Arsenal booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions league with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Bulgarian club Ludogorets. Arsenal did it the hard way as they had to come back from two goals down to get the win. A major highlight of the victory was Mesut Ozil’s superb winning goal in the dying moments of the match. Manager Arsene Wenger has revealed he was surprised with the approach Ozil took to scoring the goal. On his way to scoring the goal, the midfielder chipped the keeper and beat two defenders before slotting the ball in the net and Wenger admits that the German midfielder proved him wrong. He said: "To me it didn't look like the optimal solution, but when the ball was in the net I thought it was. The great players make the right decisions in the … [Read more...]

Arsenal Midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed the disappointment of not being called up to the England squad led to him making the loan move to fellow premiership outfit Bournemouth. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said "When the England squad was announced and I wasn't in it, it hurt me. I want to be part of the England squad. I feel like I'm good enough, I can make a difference in the team and when I was left out, it sparked something in me. I thought 'I need a change. I need to be part of a team where I'm going to play week in, week out, be an important member of the team and make a difference.' The player I am and the character I am, to get the best out of me I need to feel responsibility and be part of a team that needs me, so that's the main reason I came to … [Read more...]

Arsenal will go into their Champions League match at Ludogorets with a host of star players missing from the trip. Arsenal defeated the Bulgarian club 6-0 at the Emirates last month and will be seeking for a similar display and result as they fight for top spot along with Paris Saint-Germain. This is a task they will have to achieve without the services of some of their influential players. Ahead of the match, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed the quartet of Theo Walcot, Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Santi Carzorla will miss the match against Ludogorets. https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/793148937926479873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Walcott has been ruled out of the match despite training on Monday while Carzorla will miss the match because of an … [Read more...]

Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger has hailed Aaron Ramsey on his return to the team. Ramsey has been out of action since playing against Liverpool at the start of the season courtesy of a hamstring injury. Though in his absence Arsenal have done well, winning six premier league matches and remaining unbeaten in the Champions league, Wenger still believes the midfielder has a lot to offer the team. Ramsey returned to action as a second half substitute in the 4-1 win over Sunderland and gave an assist for one of the goals. Wenger believes he is very crucial to the team and even compared him to Chelsea legend Frank Lampard. He said “He is a player who is box-to-box so overall he pushes the team forward, that is what we want in our side. He can play in holding … [Read more...]

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger was delighted with the performance of his players in their 4-1 premiership win over bottom team Sunderland. Two goals each from Alexi Sanchez and Oliver Giroud who came off the bench to ensured that more pressure was heaped on Sunderland coach David Moyes. Arsenal had taken the lead in the first half with a fine header from Sanchez and in the second half they were pegged back by a Jermain Defoe penalty. Arsenal responded in fine fashion and in a seven minute spell blew Sunderland away with two goals from Giroud and another goal from Sanchez. The victory left Wenger feeling very happy and after the match he stated "It is a good feeling to go first. At least you have one good day. Top is where everyone wants to be, but it is too … [Read more...]

Ahead of the weekend clash against Sunderland, Manager Arsene Wenger has come out to accuse Reading of deliberately harming Lucas Perez. Perez who started the EFL cup game against Reading in mid-week had to come off in the second half after feeling some pain and Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the striker is set to be out for about two months after suffering an ankle injury in the match. Signed from Deportivio La Coruna during the summer for 17 million pounds, the Spaniard is set to miss some important matches as we approach the end of the year busy period. At a press conference where Arsene Wenger who gave injury updates ahead of Arsenal’s match with Sunderland, was clearly not happy with the Perez situation. He said “He’s absolutely gutted because it’s … [Read more...]

Arsenal moved to the summit of the Premier League table on Saturday, as they played out an entertaining goalless draw against Middlesbrough at the Emirates. Wenger had Cech to thank on his 67th birthday as he kept the Gunners in the game with strings of saves, while Mesut Özil's late goal was ruled out for offside. Arsenal bossed the game in the early hours of the encounter but couldn't find a way through a dogged Middlesbrough defence. Mohamed Elneny tried his luck from long-range, while playmaker Mesut Ozil went down in the box but his claim for a penalty went down on deaf ears. Arsenal's large chunk of possession led to few carved out chances to test Victor Valdes who was in superb form, will have frustrated the Arsenal gaffer. Arsenal might have … [Read more...]

