Colchester Capture Gunners Duo

 

By Nick Lander

 

Arsenal youngsters Sanchez Watt an Craig Eastmond, both 21, have moved down the A12 to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, joining League 1 strugglers Colchester United on 3 month loan deals. Their moves were confirmed during a busy day for the U's who also named Joe Dunne as their new manager (following John Ward's dismissal on Monday), confirmed Mark Kinsella as assistant manager and captured Jabo Ibehre on a three month loan from MK Dons.

 

Sanchez Watt begins his seventh separate spell away from the Gunners, and will be playing to earn a permanent deal as much as he will be trying to force his way into Arsene Wenger's first team plans. The striker has been on good form for the U-21s so far this season though, with four goals in as many appearances - a record he will be hoping to extend in Essex.

 

The FA Youth Cup winner is optimistic that he will enjoy a successful spell with the U's, telling their official website that "the manager plays the same formation as I’m used to so it should be good for me.

"I want to fight for my position in the team, keep my place if I get it and do well for the club and for myself. Hopefully, we can play well, pass the ball around, score some goals and push up the table."

 

He also hopes that he will be able to perform at a level that will earn him another shot at breaking into the Arsenal first team, saying, "its all about what you do on the pitch, when you're doing well, you get your chance but after that, what happens, happens."

 

Eastmond on the other hand, has had more success in breaking into the first team at the Emirates, having played for Wenger's side on 10 occasions (compared to Watt's three appearances). He has had two loan spells in the past, featuring six times for Milwall, before injury curtailed his season, and impressing in Wycome's ultimately futile attempts to avoid relegation to League 2 last season, playing 14 times.

 

Whilst his Arsenal future is considered bleak by some parties, he probably has a better chance of making the grade with the Gunners than Watt. The midfielder, who featured heavily in Arsenal's Asia tour in pre-season, just wants to get senior appearances under his belt, telling the Colchester website, "I just want to play games so I said yes to it [the opportunity to move to Colchester on loan] and I'm looking forward to the new challenge. I like to meet new teammates, and I've done that here, but I already knew Clinton Morrison very well and I've played against Freddie Sears and a few others.

 

"I want to play as much as I can in the next few months and show the manager here, and Arsenal, what I can do. Hopefully, I'll gain some good experience from my time here."

 

Both should go straight into Joe Dunne's first squad as permanent manager to face Hartlepool at Weston Homes on Saturday.

 

The duo join Conor Henderson (Coventry City) and Chuks Aneke (Crewe Alexandra) in plying their trade on loan in the division. It is understood that both Arsenal and Crewe are keen to extend Aneke's loan spell, beyond 7th October - when it currently expires. The youngster is currently serving a three match ban, after being sent off on his full debut.

 

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Henderson Seals Coventry Loan

 

By Nick Lander

 

Reserve team star Conor Henderson has sealed a loan move to League 1 Coventry City, who he joins until just before Christmas.

 

Henderson made his Arsenal debut against Leyton Orient in the 5-0 demolition in the 2010/11 FA Cup 5th round replay. The midfielder had looked set for having a breakthrough season in 2011/12, but injury put paid to his chances, and he remained sidelined until virtually the end of the season, making his return to the reserves in April.

 

Undoubtedly talented, Henderson's loan spell comes as a bit of a surprise, with Arsene Wenger rumoured to have blocked an approach for him, with Arsenal's Capital One Cup campaign in mind - which, ironically, will begin at home to Coventry on Wednesday. He has been earmarked as a player who could well make it at the club, and will be hoping to prove his qualities in his first loan spell away from the club.

 

The 21-year-old has featured heavily for Arsenal's U-21 side so far this season, playing in three of the Gunners' four games, notching three times. He has also appeared for Ireland's U-21 side.

 

He tweeted that he was "very happy" to join the midlands club, and that he "can't wait to get started."

 

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Arsenal 6 - 1 Southampton

 

By Nick Lander

 

A dominant Arsenal swept aside Southampton in their first visit to the Emirates. With four Arsenal goals in the first 40 minutes, the game was over as a contest in the first half, the Saints never really looked like scoring, until a Szczesney mistake gifted them a goal on the stroke of half time.

 

In an experimental line-up, Arsene Wenger opted to have winger Gervinho lead the line, a bold decision given the Ivorian's poor form in front of goal in the past. Olivier Giroud dropped to the bench, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was again preferred to Theo Walcott, who missed England's draw with Ukraine in mid-week with a virus.

