Gunners Get Kind Cup Draws

 

By Nick Lander

 

Arsenal learnt their fate in both the Champions League and Capital One Cup (formerly Carling Cup) today, receiving fairly kind draws in both competitions.

 

Arsenal were one of the top seeds, in Pot 1 for the Champions League draw in Monaco at 1700BST were drawn into Group B, alongside Bundesliga side Shalke 04 from Pot 2, Greeks side Olympiakos (again!) and French champions Montpellier were drawn from Pot 4, handing Olivier Giroud a swift return to the club he departed for the Gunners in July.

 

Whilst not the easiest group that the Gunners could have got, it is extremely favourable when compared to the 'group of death' that Manchester City find themselves in, alongside Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund. All four teams reigning domestic champions.

 

The draw for the Carling Cup third round was also this evening, which has paired the Gunners with League 1 side Coventry City. Coventry advanced after beating Championship side, and midlands rivals, Birmingham 3-2 after extra-time in the second round. The tie will be played at the Emirates in the week beginning 24th September.

 

Arsenal Champions League fixtures:

     Montpellier vs. Arsenal - 18th September

     Arsenal vs. Olympiakos - 3rd October

     Arsenal vs. Shalke 04 - 24th October

     Shalke 04 vs. Arsenal - 6th November

     Arsenal vs. Montpellier - 21st November

     Olympiakos vs. Arsenal - 4th December

 

Keep up to date by liking the Facebook page and by following me on Twitter - @Goonernl.

It's not too late to join the N5 Blog's fantasy football league! You still can on the Premier League website using league code 13667-212189

Could These 2 Owens be the Solution for Arsenal?

By Nick Lander

Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves. Both England internationals, both free agents. Both players Arsenal should move for?

 

Owen Hargreaves was released by Manchester City after one season at the club, which he had joined following four injury plagued years across town with Manchester United. The 31-year-old has 40 England caps and was the star of England's 2006 World Cup campaign, signing for United for £17m off the back of it. Certainly one of England's finest talents if he can stay fit and rediscover his form of 2006, Hargreaves could be a real asset for the Gunners, especially as they are on the hunt for a new midfielder, after Alex Song left for Barcelona.

 

Despite barely featuring for Roberto Mancini's side last season, he only made four appearances, Hargreaves did have a virtually injury-free campaign, missing only a week in October after getting kicked in the calf in training. Canadian born Hargreaves managed to play in about 30 training matches in his final four months at City, something which gives positive signals to potential clubs.

 

Despite having only managed to make more than 20 league appearances in a season five times so far in his career, I believe that Hargreaves would be more than worth a gamble, were the club to look to sign him on a pay-as-you-play deal, say offering £25k per week basic plus an additional £30k if he plays.

 

I would make a move for Michael Owen on similar terms too. The 32-year-old striker was released by Manchester United at the end of 2011/12, having bagged 17 goals in 49 appearances for the Red Devils over the last three seasons, which is a very good record for someone used infrequently and generally as a substitute.

 

The Gunners are still in the market for a striker, with Nicklas Bendtner on the verge of a move to Italy and a club for Ju-Young Park still being sought, and England international Owen could be of use to the club, as he would count as a home-grown player in their Premier League squad - something which is adding complications to the club's current transfer business - and has a proven goalscoring record in the Premier League. Surely worth a pay-as-you-play deal! Were Arsene Wenger to decide to move for Owen, he would have to fend off interest from Stoke and Everton, which could force the striker's wages up to a level that just is not worth the risk.

 

Whilst I highly doubt that either of these signings will happen, they are two extremely valid options in my opinion.

 

Whatever happens, the end of the transfer window is set to be very exciting from an Arsenal perspective, with 3 or 4 new players expected, plus a number of players leaving. You keep track of it all by liking the N5 Blog on Facebook and following me on Twitter - @Goonernl

 

It's not too late to join the N5 Blog's fantasy football league on the Premier League website, using league code 13667-212189

Arsenal Want Walcott Decision

 

By Nick Lander

 

Theo Walcott, 23, is reported to have turned down Arsenal's latest contract offer. The England winger is currently earning around £60k per week at the club, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season.

 

The club are understood to have tabled an offer of a five year deal worth around £75k per week. Walcott, however, is understood to be holding out for a contract worth nearer £100,000 per week. Still largely unproven, Walcott's form and fitness has fluctuated wildly during his time at the club so far, but his last two seasons have probably been his best. He managed 11 goals and 13 assists during 2011/12, many of his assists going to Robin van Persie, who's sale Walcott is said to be concerned about.

 

Domestically, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have been linked with moves, but the Gunners' London rivals are unlikely to sanction a move, having already spent in the region of £80m on attacking talent this summer.

 

Liverpool is perhaps Walcott's most likely destination. A boyhood fan, the Reds are believed to be ready to match Walcott's wage demands, and he would be likely to be able to hold down a starting berth on Mersyside. City on the other hand, are interested in him as a squad player, with their £6.2m move for Swansea's Scott Sinclair stalling. They are also happy to meet his wage demands, and possibly exceed them, but he would rarely start. It has been suggested that the Citizens would include striker Edin Dzeko as part of a deal, with Arsene Wenger understood to be on the look out for another new striker.

