Thierry Henry to return to Arsenal?

For the past few weeks, Thierry Henry has been practicing with the Arsenal squad to maintain fitness during the off season in the MLS, where he currently plays.

Being around the Arsenal team, it was inevitable that the speculation about a possible return to Arsenal would surface. Until now though, Wenger never really mentioned this as an option. During the press conference ahead of the Man City game, he was asked about the possibility of a return of Thierry. This is what he said:

"I haven't even investigated that. I cannot tell you even if there is a chance because I haven't even made an approach. I do not always master all my thoughts so it has to come through my brain at some stage but I haven't been concrete on the case."

He was also adamant that Henry could still cope with the English Premier League and perform well at the level. If he was to return, he would be worth a Premier League free bet to score sometime on his return. While the chances of this move are still small, with the lack of striker options other than RVP at the moment, it would not be a bad short term loan move.

Future looking brighter

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The early season crisis has been somewhat repaired by the good string of results over the past few months.

The team looks stronger defensively and the new signings are steadily contributing more and more to the team. Gervinho look very promising and RVP has been absolutely immense. Another striker in January might be just what we need.

The future now looks brighter, especially considering Jack Wilshere should be back in the near future. While we may not be strong enough for a trophy this season once again, anything lower than a top 3 or 4 finish would be very disappointing.

The latest Arsenal news below.

The Aftermath: Think before it is too late


Just as some of us feared before the match, today's 8-2 massacre was a massive, massive dissapointment and many Gooners are rightfully upset and desperate today. There is no doubt that mistakes were made and change is needed.

But before you join the WENGER OUT bandwagon and take to the streets, don't forget some crucial facts:
- Don't forget where your club was before Wenger
- Don't forget where your club would be without Wenger
- Don't forget The Invincibles
- Don't forget some of the most entertaining football the world has ever seen being played by your club
- Don't forget Henry, Bergkamp, Cesc, Vieira, RVP, Pires, Ljungberg, Campbell, Wilshere
- Don't forget your brand new stadium that will allow Mourinho-like managers of the future to splash the cash and buy trophies
- Don't forget the minimal resources Wenger had to work with
- And please don't forget who the most succesful Arsenal manager of all time is

Your club was never as rich as City or Chelsea, or as big as United or Liverpool. The only reason it is competing with them is because of one man.

I am saying be critical. But remain respectful. I thought it was what made Arsenal fans special.

The future of your club depends on it.

Arsenal Champions League Group 2011


After the much needed victory against Udinese, Arsenal qualified for the group stages of the Champions League. Last night, the draw for the groups was made and Arsenal have been selected with Marseille, Olympiacos and Borussia Dortmund.

I think this is not the best of groups as we all know how strong Dortmund was in the Bundesliga last year and both Marseille and Olympiacos can be very strong, particularly at home.

Having said all that, we should be strong enough for a top two finish and qualification for the knock out rounds. At the moment, after the difficult couple of weeks that it has been, I am just happy we are in the competition.

The latest Arsenal news below.

Arsenal in Wesley Sneijder transfer move?


This news has been spreading fast after an Italian newspaper, Gazzetta dello Sport, linked the Gunners with a move for the highly rated midfield star. Sneijder, a long time Manchester United target, would be one of the rare players that would offer Arsenal a suitable replacement for Cesc.

The transfer offer would have to be quite high (believed to be over 30 million) in order to make the Italians part with their star player, even though it is reported that Sneijder is keen for a move.

The 27 year old attacking midfielder would fit well into the Arsenal set up and would offer much needed experience to the team. I still don't think it is likely to occur but after having the loan offer for Kaka reportedly rejected by Madrid, this is a player that would ease the stress of the Arsenal faithful.

Arsenal in Kaka Loan Transfer Deal?


Wenger is said to be turning to Brazilian star Kaka as a solution to fill the void left by the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona. It may be a way to add experience to the side while not having to spend a large amount of money on an experienced player whose value would likely plummet in the coming years. Kaka has not been very happy in Real Madrid recently, prompting Arsenal to make inquiries.

Arsenal do seem to be considering loan moves for more experienced players as Didier Deschamps confirmed yesterday, saying Marseille rejected a loan bid for Lucho Gonzales.

How much truth there is to these rumours is anyone's guess, but it would be a nice piece of news to provide some relief from all the doom and gloom that sourrounds us at the moment. Even though it would confirm Arsene's stubborn reluctance to spend money. If this move was to go ahead, Arsenal would have to qualify for the Champions League first.

