The Arsenal Blog

There is a very well-known saying that goes “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”, and as Arsenal enter their crucial last game of the season, a very good case could be made for starting with the same team that has taken us over the line for the last three games.

Olivier Giroud missed all three after being suspended, and his replacement Lukas Podolski finally came good with a brace of goals against Wigan, so it would make sense to start with the same forward line this week as well.  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger always knew it was going to be an uphill challenge for Arsenal to match last season’s goalscoring feats after selling Robin Van Persie to Manchester United, but the rest of the team has stepped up and become only the fourth team in Premiership history to have more than three players totting up double figures in their goals scored column.

Wenger said on Arsenal.com: “We lost Van Persie and, after that, it’s very difficult to find a player who will score 35 goals,”  ...........Read more

At various times throughout this Premier League season, Arsenal have been struggling with form at one end of the pitch, and occasionally both. In the final home game of the season against Wigan last night, however, both the attacking and defending side of the Gunners game were working well and looking good for a final day win to confirm Champions League qualification for next season.  ...........Read more

Arsene Wenger was given a big problem (approximately 6ft 5in) in his Arsenal team selection when Olivier Giroud was sent off against Fulham and given a three match ban. The manager had a settled system at the front with the big Frenchman as a target man and there is nobody else at the club who offers the same.

As we know, Wenger opted for Lukas Podolski as the centre forward and seems determined to stick with his decision. He has spoken about his belief that Podolski can do a good job in the middle because of his finishing ability and suggested that he does not need to work so hard as on the left flank.  ...........Read more

There definitely seems to be something fishy about the reports coming out of Arsenal about Lukas Podolski’s indifferent performances lately. It all started a couple of months ago when Wenger left the German international on the bench for a while. Nothing appeared on the Arsenal injury list, but shortly after Podolski tweeted that he had a problem with his ankle but he expected to return soon.

Now it seems to have happened again. Podolski has been given the centre-forward role ahead during Giroud’s enforced absence, and again he didn’t seem to be up to speed and was lacking his usual prowess, but after the game, Wenger again just said it was because he was not used to playing in that position.  ...........Read more

It seems that the Arsenal and Germany striker Lukas Podolski is determined on leaving the Emirates this summer with a host of other European giants waiting in the wings. Podolski is said to want to leave because of the lack of consistent game time and opportunities to play as the central striker under Wenger.

It’s thought that Galatasaray are leading the chase to capture the German international because of a hefty wage packet they have put together at the club. They have also reassured him that he will be the number one striker and first choice no matter what, which is bound to attract his interest as he prefers playing as a striker despite his frequent goal droughts throughout his career. Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Anzhi are thought to be interested but Podolski feels he would get the better deal in Turkey.  ...........Read more

Stevan Jovetic is a player we all know well and has reportedly been a long term transfer target for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for a number of seasons now. He is a Montenegrin international striker and has been at Seria A side Fiorentina for a number of years. Over recent years Jovetic has stated his wish to remain in Italy, however in recent weeks he has become more open on the transfer speculation surrounding his future.  ...........Read more

Arsenal are hoping that Theo Walcott will sign a new deal to keep the forward at the Emirates Stadium, although Matthew Glazier of Bettingpro.com wonders if they really need him.

THEO Walcott arrived at Arsenal in January 2006 and it appears that he could be leaving seven years down the line, with the 23-year-old playing hard ball with the club when it comes to signing a new deal.

It might be the case that the player has already decided to leave the Gunners, whether that happens during the January transfer window or in the summer when Walcott might have more options available to him. However, Arsenal fans shouldn’t be too concerned about the player’s possible departure – here are five reasons why:  ...........Read more

The West Brom manager has warned his players that they may face a wounded animal tomorrow when they face an Arsenal side who have slipped to 10th place in the Premier league table. Steve Clarke is surprised at the position of the Gunners, especially after we got off to a good start, but he knows that the quality in the Arsenal team could raise it’s head at any time, and he knows that his team could bear the brunt of that at the Emirates tomorrow.

“The team hasn’t been firing as maybe people thought they would do, especially after the start they had.  ...........Read more

Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed the fact that, unfortunately, captain Robin Van Persie will leave for Manchester United. The Frenchman has admitted that he was forced into selling Robin and that there wasn’t much he could do, despite the fact that he wanted to keep the Dutchman.

According to Wenger, the striker’s position will be filled by Giroud and Podolski’s arrivals, the club having previously stated that the French striker had been brought in to boost the attacking options.

“He is at Manchester United, unfortunately for us. The transfer was finalised in the afternoon,” said Wenger whilst working for French TV station TF1 on Wednesday.  ...........Read more