Arsenal FC - The 2nd Official Thread
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Ljungberg: Team spirit is back
Sweden captain Fredrik Ljungberg feels the squad have regained their team spirit following their recent success in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Internal conflicts rumoured amongst the Swedish camp appeared to unsettle the side as they were embarrassingly knocked out of the World Cup in Germany.
But with Ljungberg now appointed as captain, the spirit and confidence amongst the players appears to have been restored.
"We have got the team spirit back," Ljungberg told Swedish newspaper Expressen.
"I feel you can see it on the pitch, we are fighting for each other. This is not just my achievement.
"The success comes from Sweden when we work together. Everyone agrees that is our strength.
"I feel we have showed in the European Championship qualifiers that we have a lot to gain with a good team spirit."
Despite Sweden's recent success, the midfielder admits the pain of losing to Germany in the 2006 World Cup still lingers in the back of his mind.
"The clash against Germany was a big disappointment. Before the match, I believed we had a good chance to beat them. But it was over after 20 minutes.
"Everyone didn't fight for each other. But I think we can learn a lot from that match.
Discuss if possible. Thanks. -
How's the relationship btwn mellberg and ljunberg? still bitter?
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If i not wrong, i think they're still bitter over watever incidents.........Originally posted by felirox:How's the relationship btwn mellberg and ljunberg? still bitter? -
Wenger welcomes Henry return
Arsene Wenger is confident Thierry Henry will be on top form for the rest of the season.
The Frenchman struggled to live up to his usual standards in the first half of Arsenal's campaign after taking part in the World Cup last summer.
He has been out for the last few weeks but returned to action in the 4-0 victory over Charlton on Tuesday.
Henry scored a penalty and turned in a classy performance, and Wenger has warned the rest of the Premiership that he is only going to get better.
"It is good to have Thierry back and he was quite sharp for a guy who has not played for one month," said Wenger.
"Maybe it was an ideal game for him - 11 against 10. The pace was not too high and we controlled the game.
"He is 100 percent but not 100 percent match fit. He is in a good frame of mind and has come back hungry and fresh.
"If you look across Europe most of the players that played late in the World Cup have had problems.
"I am convinced you will see a great Thierry Henry from now until May."
Wenger believes the season is still very much alive for Arsenal despite being 15 points off the pace in the Premiership title race, as his side are still involved in three other competitions.
"Maybe we are very far from the championship but we want to do as well as we can," he explained.
"We are in the UEFA Champions League and play in the FA Cup against Liverpool on Saturday. We are also in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.
"A good Thierry Henry can make a difference in the big games.
"We have a good spirit in the camp and the team is very united." -
*thumbs up to 4-0 performance*
Arsenal's not dead yet in the league...
Although, I wouldn't want the big 4 to continue to be the ones in the champions league... -
I hope Wenger will take FA cup and Carling cup seriously. Adebayor will be back soon..where to place him? Persie and Titi playing well already even tho titi not 100% match fit.
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Than u expecting who?Originally posted by I need help:*thumbs up to 4-0 performance*
Arsenal's not dead yet in the league...
Although, I wouldn't want the big 4 to continue to be the ones in the champions league... -
I dunno. I kind of like Bolton. More than Liverpool.
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Inter admire Gilberto
Reports emanating from the Italian press suggest Arsenal midfielder Gilberto is being eyed by Internazionale.
The Brazilian has enjoyed an excellent season thus far at Emirates Stadium and has even added a goal touch to his fine defensive qualities, having weighed in with eight already.
Gilberto's contract is set to expire in 2009 and it is in the summer, rather than January, that Inter would be interested in doing business.
Arsene Wenger would be loath to lose a player that has been integral to his line-up since arriving in North London and it is thought Arsenal will offer him fresh terms.
However, should they fail to concur on an extension with their deputy captain, then he is unlikely to be short of suitors.
It has even been suggested Inter's city rivals Milan could also be interested in Gilberto, with a summer battle to ensue should Arsenal fail to tie him down to fresh terms. -
Originally posted by bryanseb:
Wtf? Inter has Viera. pls dun take gilberto away. he's good man.