The latest Arsenal news below.

Arsenal offer Tevez-Nasri transfer swap


According to several UK media outlets, Wenger has offered Manchester City the opportunity to swap Carlos Tevez for Samir Nasri.

Both players want to leave their respective clubs, so the transfer offer is a sensible one in many ways, even though it is still very unlikely to occur.

Tevez has stated in the past that he would like to move closer to his family and moving to London isn't really all that much closer. Another factor would be that Tevez is valued higher than Nasri and would have high wage demands that Arsenal may find difficult to match. So I have to say I have some reservations about the likelihood of the deal.

What I wanted to ask is whether you feel that getting Tevez would sufficiently strengthen Arsenal and make us more competitive in the title race? Please comment and let me know. First game of the season today!

Check out the latest Arsenal news below.

Almunia possibly on his way to Malaga

According to unconfirmed reports coming to us, Manuel Almunia is on his way out of Arsenal and will likely sign for Malaga very shortly.

This puts an end to his Arsenal career that has had many ups and downs. While his performances might have been inconsistent at times, he always gave his all for Arsenal, worked hard and remained loyal and respectful to the club even in situations when many others would not have.

We would like to wish Almunia all the best for the future.

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Juan Mata transfer to Arsenal closer


As Arsenal fans come to terms with the likely departures of Fabregas and Nasri on the eve of the start of the new season, there does seem to be some good news on the horizon. And it comes in the form of a signing that is looking more and more likely as each day passes.

Spanish winger Juan Mata currently plays for Valencia. He is a player that would have an immediate impact on the Arsenal team. He plays on the left wing and would add pace, great positional sense and a few goals as well to the weakened Arsenal midfield. He is 23 years old and has already played a dozen games for the senior Spanish international side.

According to reports in Spain, there has been extended contact between the clubs in recent days. The transfer could occur as soon as early next week and will depend on the sales of Cesc and Nasri. I feel this signing will go some way in offsetting the current doom and gloom that currently surrounds the club and hopefully signal the start of more arrivals to the club.

Winner of the home jersey competition

As you might know already, we have been running a competition on Only Arsenal News and today I have the pleasure of announcing the winner of brand new Arsenal home jersey.

All entrants had to do was to join our Facebook page and they would automatically be entered into the draw.

A random number generator was used to pick the winner and the fan drawn was Emmanuel G.. Congratulations! I have sent you a message on Facebook to get your postal address so we can send you the jersey.

Make sure you become a fan of our page for your chance to win more great prizes in the coming weeks and months.

Stay up to date with the latest Arsenal news right here.

Win an Arsenal season 2011/12 Home Jersey

Only Arsenal News is giving you a chance to win a new Arsenal home jersey for the 2011/12 season.

Let's hope next season will bring more happiness to the Arsenal faithful.

All you have to enter the competition is add us on Facebook.

The winner will be chosen at random and announced on this site.

Check out the latest Arsenal news daily.

Arsenal Injuries

On this page, we will list the current Arsenal injuries in the first team squad.

1. Lukasz Fabianski
Position: GK
Injury: Shoulder
Ruled out for the season in February of 2010. Injured shoulder in training. Underwent surgery in Germany. Hopeful to return early next season.

Also, take a look at the data from PhysioRoom.com Ltd below.





Gervinho transfer to Arsenal?

Gervinho is a footballer from the Ivory Coast who plays as an attacker for the French club Lille.

The 24 year old scored 15 goals for Lille in the last season and has said in the past that he wants to play in the Champions League and particularly in Arsenal. Tottenham, Everton and Newcastle were also interested in the player. The price is listed at about 10 million.

Will Gervinho transfer to Arsenal? It seems likely at this point. It is rumoured that Arsenal had a bid of about 8 million rejected in the January transfer window so the current situation will depend on how much Wenger is prepared to offer for the player.

Fabregas transfer to Barcelona?

Cesc Fabregas is Arsenal's captain and arguably best player. Already a European and world champion at a young age, he spent his teenage years as a Barcelona player before signing for Arsenal. And while he loves Arsenal, there is no question his heart is set on being a Barca player at some point in the future. And he will be. But will it happen this summer?


