels they can be proud of their performance against AC Milan.

Rosicky took heart from a rousing performance in front of a noisy Emirates crowd.

"I am proud of my team-mates because what we produced today was great football, but it's sad because obviously we are out of the competition," Rosicky said. "We can go out with our heads held high but we blew it in Milan.

"We knew [that we would be making history if we came back] and that's what the boss told us in the pre-match speech. Who wouldn't want to be part of something special? So of course we were up for it and I think you could see that. So it's a shame.

"The early goal was definitely a big boost for us, when you score so early it gives you a boost. Even if we hadn't scored so early we would have kept coming because you have to do that, you have to keep pounding the rock. An early goal makes you think it's possible so it was vital."

• Ref Damir Skomina has hit back at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after their bust-up during victory over AC Milan.

Wenger was hit by a UEFA charge after clashing with Skomina during the game.

Skomina said: "Wenger's complaints say a lot about him. We had to be careful not to make any mistakes with the result that someone might say his team was knocked out because of us."

Wenger was furious with the number of free-kicks awarded to the Italians as his side battled to a 3-0 win but crashed out 4-3 on aggregate.

Skomina added: "It was a very important game.

"In our preparations, we considered a lot of different game scenarios and one was exactly as it happened in the first half — that Arsenal would go for it 'all or nothing' by putting maximum pressure on Milan's players and trying to disrupt their game. It almost worked."

• Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky had praised his teammates for their courageous performance in last night’s Champions League Round of 16 second leg.

The Gunners fell a goal short of taking AC Milan to extra-time at the Emirates Stadium with a 3-0 victory on the night to be eliminated 4-3 on aggregate after the first leg at the San Siro.

Despite exiting the competition, Rosicky was proud of the showing in front of home fans.

"I am proud of my team-mates because what we produced today was great football, but it's sad because obviously we are out of the competition," Rosicky said.

"We can go out with our heads held high but we blew it in Milan.

"We knew [that we would be making history if we came back] and that's what the boss told us in the pre-match speech. Who wouldn't want to be part of something special? So of course we were up for it and I think you could see that. So it's a shame.

"The early goal was definitely a big boost for us, when you score so early it gives you a boost.

"Even if we hadn't scored so early we would have kept coming because you have to do that, you have to keep pounding the rock. An early goal makes you think it's possible so it was vital."

• Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen suggests the club will produce a top-four finish this season if they continue with their current form.

Recently the Gunners have come from behind to beat Tottenham 5-1 and Liverpool 2-1 before getting the better of AC Milan 3-0 last night.

Even though the second leg result was not enough to get Arsenal through to the Champions League quarter-finals, Vermaelen is confident these sorts of performances in the Premier League will sew up a spot in Europe’s premier club competition next season.

"If we can play like (we did last night), there is no way that we will not be in the top four," he said.

"That performance will give us a boost now.

"We are out of the Champions League but we need to take the great feeling out of this game.

"It's really important that we qualify for the Champions League.

"I think Arsenal are a team that belongs in the Champions League.

"We have the quality to do it, that showed in the second leg."

• Arsenal convinced they have a deal in place for FC Cologne star Lukas Podolski.

Podolski will become an Arsenal player at the end of the season after Cologne accepted a £10.9m bid for the Polish-born player.

An initial £18m asking price was dismissed by Arsenal, who began the bidding at around £8m. But with Podolski underlining his eagerness to join the Gunners by settling on personal terms, Arsenal came back with an improved offer that was accepted.

The striker’s four-year deal is worth over £100,000 a week

• FC Koln striker Lukas Podolski has made it clear that money is not a motivating factor for where he continues his football career.

The Germany international is being heavily linked with a summer move to Arsenal but has reportedly also been offered big money from Russian clubs Lokomotiv Moscow and Anzhi Makhachkala.

However, Podolski says playing for cash is not his number one priority as he gets nearer to departing Cologne at the end of the season.

"Money is not the most important thing for me,” the 26-year old said. “What is crucial is the development of my game."

• Tomas Rosicky has played his way to a new contract at Arsenal.

Arsenal are also ready to reward rejuvenated Rosicky with a new 12-month contract.

The Czech Republic midfielder has won great praise from manager Arsene Wenger and captain Robin van Persie for his influence on their form turnaround in recent weeks.

AW "We restored a good pride & performance tonight, we are disappointed because we touched qualification! We had the chances and we didn't do it, we got tired! If you beat Milan 3-0 you can only say well done to the players! Rosicky was outstanding! The Ox made things happen!” The Ref was poor! Milan’s pitch cost us in the first game!” RVP, Szczeny, Koscielny talk!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels their pride was restored after last night's 3-0 Champions League win over AC Milan.

The Gunners still bowed out of the competition 4-3 on aggregate, but Wenger was proud of their performance.

He said: "We restored a good performance tonight and we are disappointed because we touched qualification.

"We had the chances and we didn't do it, but we were very close. I felt that we suffered a bit in the second half physically because we gave a lot at Liverpool.

"When we tired in midfield we had no options on the bench and the regret I have is there.

"The players put in a faultless performance, with fantastic spirit and you can only congratulate the whole team."

Wenger added: "If you win 3-0 at home, you can only say well done to the players.

"You know that if you play 180 minutes and you miss 90, it is difficult at that level. We were very close."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger railed against UEFA and the match officials after their courageous Champions League exit against AC Milan.

Wenger was reported to have been involved in a confrontation with Slovakian referee Damir Skomina as they left the field.

Responding to a general question on the match officials in his post-match press conference, theArsenal manager said: "I was not happy with the referee tonight because I felt he gave many free-kicks in the middle of the park.

"Every time they went down a free-kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well."

Wenger was also still annoyed by the manner of their humiliation in Italy, which came on a playing surface which had been relaid just days before.

He said: "It is maybe an easy excuse but I feel UEFA has a lot to answer for because if you arrive at 7.46pm you get fined, but you can play on a bad pitch and they don't say a word.

"I just feel it is part of the respect for people who pay their money and go to a football game and expect conditions where you can play football.

"That's what we try to do here and it is unacceptable for UEFA to accept pitches like the one in Milan."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels Tomas Rosicky has been a big influence on their form turnaround.

Rosicky was again outstanding in victory over AC Milan.

"I have to give credit to Tomas Rosicky for that. He was again outstanding here. In all of these games, he was one of the most influential players, and he does not always get the credit he deserves, so I would like to take this opportunity to give him credit," Wenger said.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was delighted with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's performance in victory over AC Milan.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was making his first start in the Champions League.

Wenger said: "For a guy who has never played at the top level in central midfield, he started in a Champions League game and he did well. He tired a bit in the second half after his injury, and he got less of the ball than he did in the first half. When he got the ball, you always think something could happen.

"He can play all of the places across the pitch, in midfield to wide. You could see he has suffered physically, but also that he has the class to be in there."

• Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has hailed Tomas Rosicky's influence on their form turnaround.

Rosicky was again outstanding in victory over AC Milan.

“He rarely scores, but [his goal against Spurs] was so important,” recalled the captain in last night. “He started the move himself and then finished it really well.

“Tomas is a hugely important member of this team - he has been playing so well this season and you can see that he’s going from strength to strength.”

Rosicky’s ability on the ball and eye for a pass are matched by few at the top level - and Van Persie believes that his astuteness just cannot be taught.

“I just love playing with him because he’s so quick in his mind, so clever in the way he sees passes and so adept at completing them,” he said.

“He’s just football-clever, and that’s something you can’t pick up later in your career. You either have it or you don’t.”

• Arsenal players are adamant they'll be back in the Champions League next season after last night's courageous defeat to AC Milan.

Laurent Koscielny insisted their efforts in coming so close to a historic result have made them all the more determined to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The French defender — whose seventh-minute goal sparked the Gunners' astonishing fightback — said: "We want to come back in the Premier League because we would like to play games like that again.

"Everyone fought together as team-mates so it's important to keep that going.

"We won against Spurs and Liverpool and although we have difficult games we are now determined to get the fourth place or maybe even third place.

"Everybody's dead tired but when we lost 4-0 in the first game it's always difficult to come back.

"But we gave everything on the pitch and in the end it was just one goal. At half-time we wanted to continue playing like that, we had opportunities in the second half, Robin van Persie had one but he doesn't score. That's life."

• Wojciech Szczesny admits he was left 'heartbroken' by Arsenal's UEFA Champions League exit but feels the manner of their departure fires a warning to their Premier League rivals.

The Gunners came close to overthrowing a 4-0 first-leg deficit against AC Milan at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night but fell just short as the second leg finished 3-0 to the hosts.

Arsenal goalkeeper Szczesny says his side will take confidence from the battling exit and believes their top-four league rivals should be wary.

"We sent a message across to the teams in the Premier League that when we are at our very best we can beat anyone in the country and in Europe," the Poland international said.

"So it will give us a lot of confidence. Yes we are heartbroken because it wasn't enough and we got knocked out of the Champions League but there are a lot of positives."

Recent results have left Arsenal fourth in the Premier League table and four points adrift of fierce local rivals Tottenham.

Szczesny admits he will not be happy with anything less than a third-place finish and hopes Arsenal's neighbours slip out of the race for Champions League football altogether.

"I wouldn't settle now for fourth place," he added. "We're four points behind the other North London club and hopefully we can challenge them.

"Hopefully Chelsea can challenge them for a fourth spot as well. I'd be really pleased to see Tottenham in the Europa League next season."

Gunners defender Thomas Vermaelen believes his side have every chance of overtaking Spurs if they carry the momentum from Tuesday's win into their league campaign.

"If you play the way we played in the first half, if you're consistent like that, then I'm not worried, we will be in the top four," he said.

"If you play the way we played today you can beat every team. It's just a case of being consistent in the next following games and if we do that we will be in the top four and maybe the top three."

Right-back Bacary Sagna is also keen for the Gunners to turn their attention back to the league, with a visit of Newcastle looming next Monday evening.

He said: "Now we have the Premier League. We will receive Newcastle at home and that will be a massive game for us. We are getting closer and closer to Tottenham."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would not hear criticism of Robin van Persie over his fluffed chance against AC Milan.

Wenger refused to blame Van Persie for missing a glorious chance to complete Arsenal's comeback.

"What can I say about that chance? If there's one person you would want it to fall to it was Robin," the Arsenal manger said.

"I felt Robin wanted to chip the keeper because Abbiati was down on the floor. But he got up quickly and the keeper did well so unfortunately we couldn't score that chance."

AW "RVP is a joy to watch play, he’s a great striker! Szczesny is a great GK he learns quickly! We lost Fabregas, Nasri & Wilshere as well, what happened to us was completely unbelievable! Szczesny "AW made me the No 1 GK at AFC at 20 years of age, I owe him a lot!" RVP "I've got 31 goals this season. I owe it all to the team!” Arteta "I have suffered the biggest fear of my life! I’m ok now" Hoilett & Robben Linked!

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hopes victory at Liverpool silences their critics.

Wenger's side have climbed the table into fourth spot, and the manager is delighted with the progress they have made.

"When we played at the start of the season, we were a bit in disarray because we were unstable," he said. "We have since come back into a much better position, we are much more solid and we have 49 points.

"When we played Liverpool before we were 17th in the league. We had room for improvement, but I feel we have improved a lot.

"We lost Fabregas and Nasri and Wilshere as well. We also lost Diaby. What happened to us was completely unbelievable.

"Of course [some players have grown]. We started from deep and people [then] were saying that we were playing not to go down."

• Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere's hopes of playing this season have improved.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed the England midfielder has been allowed to start jogging.

Wilshere suffered a setback in January that appeared to rule him out for the season but his recovery from this latest injury has gone smoothly.

"The last scan was good," said Wenger. "I hope we have him back before the end of the season but we will go step by step."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he's enjoying watching Robin van Persie's success this season.

The Dutch ace struck both goals in victory at Liverpool.

