The Official 2010/11 Thread for Arsenal F.C.

[Addick]

SK Strum Graz 0 - 3 Arsenal
UPC Arena -- Graz, AT
18:00BST -- 21 July 2010
Pre-Season Friendly

Originally Posted by Arsenal.com

Match Report

21 July 2010
Arsenal.com
Richard Clarke

Samir Nasri stole the limelight with a sumptuous first-half double as Arsenal beat Sturm Graz 3-0 on Wednesday evening.

The Frenchman thundered home an angled drive after 16 minutes to give Arsène Wenger's side the lead. Then, two minutes from the break, Nasri curled home a wonderful free-kick in to the top left-hand corner of the net to give the visitors a lead they were unlikely to let ever slip.

Substitute Henri Lansbury added a third 12 minutes after the restart.

Complete Report

Photo Credit: AP

[Addick]

Today's news:

Originally Posted by Arsenal.com

'It's Best If Wilshere Gets Experience Here'

22 July 2010
Arsenal.com
Nick Teale

Arsène Wenger wants Jack Wilshere to gain experience at Arsenal, if that is possible.

The young midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton and there has been some speculation within the media that he may return to the Reebok Stadium this term.

Complete Article

[Finny61]

I hope Wilshere can stick, I would assume that is maybe a small reason why Wenger didn't compete so hard for Joe Cole.

[NBC]

^ I think that Cole's wage demands were the problem. If Chelsea weren't prepared to meet them with their spendthrift mentality, then Wegner with Arsenal's rigid wage structure, surely were not either.

[Addick]

Today's news:

Originally Posted by Arsenal.com

A Personal Message From Eduardo

22 July 2010
Arsenal.com
Arsenal Staff

Following the confirmation of his transfer to Shakhtar Donetsk, Eduardo has spoken to Arsenal.com and asked if the following message could be passed on:

"Before I start a new chapter in my career with Shakhtar Donetsk, I just wanted to send a message to all my friends at Arsenal.

Complete Message

Originally Posted by Goal.com

Sol Campbell To Remain At Arsenal For Another Year
Report

23 July 2010
Goal.com

Sol Campbell is set to shun offers from elsewhere and remain at Arsenal for another season, according to a report from The Sun.

The ex-England international is understood to have received offers from Celtic, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United but is believed to want to remain at the Emirates.

Complete Article

Related news:

23.07.10: Titus Bramble Completes Sunderland Switch

[Addick]

Rumeur du jour:

Originally Posted by The Daily Star

Arsene Wegner's Race For Per Mertesacker

24 July 2010
Daily Star
Paul Brown

ARSENAL are ready to launch a £10m bid for Per Mertesacker next week – if Everton refuse to budge on Phil Jagielka.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has already had a £14m bid for England defender Jagielka rejected by the Merseysiders.

The Frenchman is still weighing up whether to raise that offer to £18m – but Starsport understands David Moyes has said that Jagielka must not be sold with the new season only weeks away. So Wenger is looking again at German giant Mertesacker, who has two years left on his contract at Werder Bremen.

Complete Article

Although I'd love for this to be true, considering the source and price I'm pretty sure it's fabricated.

[Addick]

Today's news:

Originally Posted by Daily Star

Igor Akinfeev Want To Join Arshavin At Arsenal

25 July 2010
Daily Star
Ben Fairthorne

RUSSIA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev has told Arsene Wenger: I’d love to team up with Andrey Arshavin at Arsenal.

CSKA Moscow star Akinfeev, 24, is a target for the Gunners and Manchester United after impressive Champions League displays last season.

But Arsenal are the favourites to grab his signature after Emirates ace Arshavin gave the Gunners a glowing reference.

Complete Article

Originally Posted by Goal.com

'Cesc Fabregas Will Stay At Arsenal' Confesses Barcelona's Andres Iniesta
Spanish Team-Mate Believes Gunners Capitan Deserves To Leave England With Title...

25 July 2010
Goal.com

Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas is set to stay at the Emirates this season according to his Spanish team-mate Andres Iniesta.