There are many factors that will influence whether the transfer occurs in the next month or two. It is clear that Wenger would understandably like to keep his prize asset at the club but he knows that keeping an unhappy player in the squad could be detrimental. Cesc owes a great deal to Wenger and Arsenal and it is unlikely he would hold the club to ransom.

Another factor is whether Barcelona can (and want to) match the asking price set by the Gunners believed to be at about 40 million. Things haven't been as rosy financially as they have been on the pitch for the Catalans who have gone against past tradition in getting a shirt sponsor for the first time in history due to fiscal constraints. Does Wenger have a replacement in mind for the skipper? Can any Barcelona player be realistically used in a part exchange deal?

I think the chances of a summer transfer to Barcelona for Fabregas are about 50%. Regardless of what happens, it is important that decisions are made early so that we have time to not only replace any players leaving but improve the football squad.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours

It's silly season. And as you know, there will be a lot of rumours flying around about players Arsenal might be interested in. Most of them will be false. Some may be true.

To keep you up to date and analyse the transfer rumours, we will post articles about the players we are linked to here.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours (more will be added):
Eden Hazard
Christopher Samba
Gervinho
Fabregas

Win the new Arsenal Jersey.

Check out the latest Arsenal news below.

Christopher Samba transfer to Arsenal?

Christopher Samba is a 27 year old Congolese defender who is currently the captain of Blackburn Rovers.

It is rumoured that Arsenal tried to sign him in the January transfer window but the deal fell through.

Samba is in many ways what Arsenal lack in the defensive department. He is big. Tall. And loud.

We think the player would be keen on the move and would cost about 8-12 million.

Will Christopher Samba sign for Arsenal? It seems likely at this time. chances are probably over 50%. Arsenal need defensive quality and Samba would offer that to a certain extent.

Unless Cahill or another defender are being lined up by Wenger, it is very realistic Samba will be wearing the Red and White jersey next season.

Win the new Arsenal Jersey.

Eden Hazard transfer to Arsenal?

Eden Hazard is a 20 year old midfielder who plays for Lille in the French Ligue 1.


An obvious talent from a young age, many big clubs have shown interest in Hazard including Real Madrid, Manchester City and Arsenal. Unlike many players at his age, he would be competing for a first team place for the Gunners immediately should a transfer occur.

Hazard has mentioned in the past that he would like to move to Arsenal. It is also known that Wenger admires the youngsters potential. He hinted at a possibility of transfer activity for the player:

"We are following Hazard. Personally I think he has real talent and the level needed to play at Arsenal."

Is Eden Hazard on his way to Arsenal?

The kid has undoubted quality and would bring something new to the Arsenal team. There is interest from both sides. His price (likely about 20 million), with other clubs also involved, and the congestion of the Arsenal midfield positions means the transfer will most likely depend on the futures of Fabregas and Nasri.

Win the new Arsenal Jersey.

Check out the latest Arsenal news below.

Arsenal Fixtures 2011/2012

Arsenal fixture list confirmed so far for the 2011/2012 season. We will add more dates as they become available.

Date Fixture Type/ Competition Venue Opposition Result
July
13/07/10


Friendly Match


A


Malaysia XI
16/07/10 Friendly Match A Hangzhou Greentown
23/07/10 Friendly Match A FC Cologne
30/07/10 Emirates Cup H Boca Juniors
31/07/10 Emirates Cup H New York Red Bulls


August
16 or 17 /08/10 


UEFA Champions League


H or A


Playoff Round First Leg
23 or 24 /08/10 UEFA Champions League H or A Playoff Round Second Leg

Arsenal Chat

As well as keeping up to date with the latest Arsenal information and live scores, now you are able to chat about anything Arsenal on this site. Arsenal chat right here.

Chat with and message fellow Gooners. Visit the Arsenal Chat page.  

Carlos Vela News

Carlos Vela News.

Carlos Vela is a Mexican youngster who has big potential.

A player Wenger has shown great faith in, Vela has struggled to establish himself in the first team so far in his Arsenal career and was sent out on loan in the second half of the 2010/2011 season. Vela plays as a striker.

Carlos Vela articles from Only Arsenal News:
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Carlos Vela news articles from the web:

Arsenal Roster for 2011/2012 season


We will update this page to include the current first team Arsenal Player Roster, including changes made during the off season.

