The Arsenal Blog

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain is a popular figure amongst the club mainly because of his raw talent but also because of his likeable, friendly and open character. He is a down to earth professional who doesn’t get hyped over the financial side of things and plays the game for the right reason. The Ox is a true professional and because of this Arsenal fans expect a lot of the youngster.  ...........Read more

The ex-Arsenal traitor Samir Nasri has shown the world that he still hasn’t grown up despite being saying at the end of last season: “I’ve matured, I’m now a champion in England and can handle these pressure situations,”

Nasri became a figure of hate for Arsenal fans after he forced Arsene Wenger to sell him to Man City and then followed it up by many anti-Arsenal comments during the season.  ...........Read more

Robin Van Persie only managed to score once for the Netherlands at the European Championships, as they meekly dropped away from the tournament without winning a single point. The Arsenal striker was critized by the Holland fans and pundits as he missed chance after chance, especially in the first game defeat by Denmark.

But Arsene Wenger personally thinks the critics are totally wrong, in fact he thinks Van Persie was the best striker in the whole competition. He said: “Robin deserves more credit than he gets in the Netherlands,”  ...........Read more

It may be sacrilegious to make such a comment, but I’ll make it all the same. As a Gooner I really find it hard to be too excited about the European Championship, the World Cup or any international competition.

Sure I enjoy watching football, because that’s what those of us who love the beautiful game do far too frequently. I am a proud Englishman and want my national team to do well, but I find it difficult to cheer on an England team containing the likes of Terry, Cole and Parker; players I despise.  ...........Read more

Barcelona are in need of defensive cover. Carlos Puyol is nearing the end of his career and if he gets injured again, the Catalan team will be in trouble. At the top of their wish list is Spanish international Javi Martinez, but the Spanish press think that the deal is dead in the water and he is now out of the betting on www.OddsWinner.com to join the Spanish giants.

The bad news is that Thomas Vermaelen is next on the list, according to The Mirror. Arsenal’s centre back and vice-captain is very highly regarded by Barcelona, and his ability to play at left back would give them much needed cover in this position as well.  ...........Read more

Tomas Rosicky is a relieved man. The 31-year old Czech midfielder had feared that his tournament could be over, due to an Achilles problem that he picked up against Greece a week ago. There was good news for Arsenal and the Czech Republic today, as the influential midfielder returned to training.

It will not be known until tomorrow whether he is fit enough to play against Portugal, but he will be desperate to add to his 87 caps and 20 goals. Once nicknamed “little Mozart,” Rosicky is the main playmaker for the Czech Republic.  ...........Read more

The Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a surprise inclusion in the England squad to go to the Euros, but it was even more of a shock that he was picked to start in England’s most important Group Game against France yesterday.

But, as always, the 18 year-old kept his feet firmly planted on the Ukranian ground and was just pleased that he Roy Hodgson had faith in him to do the job, although he admitted that he didn’t get much chance to show his breakneck speed against the tough French defence. He looked pretty strong when he went forward and looked like he’s taken a high dose of hmb to help his muscle development!  ...........Read more

Wojciech Szczesny’s EURO experience is about to begin, and this will also mark his first international tournament in his career, as the 22-year-old is about to enter a very tight group, but one from which Poland has quite a good chance of going through, especially as they will be playing on home territory.

Szczesny’s debut match, and the match which will also mark the beginning of the 2012 European Championship is the one between Poland and Greece. The two sides will face, later in the tournament, the likes of Russia and the Czech Republic in what is one of the tightest groups of the competition.  ...........Read more

Russia and the Czech Republic are due to go head to head in the EURO 2012′s opening day, as they both will try to do their best to qualify into the knockout stages of the tournament.

Arsenal have once again sent most of their best players off on international duty, and although we have yet seen the likes of Robin Van Persie, Walcott, Chamberlain or Koscielny, we can be happy to see that the Gunners are ruling the opening day of the European Championships.  ...........Read more

The prolific Spanish striker Fernando Llorente has been instrumental in helping Athletico Bilbao overachieve this season by reaching the Finals of the Europa League and the Copa Del Rey, which has made many Premiership teams step up and take notice.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham have been strongly linked wth a move for the giant 27 year-old after he managed to knock in 29 goals in 53 appearances for Bilbao this season, and he has told reporters that he is tempted by a move to the Premier League.

Llorente said: “I might end up playing in England, who knows? At the moment I’m at Athletic Bilbao, but who knows later.  ...........Read more