La Liga champions Barcelona have been linked with the tenacious central midfielder all summer but are now resigned to missing out on their top transfer target and will reignite their interest next year.

Barca ace Iniesta, who led his country to World Cup glory with the winning goal against Holland in the final, has spoken to Fabregas and admits his international team-mate wants one more campaign at the Emirates to have a final crack at winning the Premier League.

Complete Article

Well, it's nice to see a young talent show interest in your club and a little bit of class come from the south of Europe. Although I'd like a clear path for the Szczęsny to emerge as the next number one, it would be so nice to see a young keeper at Arsenal that wasn't absolute crap.

[Montana Moe]

Arsenal up 2-0 at half over SC Neusiedl

Walcott at 28' and Emmanuel-Thomas at 30'

Second half

Chamakh 51' penalty shot

Vela 65'

SC Neusiedl 0-4 Arsenal

[Winsor_Pilates]

Hope Eduardo regains his pre-injury form. He has such great potential and I'll always root for him.
Represented Arsenal with class, and wish him all the best. This is the right move for the club and him both.

[Addick]

Today's news:

Originally Posted by Soccernet.com

Campbell Signs One-Year Deal With Newcastle

28 July 2010
Soccernet.com
Soccernet Staff

Newcastle United have confirmed the signing of former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell on a one-year contract.

Campbell was allowed to join Newcastle after failing to agree a new deal at Emirates Stadium and will wear the No.5 shirt at St. James' Park next season.

Complete Article

[Addick]

Arsenal 1 - 1 AC Milan
Emirates Stadium -- London, UK
16:20BST -- 31 July 2010
Emirates Cup

Originally Posted by Arsenal.com

Match Report

31 July 2010
Arsenal.com
Chris Harris
Marouane Chamakh started life at Emirates Stadium with a goal as Arsenal started the Emirates Cup with a draw.

The Moroccan striker won over his new fans with a cool finish after 36 minutes following fine work from Andrey Arshavin, but it was not enough to see off AC Milan in an entertaining encounter.

Alexandre Pato headed an equaliser with 13 minutes left to leave the tournament finely poised at the end of day one.

Complete Report

Post Match Interview: Thomas Vermaelen


Photo Credit: Getty Images

[DeanOMac]

Originally Posted by Addick

Arsenal 1 - 1 AC Milan
Emirates Stadium -- London, UK
16:20BST -- 31 July 2010
Emirates Cup

Post Match Interview: Thomas Vermaelen


Photo Credit: Getty Images

Missed most of this game unfortunately, didn't realize it was on GOL TV in Canada. I am looking forward to the Celtic game tomorrow. Chamakh looked really good in the parts I saw. Bendtner should be nervous as Chamakh plays a similar role but is a better finisher.

As for our transfer targets, pure speculation on my part, but I got to believe we are after Per Mertesacker. Wenger will often issue statements indicating he is not interested in signing a player and unlike Sutter he seems to hold true to it. He has refused to say anything about Mertesacker (that I've seen) and continues to mention in the media that we need another defender. He did the same thing with Arshavin, where he never denied it, but never confirmed it. I believe we are at least trying to sign him. Or knowing Wenger, it will be an unknown 15-19 year old kid who is from somewhere in Africa or France.

Anyone hear anything about Marchetti recently? Would be a nice replacement for Almunia/Fabianski. If we sign no one, I would rather play Mannone.

[Addick]

Today's news:

Originally Posted by Soccernet.com

Cesc Fabregas: I Will Stay At Arsenal This Season

6 August 2010
Soccernet.com
Soccernet Staff

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has released a statement claiming that he will remain at the club this summer and that he will be 100% committed to the Gunners.

Fabregas, 24, was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, who had two bids in the region of £30 million rejected this summer. But the midfielder now insists he will be staying at the Emirates after weeks of speculation.

Complete Article

Originally Posted by Goal.com

Arsenal Ponder Move For Roma Defender Philippe Mexes
Report

6 August 2010
Goal.com

Roma's PhilippeMexes is under Arsenal's radar, according to La Repubblica, who claim he could be enticed by an offer from north London.