Arsene Wenger has come out to boast that Arsenal will win the Premier League. He said this to newsmen in a recent interview yesterday. He added that the Gunners have won 7 games so far and are more than equipped to handle any team no matter how formidable the team is. It should be stated that Arsenal has not won the cup in several years(since 2004) but frankly, this is the fittest the English team has been. Arsene Wenger said that he believes his team is finally ready to prove to the world that they are not dormant and that they can lift the cup like any other club. "We are consistent at the moment and I think there is more to come out of our team. The confidence is there because we have been consistent and I am sure that if we continue in this form, we will win … [Read more...]

When a club trashes you 6-0, two things are involved: You go to one corner and beg for forgiveness from who ever you may have offended. You vow never to mess with a big club again! Ozil and Sanchez showed that they are indeed masters of the game and of their club when they collectively inspired a 6-0 flogging against the Bulgarian minnows, Ludogorets in the Champions League yesterday. Some have speculated that the boys did so well because of the contract talks that are currently on going. Arsene Wenger has urged Ozil and Sanchez not to make themselves too costly after rumors were going round that the boys plan to demand a salary increase to £250,000-per-week ($307,000, 279,000 euros). Though their deals officially expire in 2018, talks have already started … [Read more...]

  There are rumors that due to Theo Walcott's reduced role with Arsenal last season, he would be leaving to another club. However, Arsene Wenger the club's coach has refuted this claim, insisting that Theo Walcott will not be leaving Arsenal despite the rumors going round. Walcott just started this season after a brief hiatus and has scored 5 goals. Wenger had this to say to reporters: “Look, I haven’t spoken to anybody because I was not ready to let him go. I always wanted to keep him. “What I’ve seen of him is that he lets the passion for the game come out of his body. That’s what you want from him. “I’ve felt that since he’s played with more freedom, maybe he lets his feelings come out a bit more and is less calculating: ‘Can I do that or can … [Read more...]

Wenger has hinted that Ozil and his manager are demanding for a large sum of money if Ozil will remain at Arsenal. The Coach has not put a specified figure on the amount Ozil is demanding if he is to renew his contract with the football club. However, he conceded that the team will have to 'break the bank' to ensure Mesut Ozil signs a new contract. Ozil’s current contract expires in 2018 but the German International wants a much higher fee, improved terms and some additional benefits if he is to remain at the Emirates Stadium. "Ozil wants to be here. He wants to be with us. He knows he is part of a winning team" said Wenger to newsmen. When asked the specific sum by a reporter, the Coach quipped: “If you have a good bank, call me" Wenger added: “I don’t … [Read more...]

  After 20 years at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger may leave Arsenal. Wenger, who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary as Arsenal manager, will be out of contract at the end of the current campaign. The 66 year old has been linked with the England manager’s job following Sam Allardyce’s departure and has said that it might appeal one day, but Pires hopes Wenger will stay at the Emirates Stadium a little longer. “The English are thinking about it because they think he’d be the ideal person,” Pires said However, everyone knows how Arsene wenger has been dedicated to this club for years. Pires also added: “I know Arsene a bit. He loves his club and his club is Arsenal. He’s built lots of things with this club. “I know he’s getting near the end of his … [Read more...]

Despite flat-lined commercial revenues and no trophy, Arsenal seems to still have enough money to spray her executives! Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis received an extraordinary annual bonus of more than £1million. In total, Gazidis was paid a whopping package of £2.648m, making him the second highest paid football club executive in the Premier League behind Manchester United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward. The numbers are included in the Arsenal club accounts sent to shareholders. Gazidis's pay rose by nearly £400,000 for the year ending June 2016, despite Arsenal's lack of success. Woodward is understood to earn around £3m a year but United's complex accounting system does not reveal the exact figure. The team has had a fantastic showing this season … [Read more...]