 

The Gunners are said to be prepared to wait 48 hours for Theo Walcott to decide whether or not to accept their offer, otherwise they will be prepared to sell him for upwards of £12m on deadline day.

 

Theo Walcott looked to be on very good form over pre-season, but struggled (like most of the rest of the team) against Sunderland, and was only a substitute against Stoke. I believe he looks set for his best season in an Arsenal shirt, and that it would be a real shame to see a player who still has a lot of potential sold, especially as he is still believed to want to remain at the club. It would not surprise me if Walcott is not sold this month, even if he does not commit to a new deal, I suspect that a January sale would be much more likely were he to decline to extend his stay in N5.

 

Both parties are said to remain hopeful of agreeing a new deal soon.

 

Want to know why I think Theo Walcott is so important to Arsenal? Read my Arsenal Zone column for July here.

 

Keep up to date by liking the Facebook page and by following me on Twitter - @Goonernl.

 

It's not too late to join the N5 Blog's fantasy football league! You still can on the Premier League website using league code 13667-212189

Arsenal Reject van Persie Bids

By Nick Lander

Arsenal are believed to have received and rejected three bids for Robin van Persie this morning. Understood to be from Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus, none of the bids topped £15m, way below the Gunners' £20m asking price.

Van Persie announced that he would not sign an Arsenal contract extension at the beginning of July, and there has been a flurry of speculation since. The striker joined Arsenal for just £2.75m back in 2004 from Feyenoord. With 48 goals in his last 55 Premier League games, van Persie is on form - it took him 139 games to score his first 48 Premiership goals - and the Gunners are unwilling to even enter formal talks with any bidding party until they receive an offer of at least £20m.

Having scored a goal every 111 minutes he was on the pitch in 2011/12 with a league high 58% of his shots on target, it is unsurprising the amount of interest there is in Arsenal's captain. In addition to the three clubs who have already bid, AC Milan are expected to get involved at some stage, and both Real Madrid and Barcelona are understood to have an interest in signing the Dutchman.

Following these bids, van Persie is now set to be left behind from Arsenal's forthcoming Asia tour, in order to work on his fitness (finalise a move elsewhere). If their valuation of their player is not met, Arsenal are believed to be prepared to hold him to the final year of his contract and lose him for nothing next summer.

Keep up to date by liking us on Facebook and by following me on Twitter - @Goonernl. 

Van Persie Rejects Arsenal - including club response

By Nick Lander

Robin van Persie has today confirmed that he will not be extending his stay at Arsenal, in a statement released through his official website.

Arsenal's Captain says that he has made his decision due to differing visions between himself and Arsene Wenger over how the club should move forward. He had a meeting with Wenger and Ivan Gazidis just before Euro 2012, based on which "it has again become clear to [him] that [they], in many aspects, disagree on the way Arsenal should move forward."

Van Persie has confirmed that he will have further meetings with Gazidis in the near future, but he will not sign a new deal, having "thought long and hard about it." The striker also says that he has not discussed a contract with the club "financial terms or a contract have not been discussed" as those are something which are "not [his] priority at all." His full statement is available here.

Arsenal could hold van Persie to his contract, but are likely then to miss out on receiving a transfer fee for the striker, although success in 2012/13 could convince him to extend his stay. Arsenal's other option is to sell him this summer. Manchester City are definitely interested and are believed to be considering a £20m, £200k per week offer. Abroad, Italian side Juventus have reportedly already tabled a miserly offer of £8m. It has also been suggested that Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are interested too.

The club has responded to their Captain's statement, saying that they "are confident that he will fulfil his commitments to the Club." They go on to say that they are preparing for next season with "Arsenal's best interests in mind." A statement which does not really say anything, and which suggests that the Gunners' talismanic captain may be sold for the right price. The full statement can be found here.

For Arsenal fans, it will be a very bitter pill to swallow if van Persie opts to follow in the footsteps of Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri and join Premier League champions City, and if he does he is unlikely to be remembered with much fondness. The wounds caused by Samir Nasri's protracted transfer there last summer are still very fresh.

If he decides to move abroad, van Persie will be remembered more fondly, but a move to Serie A is likely to be seen as a step down, and neither Barcelona or Real Madrid have shown firm interest as yet. Were RVP to move to Catalonia, it would have to be questioned whether he could get into the Barcelona team on a regular basis - although the same was asked of Fabregas last summer and he has done alright.

What actually happens remains to be seen, but any move is unlikely to be made in the next couple of weeks, with van Persie, Wenger and Gazidis all still believed to be on holiday. After the debacle of last summer, Arsenal fans will be hoping that an outcome (whichever way it goes) is reached sooner, rather than later, enabling the club to get on with preparations for the new season without any uncertainty.

Keep up to date by following me on Twitter - @Goonernl