Arsenal
-
yea i hope he will not suffer any form of racial abuse in italy.but actually i prefer to see him in the white of real madrid,but trust the genius in wenger that he will have the problem solved.
-
Jermaine Jenas has been left out of Newcastle's InterToto Cup tie with Dubnica on Sunday.
The 22-year-old's absence will only intensify speculation linking Jenas with a move to Arsenal.
After Patrick Vieira's departure to Juventus, and Edu's earlier transfer to Valencia, Arsene Wenger is desperate to find a quickfire solution to his central midfield shortage before the start of the forthcoming campaign.
The timing of Vieira's move means that Wenger has little time to bed in a new acquisition, making Jenas' Premiership experience a considerable plus point should the Arsenal boss move for the player.
Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd and manager Graeme Souness have both ruled out any move for Jenas, saying that the England international would cost a lot more than Arsenal received for Vieira.
However, the absence of Jenas from the InterToto set-up only increases question marks over the midfielder's Newcastle future.
Souness stated at the press conference on Friday: "We're not in the business of selling our best players and I'm not going to talk about it."
Stephen Carr is also absent from the squad for Sunday, with Newcastle saying that the two players have been given extra rest after being on international duty at the end of last season. -
MADRID, July 15 (Reuters) - Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido says he has rejected a renewed offer of £13.75million, €20million, from Arsenal for the club's Brazilian attacking midfielder Julio Baptista.
Baptista: Arsenal's top target? (Picture/GettyImages)
'There is now a written offer on the table for Baptista for 20 million euros,' Del Nido told reporters on Friday.
'The offer is much higher than the three previous ones, but we haven't reached an agreement with Arsenal and the figures are still not close to what we are asking for.
'We are in no hurry. The player is under contract and if we don't agree a deal, then he will play at Sevilla next season.'
Del Nido confirmed that neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid had made an offer for the 23-year-old international.
Last week Del Nido rejected what he called a 'derisory' offer from Arsenal for the player.
Spanish media reported on Friday that the English club were prepared to use the 20 million euros they had raised from the sale of Patrick Vieira to Juventus to finance the deal.
Baptista joined Sevilla on a five-year contract from Sao Paulo in July 2003 for £2million.
He made an immediate impact at the Andalucian club, earning the sobriquet 'La Bestia' (the Beast) for his rampaging runs into the area, ending his first season as leading scorer with 20 league goals from 30 appearances.
He continued his rich vein of form last term, notching up 18 goals to help Sevilla to a sixth-place finish in the Primera Liga for the second season in succession.
Baptista was part of the Brazil squad that won the Confederations Cup last month and has not begun pre-season training as he remains on holiday. -
Arsenal are set to land Bastia's much coveted Cameroonian youngster Alexandre Song.
Following the sale of Patrick Vieira, Gunners chief Arsene Wenger has wasted little time in moving for the highly-rated defensive midfielder.
The 17-year-old, who rejected Middlesbrough at 13, has been tracked by Manchester United, Internazionale and Lyon in recent months.
However, Wenger has now stepped in and is firm favourite to land Song - nephew of former Liverpool star Rigobert Song.
"Indeed Alex wants to play in England," confirmed Bastia chairman Louis Multari.
"We have started to talk with Arsene. I think we will make it happen. We should sell him."
Song still has three years left on his current contract with the Corsican club, but they have now agreed to sell him for €4 million (£2.7 million).
nephew of rigobert song??ohmygoodness..thats a player who does nothing but gets yellow carded all the time.. -
Arsenal have handed a trial to French defender Philippe Christanval.
The centre half is looking to relaunch his career after his contract was cancelled by Marseille last month.
He had two years remaining on his deal at Stade Velodrome but was released after enduring two injury-plagued seasons since joining from Barcelona.
His availability on a free transfer has prompted Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to hand Christanval the chance to earn a move to The Premiership.
Christanval has linked up with The Gunners for a trial and was selected for Saturday's friendly against Barnet.
Wenger is looking to add more depth to his squad and could offer Christanval a contract if he proves he has overcome his injury troubles.
