The Arsenal Blog

If rumours are to be believed Arsenal draws closer and closer to signing Montpellier’s center-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who they have been watching this season as he captained his club to the French Ligue 1 title.

The defender who was recently called-up to the French squad in the 25-man pre-EURO squad has been tracked by Arsene Wenger’s scouts in this successful year at the French club and they have been highly impressed at what they saw.  ...........Read more

The Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has put in some some spectacular performances this season in Ligue 1 and is now looking to take a step up to the Premier League. It’s no wonder some of the biggest names in Europe, like Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle have entered the race to try and persuade the 22-year-old into giving them his signature.

Nevertheless Mapou’s current club won’t be so willing to let their star captain slip through their fingers without a fight and are sure to offer him a pay-rise to waylay his new appetite for English clubs.  ...........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

I have just read that the Bolton manager Owen Coyle is trying to sign Thierry Henry’s team mate Tim Ream on a loan deal right now. Ream is a defender with New York Red Bulls and one of the best in America, in fact he won the prize for Rookie of the Year in the season just finished.

The 24 year-old has been watched many times by Arsenal scouts and we reportedly even made an offer for him last summer, and even Owen Coyle admitted that he is keen for him to cover for Gary Cahill after Arsenal had first choice.  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger is still worried about Arsenal’s full-back injury crisis, and has admitted that the Gunners simply need a short loan period to cover for the injuries to Kieran Gibbs, Bacary Sagna and Andre Santos. He has to all intents and purposes rulled out any chance of a permanent arrival for either flank.

He said that Sagna was ahead of schedule and his return may negate the need for any cover at all. “It depends now on how quickly Sagna will come back,” Wenger. “He has started to run a little bit.  ...........Read more

Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger is now interested in finding another defender for his team since Sagna and Santos have injured themselves and he has to play with two of the best centre-backs on the wings.

Vermaelen and Koscielny are most likely to cover the left and right sides of the defence and Arsenal will probably play with 4 centre-backs in the defensive line until Santos gets back in about three weeks time.  ...........Read more