Roster as of the end of season of 2010/2011:

Goalkeepers:
Manuel ALMUNIA
Lukasz FABIANSKI
Vito MANNONE
Wojciech SZCZESNY

Defence:
Bacary SAGNA
Thomas VERMAELEN
Laurent KOSCIELNY
Sebastien SQUILLACI
Johan DJOUROU
Gael CLICHY
Kieran GIBBS
Armand TRAORE

Midfield:
Abou DIABY
Cesc FABREGAS
Tomas ROSICKY
Samir NASRI
DENILSON
Aaron RAMSEY
Alex SONG
Jack WILSHERE
Andrey ARSHAVIN
Emmanuel EBOUE
Craig EASTMOND
Jay EMMANUEL-THOMAS
Henri LANSBURY
Emmanuel FRIMPONG

Attack:
Robin VAN PERSIE
GERVINHO
Carlos VELA
Theo WALCOTT
Marouane CHAMAKH
Nicklas BENDTNER

For news on the individual players, scroll below.

Theo Walcott News

Theo Walcott News. Arsenal's super fast winger has been steadily improving and it is hoped he will step up his game further next season.

Latest news from our site:
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Latest Theo Walcott news from the web:







The Wenger Debate - Remember Respect

A bit of a longer post today. As we wrap up yet another disappointing, trophyless season that once showed such promise, we are left to assess the ruins again. But this wreckage feels a little bit different doesn't it? The impression is that for the first time, all parties concerned with the club feel it is time for change. And now.

The thing that always makes me proud to be an Arsenal fan is the passion and culture that defines this wonderful club inside and out. Doing things the "Arsenal way". How fans care about their team.

Many feel that Wenger's project has failed. That mediocrity is being rewarded and no leadership exists in the side. They say the team can't defend, that they can't be bothered to defend. That Denilson, Rosicky and Squillaci among others are just not good enough to wear the Arsenal jersey. More importantly, that the team is going backwards and falling apart while we hear Arsene play the same old broken record about the mentality and attitude of the team. That we must not wait till it is too late.

It is difficult to disagree with any of the points above and it is imperative that they be made. But I think the way we go about it is crucial and keep getting back to the theme of respect, irrespective of where you stand in the debate.

Respect for the man who has brought your club more success than anyone else. Respect for the man who brought you the Invincibles and numerous titles over the years. Respect for the man who is the reason your team plays some of the most beautiful football in the world. The sole reason we have a new, modern stadium. A stadium that will allow us to compete financially for a very long time so that a Mourinho of the future will be able to spend large to win titles. Respect the man who is the reason your club is not in debt and plays in the Champions League every season. Respect the man who you can thank for not being an Aston Villa, West Ham or god forbid, Spurs. Because, believe me, there is a very good chance that mid table would be about as good as it would have gotten if the Frenchman didn't arrive.

The debate on the future of Arsenal and Wenger has merit and changes need to be made. But don't forget to respect the club and man that brought you so much. Let's do this the Arsenal way and not stoop to the level of the lowest common denominator of a man writing in the forums of The Sun. It is what I thought separated us from the rest.

Win a 2011/12 season jersey from Only Arsenal News. To enter the competition, all you need to do is "Like" our page on Facebook. The winner will be drawn at random and the winner announced here. More details and photos of said prize to follow in next post.

Check out the latest Arsenal news below.

Manuel Almunia News

Manuel Almunia News. Manuel Almunia is Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper. After a few seasons as the number one goalkeeper, he is no longer favoured between the sticks.

Latest Almunia news from our site:
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Aaron Ramsey News

Aaron Ramsey News. Aaron Ramsey is Arsenal's Welsh midfielder. After a horrid injury in 2010, he has come back and looks to be close to his best once again.

Aaron Ramsey news from Only Arsenal News:

Aaron Ramsey envious of Wilshere


Latest Ramsey articles from the web:

Bacary Sagna News

Bacary Sagna News. Bacary Sagna plays on the right side of defence and has been one of the most reliable performers for the gunner over the last several years.

Sagna posts from Only Arsenal News:
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Bacary Sagna news articles from the web:





Nicklas Bendtner News

Nicklas Bendtner News. Nicklas Bendtner plays in the striker position for Arsenal. The confident Dane has a good scoring record for Arsenal but has found his chances limited.

Nicklas Bendtner news from Only Arsenal News:
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New Nicklas Bendtner articles from the web:








Laurent Koscielny News

Laurent Koscielny News. Laurent Koscielny plays in the middle of the defence and despite Arsenal's poor season defensively, has shown some promise for the future.