 

The Gunners got of to bright start, scoring after just 11 minutes, when Kieran Gibbs' cross was turned into his own net by Jos Hooiveld, after it went straight through goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, who was unconvincing all game.

 

The Saints managed to hold out for 20 minutes before Arsenal got their third though, when Lukas Podolski bagged his second goal in two games, with a pinpoint free-kick from 25 yards, after Francis Coquelin was brought down.

 

On 35 minutes, Arsenal got their fourth. The influential Mikel Arteta played a delightful lobbed pass over the defence for Gervinho to run onto and fire home first time. Beating Davis at his near post. The Saints' stopper could have done better.

 

Gibbs' day got still better, as he had another cross turned into the Southampton net, this time Nathaniel Clyne was the player unfortunate enough to have those embarrassing letters 'OG' appear next to his name.

 

Arsenal were cruising, and should have gone into the break four goal to the good, but a Szczesney mistake gifted Danny Fox an opportunity as easy as he will ever have, which he eased into the net. The Arsenal goalie had come for a cross, but dropped it right onto Fox's foot, after he collided with, blameless, Carl Jenkinson.

 

Arsenal came out after the break with their foot off the gas, but in truth, Southampton offered little more than they had in the first half, although Rickie Lambert fired just wide of the post soon after the restart.

 

Arsenal's work rate had dropped, and the introduction of Aaron Ramsey shortly after the hour mark, put a bit more running into the Gunners' midfield. The young Welshman came close to scoring, brilliantly flicking the ball beyond Clyne before poking the ball around Davis, only for it to hit the far post. Arsenal were not to be denied though, as Gervinho was their to add his second, bundling the ball home.

 

Giroud and Walcott were introduced late on, and the latter added Arsenal's sixth as he swept the ball home, after Davis parried captain Thomas Vermaelen's rasping drive. His first time playing against his old club, Walcott did not really celebrate, choosing just to applaud the Arsenal cheers.

 

The Gunners desperately strove to add a seventh, and to create an opportunity for Olivier Giroud to get his first goal for the club, but nothing quite came off, the game ending 6-1 to Arsenal, who climb to third in the table.

 

Southampton old boys Walcott and Chamberlain showed a touch of class at final whistle, making their way over to the travelling fans to applaud, a gesture which was warmly received.

 

Stat of the Match: Lukas Podolski completed 100% of his 31 passes in the game, as well as scoring his free-kick.

 

Arsenal Player Ratings: Szczesney 4, Jenkinson 7, Mertesacker 7, Vermaelen 7, Gibbs 9, Coquelin 6 (Ramsey 7), Arteta 8, Cazorla 8, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Podolski 8 (Giroud 6), Gervinho 8 (Walcott 7)

 

My man of the match was Kieran Gibbs (left), the full back has come in for some stick in the past, but today he was outstanding. He defended well, and attacked even better, the two own goals from his crosses were deserved. Andre Santos will be lucky to oust him from the team on current form - despite his crossbar challenge success pre-match, in what is now a traditional end-of-warm-up competition between him and Chambelain!

 

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Giroud to Miss France Match

 

By Nick Lander

 

Olivier Giroud is set to miss France's opening Brazil 2014 qualifier against Finland, this Friday, according to L'Equipe. Signed from Montpellier over the summer, Giroud has looked lively for Arsenal so far, despite failing to score.

 

The French sports paper reports that he has been suffering from muscular pain, and will not train with Les Bleus until Saturday, the day after their match against Finland. "Having spoken with him and the doctor, it is a little too risky [for him to play on Friday]," said France boss Didier Deschamps. The French camp are optimistic that he will return to training on the Saturday, and be fit for their game against Belarus at the Stade de France on Tuesday.

 

If he is ready to play in their second qualifier, then Arsenal will be unlikely to be overly concerned, but if he misses that game too, then the striker is likely to be a doubt for the Gunners' game against Southampton on the 15th September.

 

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Aneke to Join Crewe on Loan

 

By Nick Lander

 

Chuks Aneke is set to join League 1 Crewe Alexandria on loan, swapping U-21 level football for the Football League. He has previously had loan spells with Stevenage and Preston North End, scoring for the latter on his debut.