The 26-year-old was rated extremely highly during the early stages of his career but he has not hit the heights expected of him.
wasn't he the flop at barcelona?? -
Its Arsenal way of doing things by selling players after their prime and scout for young talents and sell them after their prime and so on and on and on and on and on..
-
i really no eyes to see.Originally posted by dragg:
seem like Gunners are losing players this season. -
i hope he gets it right.Originally posted by 798:i really no eyes to see.
seem like Gunners are losing players this season.
i have a lot of respect for wenger. better dont let the fans down. -
Hey we have sold many of our top players and still challenged for the title. Players like Petit, Anelka, Overmarcs were considered to be "Indispensable to the club".
The weird thing its, those players who leave Arsenal never seem to make it elsewhere... -
henry has be installed as the new captain.i think only he and sol campbell were the only players worth of it.but even sol's future in doubt..
-
Henry the captain. Oh no...his arrogance is going to reach new heightsOriginally posted by stellazio:henry has be installed as the new captain.i think only he and sol campbell were the only players worth of it.but even sol's future in doubt..
-
Ashley Cole is staying. Is this good or bad for Arsenal?
-
NoOriginally posted by I_am_PeTe_Parker:Ashley Cole is staying. Is this good or bad for Arsenal? -
Yes,he's a good left back..
-
good left back...but will he be committed to the club.Originally posted by stellazio:Yes,he's a good left back.. -
'The Beast' going to London?.....
Baptista ambition hinders Arsenal
Tuesday July 26, 2005
The Guardian
Arsenal will discover by next week if their pursuit of Julio Baptista has succeeded after talks with the Brazilian striker's club Sevilla reached an advanced stage.
The Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein was in Spain on Friday to discuss a fee with Sevilla's president José MarÃa del Nido, and the latter reportedly stated that the clubs were "close" to agreement and hinted that the bid will surpass £16m.
Long article...I just cut it short. Basically the news says apparently Seville has agreed terms with Arsenal...but Baptista is delaying the deal because he wants to stay in Spain to get a Spanish passport. He has to stay in Spain for 2 years before he will be granted the passport. If he goes to London now he will fall short of the 2 year requirement. -
I think Spurs also have an eye on Baptista.
-
Arsenal 2-0 Newcastle United
New season, new captain, new shirt but the same old story.
Arsenal began their final campaign at Highbury with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over 10-man Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
The goals, a penalty from Thierry Henry and super near-post strike from substitute Robin van Persie, arrived in the last nine minutes. By that time Newcastle had played 50 minutes with a man short after Jermaine Jenas saw red for a challenge from behind on Gilberto.
The visitors responded valiantly to their numerical disadvantage and, although were not at their fluent best, the home side kept playing football and plugging away.
This was never a classic but, with a trip to Chelsea just seven days away, Wenger knew he needed a win. All eyes now turn to Stamford Bridge next Sunday.
Ten of Arsenal’s starting XI had begun the last game of the previous season — the FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United. The exception was Henry, who returned to begin his first Premiership game as Arsenal’s permanent captain. The Frenchman came into the side in place of Jose Antonio Reyes, who was serving a one-match suspension for his dismissal in the last seconds of the game at Millennium Stadium. New signing Alexander Hleb had to make do with a place on the bench.
This was start of an historic season as the club say goodbye to their home since 1913 before moving to Emirates Stadium. In keeping with the feeling of old and new, a number of former players paraded around the pitch before kick-off then, shortly afterwards, the present crop trotted out in their new-style redcurrant shirts. It was a little strange not to see the team running out in red and white but, as Arsenal fans will see when they take up their seats in a fabulous new arena 12 months from now, change is good.
The game started in bright sunshine and with the passion youÂ’d expect of a top Premiership clash on the opening weekend of the season. In the first 15 minutes, Henry cracked a rasping drive at Shay Given and Alan Shearer dragged a shot across Jens Lehmann in the Arsenal goal.
However the game fell into a slumber after that and only woke up, albeit with a bang, 13 minutes before the break. There was effort and energy from both sides but little in the way of incisiveness. Then, in the 32nd minute, Jenas scythed down Gilberto in central midfield and referee Steve Bennett deemed the challenge bad enough to warrant a straight red card. Gilberto hobbled off for treatment but returned a few minutes later. Jenas, however, took a one-way trip down the tunnel.