Laurent Koscielny posts from Only Arsenal News:
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Laurent Koscielny news articles from the web:





Johan Djourou News

Johan Djourou News. Johan Djourou is a Swiss defender who plays in the middle of the defence for the Gunners.

Johan Djourou posts from Only Arsenal News:
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Johan Djourou news articles from the web:

Thomas Vermaelen News

Thomas Vermaelen News. Thomas Vermaelen News. Thomas Vermaelen is a Belgian defender who plays in the middle of the defence. He was sorely missed in the 10/11 season due to injury but is now back to full fitness.

Thomas Vermaelen posts from Only Arsenal News:
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Thomas Vermaelen news from the web:





Gael Clichy News

Gael Clichy News. Gael Clichy is a French left sided defender. One of the more experienced members of the Arsenal squad.

Gael Clichy posts from Only Arsenal News:
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Gael Clichy latest news from the web:






Alexandre Song News

Alexandre Song News. Alexandre Song is a crucial member of the Arsenal team, playing at defensive midfielder. One of the more seasoned members of the Arsenal squad.

Alexandre Song posts from this site:
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Alexandre Song news from the internet:









Kieran Gibbs News

Kieran Gibbs News. Kieran Gibbs plays as a left back. The young Englishman is a great prospect both for his club and country.

Gibbs posts from this site:
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Kieran Gibbs latest news from the web:







Andrei Arshavin News

Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal's crafty midfielder, news.

Arshavin posts from this site:
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Andrei Arshavin latest news from the web:

Samir Nasri News

Samir Nasri News. Samir Nasri has been in great form in 10/11 particularly in the first half of the season. Let's hope for another one next year.

Samir Nasri posts from this site:
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Samir Nasri latest news from the web:




Sebastien Squillaci News

Individual Arsenal Player News

Sebastian Squillaci:

Sebastian Squillaci posts from this site:
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Squillaci news from the internet:






Abou Diaby News

Abou Diaby News. Abou Diaby plays in the midfield. His career at Arsenal has been largely hampered by injury and he has struggled to realise his full potential thus far.

Abou Diaby posts from this site:
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Abou Diaby news from the internet:

Emmanuel Eboue News

Emmanuel Eboue News

Emmanuel Eboue posts from this site:
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Eboue News articles from a wide variety of news sources on the internet:











Marouane Chamakh News

Marouane Chamakh News. Morocco's Marouane Chamakh plays as a striker for Arsenal. He had a good start to his debut season with the Gunners but was later moved to the bench following a dip in form and Robin van Persie and Nikclas Bendtner's returns from injury.

Marouane Chamakh news from Only Arsenal News:
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Latest Marouane Chamakh articles from the web:





Lukasz Fabianski News

Lukasz Fabianski News. Fabianski is Arsenal's Polish goalkeeper.

Latest news from our site:
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Latest Fabianski news from the web:








Robin van Persie News

Robin van Persie News. Robin van Persie prolific goal scoring has been crucial for his club over the last few years. Given an extended injury free period, is arguably one of the top forwards in the game today.

Robin van Persie blog posts from this site:

Robin and Cesc in squad for the Camp Nou!

Robin van Persie latest news from the web:

Jack Wilshere News

Jack Wilshere News. Jack Wilshere is Arsenal's English midfielder whiz kid. At a young age, he has established himself in Arsenal's first team and made his senior international debut.

Latest Jack Wilshere news from Only Arsenal News:

Aaron Ramsey envious of Wilshere


Latest Wilshere info from the web, thanks to Google:

Francesc Fabregas News

Cesc Fabregas News. Francesc Fabregas is Arsenal's highly rated current captain and World and Euoropean champion with his country Spain.

Latest Cesc Fabregas news from Only Arsenal News:
Robin and Cesc in squad for the Camp Nou!

Fresh news from the web:








Wojciech Szczesny News

Wojciech Szczesny News. Szczesny is Arsenal's current number one goalkeeper and is considered by many to be one of the best young prospects in the world for his position.

Latest Wojciech Szcesny news from Only Arsenal News:
Szczesny still believes

Fresh news from the web:




Pat Rice News

Pat Rice News. Pat Rice is Arsenal's current assistant manager.