[b]Inter admire Gilberto
Reports emanating from the Italian press suggest Arsenal midfielder Gilberto is being eyed by Internazionale.
The Brazilian has enjoyed an excellent season thus far at Emirates Stadium and has even added a goal touch to his fine defensive qualities, having weighed in with eight already.
Gilberto's contract is set to expire in 2009 and it is in the summer, rather than January, that Inter would be interested in doing business.
Arsene Wenger would be loath to lose a player that has been integral to his line-up since arriving in North London and it is thought Arsenal will offer him fresh terms.
However, should they fail to concur on an extension with their deputy captain, then he is unlikely to be short of suitors.
It has even been suggested Inter's city rivals Milan could also be interested in Gilberto, with a summer battle to ensue should Arsenal fail to tie him down to fresh terms. [/b] -
one and only brazil midfielder left in the gunners.
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Milan and Inter eye Lupoli
Milan and Internazionale are reportedly interested in signing Arsenal player Arturo Lupoli, who is currently on-loan at Derby County.
Lupoli, who is contracted at Arsenal until the end of the season, has expressed his desire to return to Italy despite the Gunners' interest in retaining his services.
Arsenal have offered Lupoli a contract extension, but it appears the player has already decided not to accept it and return home instead.
"He is liked by Torino, Napoli and Fiorentina, but Inter and Milan have registered their interest in the last few days," Lupoli's agent Claudio Pasqualin told Teleradiostereo Sport.
"Although he is very young, his contract is set to expire because the player wants to go home, despite Arsenal's interest in renewing his contract.
"As a result, they are now ready to sell him in January for a small fee rather than losing him for nothing at the end of the campaign.
"The obstacle is that Derby County, who signed him on loan until June, are still counting on his services." -
Henry: I'm feeling fresh
Thierry Henry believes he has reaped the rewards of an enforced rest period after returning to action in impressive fashion for Arsenal.
The Gunners skipper was welcomed back to the starting line-up against Charlton on Tuesday after missing seven games due to injury and duly scored one penalty, won another and set up Justin Hoyte's goal in a thumping 4-0 win.
After seeing the early part of his season disrupted by a World Cup hangover, and having suffered with a sciatic nerve problem in recent weeks, Henry is now aiming to recapture his best form as 2007 gets underway.
The French superstar may be asked to play against Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday with Robin van Persie suspended and Emmanuel Adebayor injured, and Henry insists he feels fresh after his recuperation period.
However the former Monaco man admits he made a mistake in trying to play on despite his fitness problems earlier in the season.
"I put my hand up. The only mistake I made was to carry on playing with the injury," said Henry.
"Sometimes you need to stop. I do not miss a lot of games, that is why it was difficult to take.
"When you have been out for a relatively long time, you never know how you are going to be. But, surprisingly, I was feeling fresh.
"When I am not playing as I can and all is not well with my body it shows straight away, because I do not come and take the ball and have a go at defenders.
"I did get hammered about the way I was playing, but it got to the stage where it was stupid to play with it.
"I had to stop and that is what I did.
"You could see straight away that when I am fresh, my legs are better." -
i dont understand why arsenal did not let henry go and cash in on the transfer fee.
afterall the whole squad is very young and arsenal's chances of winning the EPL or CL is very low. -
If henry sold, the striker department will get very young and cant find the net regularly.Originally posted by dragg:i dont understand why arsenal did not let henry go and cash in on the transfer fee.
afterall the whole squad is very young and arsenal's chances of winning the EPL or CL is very low.
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Hoyte: No agenda for Wenger
Justin Hoyte has denied that Arsene Wenger does not give domestic talent a look-in, despite the defender becoming the first Englishman to score for Arsenal in the league for over a year.
The Gunners' French boss has often been derided for his perceived favouritism towards foreign stars and Hoyte broke a long run without an English name on the scoresheet when he finished off a one-two with Thierry Henry in Tuesday's 4-0 defeat of Charlton.
