VAN PERSIE CONFIDENT FOR A SILVERWARE

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has stressed that the club will not change their philosophy in a bid to end their search for silverware. The Gunners last lifted a trophy when they defeated Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final.

 

Arsene Wenger's side has since come in for criticism after struggling for consistency. Dutchman Van Persie, though, is adamant the team will stand by their style of play, insisting their ethos will soon deliver.

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

ARSENAL 1 - BOLTON 0

Nicklas Bendtner came off the bench to score a late winner as Arsenal ended Bolton's stubborn resistance in a 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners had dominated possession, but failed to break the visitors, who put 10 men behind the ball.

 

Only when time looked to be running out, Bendtner arrived at the far post to volley in a first goal since November and renew hopes Arsene Wenger's men can force their way back into the race for the Premier League title.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

NOW ADEBAYOR JOINS GALLAS

Emmanuel Adebayor has backed former Arsenal captain, William Gallas and said he was right to publicly question his team-mates' stomach for a fight. Gallas was stripped of the captaincy in November after criticising his team-mates, while he also revealed the rifts in Arsenal's dressing room that have threatened to derail the Gunners' season.

 

However, Adebayor, who feels Gallas is like his 'big brother', says the defender's outburst may have been just the thing Arsenal needed as they attempt to stay in the hunt for the league title. He also believes there is truth in what Gallas said, and it is right for someone to say something to make each person face up to their responsibilities.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

ARSHAVIN GETTING CLOSER TO EMIRATES

Zenit St Petersburg confirms that talks are taking place with Arsenal regarding a deal for Andrei Arshavin. The club's general director, Maxim Mitrofanov, has expressed his hopes a deal can be done within the next two weeks.

 

Arshavin has been looking to leave the Uefa Cup holders in search of a move to a major European league. He impressed at Euro 2008 and was linked with Arsenal's after the tournament.

 

Recently, he was given permission to discuss his departure from Zenit and increased the possibility of January move to Arsenal. Reports suggest Zenit are demanding a £20million fee for Arshavin, which is not what the Gunners had expected.

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

 

ARSENAL 3 - PLYMOUTH 1

Arsenal advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 victory over Plymouth at Emirates Stadium. Plymouth, languishing in the bottom half of the Championship table, defended superbly in the first half to keep Arsenal at bay and goalkeeper Romain Larrieu pulled off a number of fine saves.

 

However, their hopes of causing an upset were dashed within seven minutes of the restart as the Gunners opened up a 2-0 lead thanks to a Robin van Persie header and David Gray's own goal. Karl Duguid quickly pulled one back for Plymouth but Arsenal continued to dominate and sealed the win with Van Persie's second of the afternoon five minutes from time.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

ALMUNIA WANTS TO BRING BACK THE REAL GUNNERS

Manuel Almunia has called on his team-mates to find the "real Arsenal" as the Gunners bid to get their inconsistent Premier League campaign back on track in the second half of the season. Arsenal will see in the new year in fourth place in the league, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool, while injuries to the likes of Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky continue to cast a cloud over the Emirates Stadium. However, the goalkeeper believes it is the steely identity, which saw Arsenal win so many trophies with the likes of Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry.

 

Almunia also believes William Gallas is still the real leader of Arsenal despite having been stripped of the captaincy. With the Frenchman's successor, Fabregas, now sidelined, the armband has passed to Almunia who believes the form of Gallas could be key in the second half of the season. Almunia insists the inspiration still comes from Gallas and cites the manner in which Arsenal players celebrated Gallas' winning goal against Portsmouth on Sunday as evidence that there are no lingering problems over the defender's autobiography in which he questioned his team-mates' bravery and accused one Arsenal player of disrupting morale.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL