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.

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.

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

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."