Three minutes later, Ljungberg lofted a free-kick to the far post. Stephen CarrÂ’s clearance cannoned off Senderos and the swivelling Toure lashed in a rasping shot toward Given at the near post. The Irish keeper batted the ball behind for a corner.
Shearer did have the ball in the net a few minutes later but the referee had whistled for offside. Still the tide was turning ArsenalÂ’s way. LaurenÂ’s deep cross found the stretching Henry at the far post. His header flew over the bar.
The teams emerged after the interval with very different ambitions. Newcastle were now happy to settle for containment in the hope of grabbing a point, Arsenal knew nothing less than a comfortable win was sufficient.
As you might expect the home side dominated in terms of territory and possession but, in the opening stages, the best they could manage was LjungbergÂ’s sliding effort which was diverted wide for a corner.
Henry went clear but could not convert then Pires darted to the byline before Given saved sharply from Toure. It was starting to be one of those games when Arsenal huffed and puffed but the visitors just would not let them in.
In the 67th minute a typically crisp move saw the home side carve out their best opportunity of the game. Ashley Cole knocked the ball into Henry on the edge of the area and his first-time touch sent Ljungberg scuttling clear. The Swede got his shot away but Given was out quickly and blocked with his body.
A few minutes later Wenger brought on Hleb and Van Persie for Bergkamp and Fabregas. Dutchman replaced Dutchman up front and the Belarusian slotted in on the left with Pires joining Gilberto in midfield. Arsenal would play out this game with a surfeit of skill in midfield.
They continued to work themselves in to excellent positions but too often the final ball went awry or players misread the intentions of others. Also, credit where it is due, Newcastle were defending stoutly.
But their resistance was broken 10 minutes from time. Ljungberg again burst into the area but this time he was clipped by Charles NÂ’Zogbia as he pulled his leg back to shoot. Referee Bennett pointed to the spot and Henry sidefooted the penalty into the corner.
A few minutes later Ljungberg ended a sweeping move by racing to the byline and cutting the ball back to near post. Van Persie arrived on cue and somehow squeezed his host between Given and the post. Lauren nearly added a third but 2-0 was more than enough today.
It was perhaps hard on Newcastle after their battling display but it does get Arsenal off to the best possible start in a very important season.
Courtesy of arsenal.com -
REFEREE
Steve Bennett (Kent)
ATTENDANCE
38,072
ARSENAL
Jens Lehmann
Lauren
Kolo Toure
Philippe Senderos
Ashley Cole
Freddie Ljungberg
Gilberto
Cesc Fabregas
Alexander Hleb 72
Roberto Pires
Mathieu Flamini 82
Dennis Bergkamp
Robin Van Persie 72
Thierry Henry
SUBS NOT USED
Manuel Almunia
Pascal Cygan
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Shay Given
Stephen Carr
Belozoglu Emre
Scott Parker
Steven Taylor
Jean-Alain Boumsong (Y)
Jermaine Jenas (R)
Celestine Babayaro
Lee Bowyer
Kieron Dyer
Charles N'Zogbia 69
Alan Shearer
James Milner 72
SUBS NOT USED
Robbie Elliot
Stephen Harper
Amdy Faye -
Next match: Chelsea vs Arsenal (21 Aug)
-
I think alot of us are expecting buck-loads of goals since both Arsenal n Newcastle are looking to take 3 points out from this. But the first 15mins was a bore with both sets of players playing cautious football.
It was unfortunate that JJ got himself red carded but the ref was right to send him early for showers. It was a two footed tackle and there's no intent to play the ball.
I think Wenger realized that Newcastle's 5man midfield is not allowing his forwards to score from assist, he changed tactics and ball was played thru more from the wings.
While Viera scored over the other end in Italy with Juventus, he was not much missed in the middle. Fabregas did reasonably well with Gilberto covering him. -
i think arsenal is not bad lor..... seen from the first match
n CHELSEA SUX look at them... defence like water lor WIGAN might hav won it -
Arsenal wasnt as fluent in their style of playing as last season as shown last night.But i believe they will get back their best form.
Chelsea last night was a joke.Spent so much money and still struggle against a team like Wigan. -
:)