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, says he has outlined his plans to buy Arsenal in the near future. The Nigerian has claimed that he wants to buy Arsenal within "three to four years". Aliko Dangote, a businessman who has an estimated wealth of $10.9billion, stated last year that he was prepared to pay any sum to take ownership of the Premier League club away from Stan Kroenke. Dangote, an Arsenal fan whose fortune is largely tied up in Lagos-based Dangote Cement Plc, is reported to have lost $4.4bn this year due largely to the depreciation of Nigeria's currency. But the 59-year-old says he still plans to complete a takeover of the Gunners before the end of the decade once his latest ventures in gas pipelines and an oil refinery have … [Read more...]

Arsenal eased through to the fourth round of the EFL Cup as striker Lucas Perez scored his first goals for Arsenal as they overcame Nottingham Forest 4-0 at the City Ground. Former Deportivo la Coruna striker Perez, who joined Arsenal for a fee of £17million in August, netted his first goal for Arsene Wenger's side with a well taken penalty on the hour-mark, before doubling his tally with a superb solo effort The Gunners’ only two League Cup triumphs in 1987 and 1993 each featured wins over the Reds and Granit Xhaka’s strike and a Lucas Perez double set the ball rolling for history to perhaps repeat itself. Granit Xhaka's second goal in as many games – a blistering range strike from 25 yards out, opened the scoring midway through a tightly-contested … [Read more...]

Arsene Wenger was excited with Arsenal's positive display but has suggested that he will talk to Alexis Sanchez over the striker's decision to take penalty duties from Santi Cazorla in win against Hull. Bournemouth goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic saved low down to his right, the second of four penalties Arsenal have missed this season. Cazorla is Arsenal's regular penalty taker, but had to watch as Sanchez spurned the chance to add gloss to the victory. Whilst it did not affect the result Wenger said he wants to understand why it was that the pre-match order was not followed. “Santi was down to taking it,” Wenger told the BBC. “I don’t know why it did not happen, they have pecking order, it was not planned for Sanchez to take it. “I want to know what … [Read more...]

Alexis Sanchez scored twice, as Arsenal cruised to a 4-1 victory over 10-man Hull at the KC Stadium, as Wenger's men continued their winning run in the Premier League. Early pressure told in the 17th minute when Eldin Jakupovic palmed Theo Walcott’s cross into the path of Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian’s volley rifled its way into the bottom corner, though there remained some debate as to whether Alexis Sanchez got the final touch. The north Londoners were far from convincing in a midweek Champions League draw at Paris St Germain, just days after fortuitously overcoming Southampton, but matters were far more comprehensive at the KCOM Stadium. Hull have only beaten the Gunners once since 1915 and that poor run was extended on Saturday, with Sanchez’s double helping … [Read more...]

Arsene Wenger insists goalkeeper David Ospina has proved his critics wrong following a top class display in Arsenal’s Champions League opener at Paris Saint-Germain. Wenger surprised many when he opted to bench Petr Cech despite a big blunder by Ospina in the Champions League last season. But the Colombian repaid his faith by making a string of crucial saves in order go see Arsenal share the spoils against PSG. The Colombian was not expected to start at the Parc des Princes but was drafted in and performed admirably, eventually denying PSG striker Edinson Cavani, who had headed the Ligue 1 Champions ahead inside a minute. Ospina made a number of crucial stops to prevent Unai Emery’s side extending their lead before Alexis Sanchez struck with 12 minutes … [Read more...]

Alexis Sanchez scored in the second half to rescue a point for Arsenal against Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League opener. It took less than a minute (42 seconds) for Edinson Cavani to head PSG in front, but the Uruguayan missed three more clear opportunities before Sanchez drew Wenger's men level in the 77th minute. Arsene Wenger dropped goalkeeper Petr Cech for back-up David Ospina, but the Colombian shot-stopper could do nothing about PSG's opener as Cavani stole in to finish from a Serge Aurier cross. Arsenal were outplayed by Paris Saint Germain for the most part of the first half, as Wenger left Olivier Giroud and Granit Xhaka on the bench. Arsenal were lucky not to have conceded more, after Edinson Cavani put PSG ahead in the first … [Read more...]