Indeed, Sol Campbell was the last Englishman to net for The Gunners in the Premiership with a brace in September 2005.
However England Under 21 international Hoyte believes the presence of both himself and 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott in Wenger's squad proves that the Arsenal chief is willing to encourage domestic hopefuls despite his multi-national outlook.
"When you put an Arsenal shirt on, we are all playing for Arsenal," said Hoyte.
"Arsene Wenger does give English players a chance. Theo and I are here, and we are playing well. That is great for Arsenal.
"There are also other English players here and if you are good enough and the boss has faith in you, then you will play.
"The boss has shown that already and so it is just up to me and Theo to keep working hard so that we can keep our places in the team.
"It is just fantastic for me to score, full stop. It is all good for the team and it is a great result.
"When we all play everyone is playing for Arsenal. It does not matter what nationality you are, it does not matter where you are from." -
Gunners trial Swedish starlet
Arsenal have handed a trial to teenage Swedish defender Niklas Penttila.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger insists that the club will not be making any additions to the first team squad in January, but Steve Bould's academy side could have a new recruit if the defender impresses in North London.
Pentilla currently plays in his home country for Fagersta Sodra but has attracted the attention of Wenger's highly-attuned scouting network and will now travel to Emirates Stadium in the coming days.
AIK, Djurgarden and Hammarby have all been closely monitoring Pentilla's situation, but the 15-year-old admits he hopes to join Swedish skipper Freddie Ljungberg at The Gunners.
"It's like a dream, I hope I get to meet Ljungberg," Penttila told Expressen.
"It really sounded like they are interested, I just hope it goes well during the trial now." -
henry did not play until recently. how many goals have arsenal scored already?Originally posted by bryanseb:If henry sold, the striker department will get very young and cant find the net regularly.
a lot isnt it? -
Check it out (epl table)Originally posted by dragg:henry did not play until recently. how many goals have arsenal scored already?
a lot isnt it?
http://soccertalk.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=229437 -
Titi changed his boots. tt's why he played better.
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thats exactly my point.Originally posted by bryanseb:Check it out (epl table) http://soccertalk.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=229437
how many did henry score out of the 41 goals? -
Wasn't Henry's goal count 8?
100/(40/
= 20%
Not bad what. Why the hate. -
Damn stupid emoticons.
100 / ( 40/8 ) = 20% -
Diaby boost for Gunners
Arsenal's Abou Diaby has returned to full training.
The 20-year-old Frenchman has been sidelined since breaking an ankle against Sunderland in May.
"It's great news," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online. "He had his first complete training session today.
"Abou is so happy to play and his performance was very positive."
The Arsenal boss also confirmed full-back Emmanuel Eboue would be in the squad for Saturday's FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool after shaking off an ankle injury.
"The news is quite good at the moment. We have no new injuries from the Charlton game and we have Eboue available for Saturday," added Wenger.
The Gunners boss said the injury situation at the club was improving all the time with only Johan Djourou and Freddie Ljungberg (both hamstring) concerns.
And he confirmed both Theo Walcott and William Gallas may also return for Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Anfield, while Julio Baptista is also nearing a return. -
Gallas: FA Cup a priority
William Gallas has revealed the FA Cup has become a priority for Arsenal after slipping out of the title race.
The talented French stopper, who is still recovering from a thigh strain, believes The Gunners are too far behind Manchester United and Chelsea to challenge for the Premiership crown.
The former Chelsea defender now wants Arsenal to go all the way in Cup and recapture the trophy they claimed in 2002, '03 and '05.
However, The Gunners' task is a tricky one from the off with Arsenal taking on an in-form Liverpool in their own back yard on Saturday.
"It's true the title is a long way off," Gallas told the Daily Mirror. "Unfortunately we have dropped too many silly points and we're paying for it with our position.
"It's even more of a shame since Manchester United and Chelsea dropped off a bit. With three matches a week it's normal these teams have a tricky spell, even with their big squads.
"We should have taken advantage of it, but we didn't. Now, apart from the Champions League, the FA Cup has become a big target for us."