Pat Rice news from Only Arsenal News:
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Latest Pat Rice articles from the web:

Arsene Wenger News

Arsene Wenger News. Arsene Wenger is Arsenal's most successful manager of all time. He has single handedly transformed Arsenal into one of the best teams in the world but a recent 6 year trophyless patch has left him with some serious team issues to resolve.

Arsene Wenger news from Only Arsenal News:
The Wenger Debate

Latest Arsene Wenger articles from the web:

Szczesny still believes

After the latest in a string of dissapointments, Arsenal remain six points behind Manchester United with six to go and the title now seems an unlikely prospect. Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the club at the moment, goalkeeper Szczesny is keeping his hopes up high and feels a win against Tottenham would go some way to proving that the title dream is not over.
Following the 1-1 draw with Liverpool, the returning Arsenal and Polish keeper said:

"Of course we still believe we can win the title. We still have to play United and they also have to play Chelsea. Tottenham is a very good match for us to come back from a big disappointment and we owe it to the fans because they're very disappointed about what happened against Liverpool. We owe them a result at White Hart Lane”.

No matter how bad everything is seeming at the moment, it is crucial we once again show there is only one real club in North London.

Check out the latest Arsenal news below.

Aaron Ramsey envious of Wilshere

As the game between Wales and England approaches, two Arsenal teammates and huge prospects for the future will find themselves in an unfamiliar situation of playing against each other. But while they are both in a bit of spotlight ahead of this game, their recent club fates have been strikingly different as we all know. Had Ramsey not been sidelined last year following "that" tackle by Shawcross it might have been him, and not Wilshere, who would be a regular in the Arsenal first team. Ramsey admitted that he does feel just a bit jealous about the quick progress Jack Wilshere has made in his Arsenal career.

Speaking ahead of the meeting at the Millennium Stadium, Ramsey said:
"I thought before my injury I was just starting to kick on. Absolutely (I feel some envy). I started 6 or 7 games on the bounce and I felt like I was going to stake a claim in the first team for Arsenal but these things happen. I've just got to bounce back now. I'm confident in my ability. I'm capable of playing week in week out for Arsenal so, hopefully, I can do that now."
While he may not have had his best game against West Brom on the weekend and drew some criticism from the Arsenal faithful , it was wonderful to see him back in the shirt. Let's hope he starts making up for lost time in these crucial, season-defining matches coming up.

Check out the latest Arsenal news below.

Looking forward Arsenal

So the inevitable occurred on Tuesday. We lost. We lost to a better team. A team, that if I am honest, deserves the quarterfinal spot much more than us. Let's be clear on that. Yet somehow, I don't feel too bad about it. Despite the pressure Arsenal was under, despite our lack of attempts on goal, it is undeniable that had there not been a terrible referee error, we had a real chance to win the tie. A chance to repeat the second half resurgence from the first leg and upset the Spanish giants.

Even at 3-1 down and being outplayed with 10 men on the pitch, we still could have qualified had Bendtner converted his chance at the end. The team defended bravely with Koscielny and Djourou excelling throughout. Even though we didn't really create much offensively, the team showed resilience and defensive discipline that has been lacking for a long time. Now it is time to put in behind us and look ahead.

It is important that this does not derail our season as we are still a real chance in the league and have the small matter of an FA Cup clash with Manchester United coming up. Knocking them out, inflicting a third straight defeat on our rivals and getting another step closer to silverware would be just the tonic that we need to get over Barcelona.

Check out the latest Arsenal news stories below.

Robin and Cesc in squad for the Camp Nou!

Huge game ahead of us tonight when Arsenal once again face the team many have called the greatest ever. It will be a very difficult game, a stressful game and (hopefully) a glorious one.

The team news is that Fabregas should be ready for the game with Robin van Persie surprisingly in the squad. Song, Vermaelen and Walcott are still out. Diaby will be chosen ahead of Denilson and Bendtner might get another crack to show everyone he is as good as he thinks he is. I feel that Arshavin or Nasri along with Cesc could make the crucial difference in the game and provide much needed support for our isolated man up front. The other good news is that Jack Wilshere has recovered from the knock on the weekend and should start. Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola praised young Jack ahead of the game:

"Wilshere is a top player. He is an excellent player, not just Arsenal, but also for the national team. We have many players like him in our second team. It is very good news for football to have players like him..."

Alright, a bit arrogant but I think it's warranted given their success recently. Tonight, it is imperative that we stand up to Barcelona. We must play our game because parking the bus Inter style would only end in disaster when you consider our defensive capabilities. We are still underdogs heading into this match but we are better than we were last year and there is more belief within the team that we are a real chance. Come on Arsenal!