"That is Van Persie," said the Frenchman.

"Everyone speaks about his ability but the intention of his movement in the box is exceptional.

"He is a joy to watch before he gets the ball and that makes a great striker.

"We have all seen that before and that is a real brand of a great striker."

• Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny hopes his performance in victory at Liverpool goes some way to repaying manager Arsene Wenger's faith in him.

The Pole was outstanding on the day.

"He made me the No 1 goalkeeper at Arsenal at 20 years of age," he said. "That gives you a lot of confidence and I am just trying to repay that faith with every single performance.

"At a young age it is hard to be consistent. I have had my ups and downs.

"But the manager keeps believing in me and I hope that performances like this just prove him right."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits Wojciech Szczesny was critical in their victory at Liverpool.

Wenger praised Szczesny for his role in the win.

"It is good he had a performance like that because he had a little bit of a difficult period in January but he has shown his potential and I like he was brave as well - he had a lot of kicking and coming out to do - and he didn't make a mistake." he said.

"He is 21 years old and is a great talent. He is just learning his job but because he is a great talent he learns quickly."

• Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has deflected praise to his teammates after victory at Liverpool.

Van Persie struck twice at Anfield for the 2-1 win.

But he said: "I've got 31 goals this season. I can't believe it.

"It is the first time in a season I have scored this many - and 25 league goals, it is just insane.

"But I have to thank my colleagues because without them I am nothing and they are a massive help.

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits victory over Liverpool was "vital" for their top four hopes.

Robin van Persie netted an injury-time winner at Anfield.

"It was vital for us to win the game," said Wenger, whose side strengthened their grip on fourth place.

"I must say it is hard for Liverpool to lose the game, they had a very good first half and we were not in the game.

"I felt Liverpool played with a pace above us in the first half and our fluency was not there at all and we gave them too much room.

"But as long as you are not killed off in this Premier League you always have a chance because every team has quality strikers to score a goal.

"We hung on and played as well as we could and our goalkeeper and our centre-forward made the difference today.

"What was flattering for us was to be 1-1 at half-time and in the second half I thought it was much more level.

"They had to win the game and but we know we have Van Persie who can give you something special and overall it was not one of our best games but we refused to give in."

• Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta was rocked by his concussion injury suffered during victory at Liverpool.

The 29-year-old left the field to applause from both sets of supporters and admits the injury was a scary one.

"I have suffered the biggest fear of my life," Arteta said. "I only remember the fall by the blow and nothing after. It was terrifying but now I am better.

"Sincerely, I do not remember too much apart from the impact. I have heard people applauded me as I left the field and I am grateful for this reception."

• Arsenal have emerged as the new favourites to sign promising winger Junior Hoilett from Blackburn Rovers. 

The Ewood Park starlet is out of contract in the summer and has attracted the interest of several big clubs with his eye-catching displays for the struggling Lancashire side.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have all been linked with Hoilett, but latest reports suggest Arsenal have moved to the front of the queue for the 21-year-old's signature.

There has also been interest from Bayern Munich, but it is thought the Canada-born player would prefer to remain in the Premier League when he leaves Blackburn.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is believed to be an admirer of Hoilett's pace and trickery, while his style of play resembles that of young Gunners Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Blackburn would like Hoilett to sign a new deal, but are aware that the club's troubles on and off the pitch this season mean he is unlikely to stay.

In January, the winger was named by FIFA as one of the 'players to watch in 2012'. Hoilett featured in the list alongside the likes of Barcelona's emerging star Thiago Alcantara, James Forrest of Celtic and Everton midfielder Ross Barkley.

AW “I believe that you can have a good team yet still not win trophies with a national team because you need one exceptional leader in the side!” Podolski has held talks with Arsenal! AW”Confident Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will make England's Euros squad!” Yacob available on a Free! Yennaris”I’m determined to make it at Arsenal!”

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels teams need one great leader to lead them to glory.

Wenger thinks a talisman can make all the difference when it comes to the crunch at major tournaments.

“I believe that you can have a good team yet still not win trophies with a national team because you need one exceptional leader in the side,” he said.

