Gunners Handed Tough Champions League Draw

 

By Nick Lander

 

Arsenal have been handed a tough Champions League qualifying tie against Turkish side Fenerbache. The Gunners will travel to Turkey first, playing the away leg of the tie on 21st August, with Fenerbache visiting the Emirates a week later on 27th August.

Fenerbache's involvement in the competition however is subject to a CAS ruling. Banned by UEFA for two years from European competitions because of domestic match fixing, Fenerbache have appealed that decision, but no verdict has yet been delivered. UEFA have not yet decided what they will do if Fenerbache's appeal is unsuccessful.

There was also trouble at their Europa League semi-finals last season, with 'fan actions' prompting UEFA to force them to play two significant games behind closed doors and consider handing them a one year ban.

The Turks reached the fourth qualifying round by overcoming Red Bull Salzburg 4-2 on aggregate. Fenerbache's squad includes the likes of Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles, Michal Kadlec and Joseph Yobo.

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Arsenal Assess Trialists

Perez (R) tweeted a picture with Thomas Vermaelen during his trial

By Nick Lander

 

In amongst all the speculation over big name signings, Arsenal have also invited a number of players for trials with the club. Colombian midfielder Sebastian Perez and Moroccan Alharbi El-Jadeyaoui, also a midfielder are understood to currently be training with the first team squad and United Arab Emirates international Omar Abdulrahman is believed to be wanted for a trial by Arsene Wenger.

 

20-year-old Perez currently plays for Atlético Nacional. He made his senior debut in 2011 and has gone on to make more than 50 appearances for them, also winning the Colombian top flight this season. Mostly deployed as a defensive midfielder, he is described on the Atlético Nacional website as being a good passer of the ball with good vision and as adept at taking long shots. Valued by his club at around £5m, a deal is very possible for the Colombian U20 international, who would likely go straight into the first team squad.

 

El-Jadeyaoui would represent Arsenal's second capture from the French Ligue 2 this summer, the 26-year-old is a centre midfielder for Angers. The Moroccan weighed in with 10 assists and four goals last season and is said to be at London Colney with Perez on trial at the moment. A full international, L'Equipe report that El-Jadeyaoui will be with Arsenal for two days. The left-footed playmaker is reportedly valued at £3m by Angers, who withdrew him from their squad to face Istres over the weekend so he would be fit for his trial.

 

It has also been reported that Arsenal are in a race with Barcelona and Shalke to secure Omar Abdulrahman. The UAE international was supposed to be on trial with the Gunners this week, but his club Al Ain pulled him out. Deputy chairman of Al Ain, Rashid bin Mubarak Al Hajri, said, "Have we had an offer from Arsenal for him to come to train? Then yes. We've also had offers from Spanish teams, and other teams also, but the player will decide ultimately. We got a lot of offers for Omar. If he finds the right environment, then we will be very supportive. It's a package that will have to be right, where he can improve his football. I'll leave that for Omar - that's for him to decide."

It remains to be seen if Arsenal will manage to negotiate a trial for the 21-year-old, who impressed many at last year's Olympic games.

Whilst activity in the transfer market will undoubtedly placate many Arsenal fans, none of these players really represent the big name signing that Gooners so crave, with any move for Luis Suarez still seemingly stalled and with some sizeable obstacles to overcome were Wenger to decide to move for Wayne Rooney.

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Should Arsenal move for this keeper?

 

By Nick Lander

 

In 2011/12 Wolverhampton Wanderers had a disastrous season, relegated amidst managerial turmoil, few players had seasons to remember. One player impressed however, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

 

The Welsh international only managed 3 clean sheets on the way to the Championship, but made 165 saves, 69.3% of all the shots taken at him. Sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury at the latter end of 11/12, Hennessey missed the entirety of last season, but is now back from injury and languishing in League 1. Talking after his return to action in pre-season a couple of weeks ago, Hennessey told Wolves' Official website "I fell perfect, touch wood. I haven't felt any discomfort whatsoever. I've told the physios it's the best I've ever felt and I've felt really good in the games as well."

 

There has been much talk of Arsenal brining in a new goalkeeper to truly challenge Wojciech Szczesney for the number 1 jersey, with QPR's Julio Cesar the name most frequently mentioned, I think that it would be well worth Arsenal's while taking a chance on the 26-year-old, who would surely be available for less than £1m.

 

Whilst some might question the ambition of the signing, he would surely be an improvement on Lukasz Fabianski, who continues to have serious question marks over his ability.

 

I would certainly like to see Arsene Wenger make a move for the Welshman, would you?

 

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