With Arsenal losing William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre, Arsene Wenger is eager to replace them and is scouring the market for a central defender.

Complete Article

Recent news:

Originally Posted by Soccernet.com

Werder Bremen Warns Clubs Off Mertesacker

4 August 2010
Soccernet.com
Soccernet Staff

Werder Bremen have insisted that defender Per Mertesacker is not for sale, amid reports linking him with a move to Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger is believed to be a keen admirer of Mertesacker, who impressed during Germany's run to the World Cup semi-finals.

And with the Gunners looking to bolster their defensive options after the departures of Mikael Silvestre, William Gallas, Philippe Senderos and Sol Campbell, Mertesacker has been touted as a possible addition.

Complete Article

[Pagal4321]

1. That's quite the statement from Cesc, but I think we all knew he always wanted to play for Barca. All in due time young man, probably next year by the sound of it. If that's the case, Barca better start saving now becuase it's going to take much more than the 29 million pounds they offered.

2. Wenger just needs to sign a central defender and a keeper already, becuase without those we will be in trouble this season.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by DeanOMac

As for our transfer targets, pure speculation on my part, but I got to believe we are after Per Mertesacker.

[...]

Anyone hear anything about Marchetti recently? Would be a nice replacement for Almunia/Fabianski. If we sign no one, I would rather play Mannone.

Unfortunately, it Bremen are saying back off of Per but hopefully this is just a tactic to raise the price. It's interesting to hear the rumor about Mexes, I thought about him earlier this summer but I heard he is epically loyal to Roma; a true Roman they say. Maybe Wegner can use his French connection.

In regards to Marchetti, I hope those rumors die. The only time I saw him play was during the WC and he failed to impress. Arsenal don't need an exceptional keeper if they want to bring in the young Pole, but they need do need a solid and proven keeper. It was interesting to see the Hart rumors reemerge and the only reason I mention them is that there is talk about City needing to dump salary. I think they highly value Hart for the future but they have spent themselves into a bit of a mess. Even though Hart might block the path for the Pole, I hope Arsenal can capitalize any possible situation at City.

[Addick]

Legia Warsaw 5 - 6 Arsenal
Wojska Polskiego -- Warsaw, PL
16:00BST -- 07 August 2010
Pre-Season Friendly

Originally Posted by Arsenal.com

Match Report

07 August 2010
Arsenal.com
Richard Clarke

Arsenal completed their pre-season campaign by pulling off an audacious comeback to win 6-5 in a crazy game at Legia Warsaw on Saturday.

The match saw the official opening of the Polish side's new stadium and the home fans revelled in the party atmosphere early on as their team sailed into a 3-0 lead in the opening 36 minutes.

Complete Report

Originally Posted by The Sun

Legia Warsaw 5 Arsenal 6

07 August 2010
The Sun

ARSENAL'S need for a top-class keeper was again highlighted after they shipped FIVE goals in Warsaw.

Boss Arsene Wenger heads into next Sunday's Premier League opener at Liverpool with a major problem over his No1.

Lukasz Fabianski was hauled off at the break after the Gunners found themselves 3-1 down.

Complete Report

Photo Credit: Reuters

[Pagal4321]

WE NEED A KEEPER!

Hopefully today showed that.

[Montana Moe]

I like this Chamakh kid, I've heard he may give Bendtner a run for his money in the lineup depending on how his injury progresses. What do you guys think?

[Pagal4321]

I think Chamakh and Bendtner will be a good one-two punch up front. With Bendtner starting the season a little banged up it will hopefully leave the door wide open for Chamakh to gain some confidence in the EPL.

But for god's sake....a CB and a keeper need to be signed ASAP.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

Hopefully today showed that.

You mean, just like how last season did?

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

I like this Chamakh kid, I've heard he may give Bendtner a run for his money in the lineup depending on how his injury progresses. What do you guys think?

I've heard that he's shown he has the stuff Arsenal needs so I was happy to see some of that this pre-season but I'm trying to contain my optimism as it is still only the pre-season. Nonetheless, I've been quite pleased and I'm getting excited. At the very least, he'll probably score more often than Bendtner.