“I remember the France side of the late 1950s and early ‘60s with Raymond Kopa in the team had a very good period. Then again in the 1980s with Michel Platini; then we had a very good period in the 1990s with Zinedine Zidane.

“Of course there were fantastic players around him, like Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, but you need one outstanding leader who can absorb the pressure from the media. You need one player who can be the technical leader on the pitch, who can do something special to win a tight game.

“You must be lucky as a national manager to have that player available at the right moment.”

• FC Koln striker Lukas Podolski could be nearing a summer move to Arsenal according to club manager Stale Solbakken.

The Germany international has been heavily linked with the Gunners recently with reports suggesting he has agreed terms with the North Londoners and recent comments made my Solbakken regarding the future of the 26-year old indicates he could well be on his way at season’s end.

"Lukas' decision is important for us all, but also for him. We must respect this," he said.

"I know a little more than you," Solbakken added. "I know a lot, but for me it is important that he has everything under control and can concentrate on the upcoming games.

"Podolski is a Koln player at the moment and we know that he will be here until the end of the season. Then we will have to see what happens."

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will make England's Euros squad.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was omitted from Stuart Pearce's England squad for tonight's friendly against Holland at Wembley, but Wenger believes the youngster is destined to make the cut for this summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

"Physically we have to monitor him because after every game he can have a little problem," Wenger said.

"We know now that a large percentage of players who play a lot of games between the ages of 18 and 21 have bony stress responses. I never expected the number to be so high.

"[It happens] because your skeleton is not completely finished and the bones are not completely developed to absorb the kinds of shocks you get in the Premier League.

"We have to be cautious about that. But you are always in a trap when the player is as good as he is, like Jack Wilshere is too.

"You cannot take him out of the team, you have to keep him there. They can win you games.

"Until the end of the season there is no problem and if he continues to play like this I am convinced he will go to Euro 2012."

• Manchester United and Arsenal are scrambling after Claudio Yacob was cut loose by Racing Club this week.

The tough-tackling midfielder, likened to Barcelona ace Javier Mascherano, is now a free agent, and can move to Europe immediately.

Racing coach Alfio Basile demanded the club take action against Yacob after he went AWOL for their defeat to Banfield.

Yacob's camp are now expected to take their time over his next move, with United, Arsenal and Benfica all expected to battle for his signature,

• Arsenal fullback Nico Yennaris is determined to make it at Emirates.

The lifelong Gunner, who made an impressive Premier League debut against Manchester United in January, said that he has taken the advice of Club staff firmly to heart.

“I’ve always believed that what you put in is what you get out,” said Yennaris.

“One of the coaches here once said to me that if you’re going to fail, do so through your ability and not your work rate. I’ve stuck by that and thought that if it’s not going to be, it can’t be because I haven’t tried.

"I’ve always been focused and worked very hard to give myself the best opportunity of succeeding."

• Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner is open to a move to Russia.

Bendtner is currently on-loan at Sunderland, where he's struggled to nail down a regular start.

"There are many strong players that have been taken to Russia. Players of a profile who have not previously done so. I'm loaned out at the moment, but I will consider my options when the time comes.

"In football you can never say never," Bendtner said.

• England chief Gareth Southgate is convinced of the talent in the U21 squad.

Southgate is also excited by the presence of another three London players; West Ham midfielder Henri Lansbury, who is on loan at Upton Park from Arsenal, Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, who is on loan at Swansea, and Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha.

"Lansbury and Oxlade-Chamberlain have been excellent for the Under-21s, while McEachran is also very talented. Zaha has looked exciting for Crystal Palace this season and deserves his first call-up.

"We were unfortunate to lose in Belgium. We deserved at least a draw but the difficulty with Under-21 teams is that you don't know if Belgium were at full strength or if very good players might have emerged in the three months since we played them last, which can happen at this level."

• Joel Campbell gave Arsenal fans a sign of hope to come after scoring in Wales.

Campbell, signed in the summer, scored the winner for Costa Rica against Wales last night.

The striker is currently playing on-loan at Lorient.