 

The 19-year-old is understood to be being brought in to cover for the injured Mathias Pogba. His wages however, have been an issue, with Crewe unable to match the percentage of his wages that Arsenal wanted. Manager Steve Davis said, "They are on a lot of money and we couldn’t quite pull it off. But I know (assistant manager) Steve Bould very well and we’re trying to negotiate it down. We are hopeful it will happen. We need cover and we are waiting to hear.

 

“Arsenal players are grounded very much like ours in terms of the way they play and they’d fit in with what we do.”

 

It does seem that the two clubs have since managed to come to an agreement, with Aneke's teammate Nico Yennaris tweeting a good luck message to the powerful midfielder. Whilst Arsenal tend to start loaning out their youngsters after the League Cup campaign has started, the competition in which Aneke made his Gunners debut last season, it seems that on this occasion the club are allowing him to move before then in order to secure first team football.

 

Davis is also understood to be after a second, unnamed midfielder, and there has been some speculation that he could be Arsenal's Craig Eastmond.

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Frimpong Closes on Arsenal Return

 

By Nick Lander

 

Emmanuel Frimpong is nearing a return to action after seven months on the sidelines as a result of a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained whilst on loan to Wolves.

 

Frimpong had impressed in the Midlands, but his spell only just over a month, when he was limped off against QPR at the beginning of February. The tenacious holding midfielder has now confirmed that he is on the verge of returning to full training, tweeting, "I will be back in full training with the squad on 17th on this month. Two cruciate knee injuries couldn't end my career it's been a long 7 months."

 

The news will come as a boost for Arsenal, who are also expecting Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna to return at about the same time. Following Alex Song's summer departure, Frimpong may now get his chance in the first team, whilst it is also possible that the club will again try to find him a Premier League club to join on loan for the second half of the season, in order to give him more game time and experience, as had been the plan during his time at Wolves.

 

Arsenal's Capital One Cup clash with Coventry City on the 26th September may be when all three return to match action, although it could come slightly too soon. All fans will be anxiously awaiting their returns.

 

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Arsenal Endure Rubbish Deadline Day

By Nick Lander

 

Deadline day 2012 was supposed to be really exciting for Arsenal fans, 2011 had been a late sweep that heralded the arrivals of Andre Santos, Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun with Park Ju Young joining on the 30th. This year was all set to smash that, Arsene Wenger had conceded that he was searching for a new defender and a new midfielder and it had been let on that he was also after a new striker when Kevin Mirallas told how he had snubbed Arsenal to join Everton.

 

Despite the optimism that Arsenal would be active, it turned out that the only action that the club saw was two players leaving on loan, with Park Ju Young joining Celta Vigo and Nicklas Bendtner heading to Juventus.  Both unwanted and both unable to seal permanent moves away.

 

Going into deadline day, there had been expectation that any of Angel Rangel, Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Michael Essien, Edin Dzeko, Ibrahim Affelay, Daniel Sturridge, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Yann M'Vila would arrive at the club, but no-one did.

 

The consensus between Arsenal fans was that it was imperative to bring in a replacement for Alex Song, who was unexpectedly sold to Barcelona, along with a new striker to try to lessen the impact of Robin van Persie's departure. Ideally the club would bring in a new defender too, with past injury crises weighing heavy on the mind as well as continuing doubts over the defensive quality of Arsenal's full backs.

 

Fans reacted with disappointment, one saying that "Gazidis and Wenger are going to face some serious questions [over Arsenal's lack of activity, whilst] making a £10m profit for the window, and arguably not replacing Alex Song or Robin van Persie properly." Another was disappointed that neither M'Vila nor Anderlecht's Lucas Biglia (who was offered to the club for just over £6m) were signed to replace Song.

 

I have seen a number of quotes attributed to Arsene Wenger about the club definitely being active in the January window if his targets were unavailable today. Surely January activity will now be a must, but for many fans the worry is that it will be too late. There was optimism that with the right couple of signings, Arsenal might have been able to challenge for the title, now there is real worry over the club's ability to finish in the top four.

 

With no goals scored or conceded, Arsenal fans will be hoping to have some of their fears allayed against Liverpool on Sunday, arguably the only Premiership team to have had a worse transfer window than Arsenal.

 

See all of Arsenal's ins and outs by clicking on the 'Arsenal Transfers' tab at the top of the page.

 

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