The Arsenal Blog

!8-year old Nick Powell is yet another product of Crewe and Dario Gradi’s youth system. The midfielder, who has scored 14 goals in 55 games for Crewe is the latest of the team’s players to be set for the big time. Both Danny Murphy and David Platt rose through the ranks at Crewe to play at the highest level. Dario Gradi is famous for his academy at Crewe and is now fully focused on this after stepping down as manager of the club.  ...........Read more

The Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen has made it clear that he is moving from Holland to the Premier League this summer and has not been reluctant to make it clear that Arsenal is his preferred destination, although it is uncertain that Wenger is willing to buy yet another defender.

Recently it has seemed that Tottenham are the new favourites to sign the Belgian international, and although Vertonghen is happy to admit that he is talks with Harry Redknapp, he is at pains to announce that White Hart Lane is not his only possible destination.  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger was scathing in his attack on Arsenal’s defenders after conceding three goals against newly-promoted Norwich on Saturday. Although Arsenal had Thomas Vermaelen return this season after a year out through injury, and also the acquired Per Mertesacker in the summer, the defence has conceded a record 47 goals so far this season (a record during Wenger’s tenure).

It seems that Wenger has still not realised that you can’t always score more than your opponent if you don’t have a solid back line, or perhaps he seriously believed that our former frailties had been strengthened.  ...........Read more

I know, I know, we all love a central defender who goes forward from time to time and aids the attack, and we love it when defenders like Chelsea’s David Luiz, or our own Thomas Vermaelen scores a goal from action or offers an assist, but look where that took Arsenal!  ...........Read more

The young Welsh captain Aaron Ramsey came back from a horrific injury last year and all Arsenal fans feel sorry for the way his development was so cruelly interrupted, but his performances this season have simply highlighted his need for some psychological training to regain his former confidence.

I fully understand Arsene Wenger thinking that the Arsenal midfielder needs some game-time to help him regain his former glory, but I question why Wenger continues to put him in the starting line-up in games that are simply must-win games for the Gunners.  ...........Read more

Yet again Robin Van Persie has led from the front scoring two goals to put Arsenal back into a winning position against Norwich, and yet again the defence has let him down.

There rarely looked like there was any cohesion between Wojciech Szczesny and his defence, which was only compounded when Francis Coquelin replaced Bacary Sagna after half an hour.

I know attack is the best form of defence, especially when playing Sky Poker no deposit online, but when you are 3-2 up in a football match against a lowly team like Norwich with so much at stake, why didn’t Wenger put ten men behind the ball and crowd out the Arsenal defence and midfield.  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger is trying hard to get Robin Van Persie to sign a contract extension at Arsenal this summer, and other than making sure of Third Place in the Premiership, Wenger has also dipped into the roulette wheel of the transfer market and came up with Lukas Podolski who he hopes will also prove to Van Persie that Arsenal are ambitious for next season.

The Flying Dutchman seems suitably happy with the move. He said: “I’m really happy – he’s a very mature player who has played 95 games for Germany. That tells you plenty, because they have a world-class side.  ...........Read more

“We haven’t set a date but I will have a meeting with the boss like we did before now. We will be having a meeting about my future and lots of other things.” This statement from the free scoring Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie came during an acceptance speech for the Football writers’ player of the year award.

Van Persie was effusive in his praise of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, stating that “Arsenal is an unbelievable club. The player I am today is because of Arsenal. When I actually signed the deal to join Arsenal, it was a dream come true…..whatever happens with me, I will always be a Gunner.”  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger has one of the biggest squads in world football, and due to the new Premier League 25-man rule he knows that he has to unload some of his unwanted squad members to make room for new arrivals, but he thinks that same rule will make it very difficult to sell off the deadwood.

Arsenal already have Nicklas Bendtner, Andrei Arshavin, Denilson and Carlos Vela out on loan, and all four are not keen on coming back to the Emirates next season, but the manager simply has more chance of making money on his NFL betting picks than making money out of these players. He just can’t find any buyers since the new restrictions came into play.  ...........Read more

It has now become clear that Ajax’s defensive star Jan Vertonghen will leave the Eredivisie in the summer, after he has consistently expressed his interest in joining the Premier League.

Ajax’s manager Frank De Boer admits that it will be hard to lose Vertonghen who is now one of the most wanted players on Wenger’s shortlist. According to the Dutchman it will be very hard to replace the Belgian international, but it’s the right move for him.

“Jan has seen the light,” said De Boer. “Not only on the pitch, but away from it.  ...........Read more