Check out the latest Arsenal news stories below.

Wembley, here we come!

It was an important, satisfying victory against the thugs of Stoke that came at a significant price. Injuries to Walcott and Fabregas means we might miss them in this crucial period of the season, particularly with the final at Wembley coming up in a couple of days. Walcott is definitely out while Cesc remains a serious doubt.

The Carling Cup may not be the most prestigious trophy around, but it would provide our young team with a foundation to build on and the confidence to further add to our trophy collection this season. In my opinion, a win here is as great a preparation as any for the away leg at Camp Nou. Also, won't it be nice not hearing or reading the constant waffle about our "trophy drought" in the media?

No matter what team plays on Sunday, Arsenal will be favourites against Brimingham. In the 2 Premier League meetings this season, Arsenal have won both, beating Birmingham 2-1 at the Emirates and then 3-0 at St Andrew’s. City will most likely park the bus in front of their goal, they will be very motivated, counting on a counter attack or Zigic header to nick a goal and claim a historic win. We must be ready for this and I feel van Persie, Arshavin or Bendtner could be crucial to the game. Let's hope the next post will have a picture of the Gunners celebrating the win.

Check out the latest Arsenal news stories below.

Wolves before Barca for the Gunners

So after the debacle at Newcastle last weekend, we somehow find ourselves closer to the top of the table. With the Manchester derby also on this weekend, we have a real chance to gain even more ground at the top.

Wolves arrive in London in high spirits and will be looking to back up last weekend’s surprise win over Manchester United. Wenger has said that he won't be resting any of his stars but I feel that Song and Djourou, two players returning from injuries will be given the day off with the Barcelona game around the corner. Robin van Persie is also a doubt having missed international duty with flu. Diaby begins his suspension, Rosicky is out due to a groin strain with Nasri and Vermaelen still out.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 16 meetings with Wolves in all competitions and long may that sequence go. I expect a nervy game but a valuable win and three points gained for Arsenal. Then again, after last weekend, we could be five nil up and I would still be thinking it is a nervy game. Supporting Arsenal is not making me any younger.

Check out the latest Arsenal news stories below.

Crucial comeback against Everton

After that clearly offside goal by Everton and the pressure they were putting on us in the first half, I suspect I wasn't the only Arsenal fan to fear the worst. However, our second half resurgence with the aid of goals by Arshavin and Koscielny put us ahead and got us the three points. The win keeps us close in the title race and once again this season shows that it is now possible for us to grind out results even when not playing at our best. Good to see Arshavin and Bendtner playing some good football recently and I feel these two players will be absolutely vital to our chances in the run in.

Coming up, Newcastle away on Saturday, which will hopefully be a great game and another three points for Arsenal.

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Timely warning against Leeds

Unlike the negative, dull performance of Manchester City, Leeds came to The Emirates eager to show what they can do and nearly knocked us out of the FA Cup. The much changed Arsenal side didn't really perform to the level expected and it took Cesc coming off the bench to earn us a replay and a further game in the already congested fixture list. Not what we wanted, but we managed to get out of jail and it serves as a timely warning.

Our next game is the Carling Cup semi final away leg at Ipswich Town. To me, this must be a short term priority, as we have a very realistic chance to win the cup within three games. While not the most glorious of competitions, it is crucial as it would end the much talked about trophy drought and focus the team on the bigger ones this season. The transfer window has opened with the usual doses of media transfer news and rumours but if we have learnt anything following Arsenal through the Wenger years, it is that it is virtually all rubbish.

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Great game against Birmingham

It was wonderful to see the team put the disappointing draw against Wigan behind them and stand up to the bully boys of Birmingham, putting in a great performance to win the game 3-0. Cesc and Nasri combined brilliantly with the defensive pairing of Koscielny and Djourou up to the task throughout the match. It was also great to see Robin van Persie play the 90 minutes and while he showed his lack of match sharpness by missing a couple of great chances, he scored one and was deeply involved in our attacking display. It seems Bowyer will be banned for a few games for his blatant stamp on Sagna which is great and a fraction of what he really deserves.

Manchester City next. We have beaten them already this season. Let's do it again.

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Arsenal and General Football Sites

When we come across great Arsenal and football sites on the web, we will list them here for you to have a look.

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