WENGER HOPES FUNDS AVAILABLE IN JANUARY

Gunners manager, Arsene Wenger has admitted that he would like to bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window to bolster his Arsenal side's faltering title challenge but does not know the club will make the necessary cash available.

 

Wenger knows his side must improve in the second half of the season but is hamstrung by long-term injuries which rule out Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott. One player Arsenal have been linked with is Zenit St Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin. However, Wenger refused to confirm he is chasing the Russia forward.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

ARSENAL 1 - PORTSMOUTH 0

Former captain William Gallas came to Arsenal's rescue with a late header in a 1-0 win against Portsmouth which keeps the Gunners in the Premier League title chase. The breakthrough came in the 82nd minute when David James flapped at Denilson's free-kick and Gallas rose to head the ball into the Pompey net.

 

The victory was barely deserved but it prompted a wave of Arsenal attacks as they at last took control of a game they had struggled to grasp for great swathes against a Portsmouth team which is going through its own crisis of confidence under another former Gunners captain, Tony Adams.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

ASTON VILLA 2 - ARSENAL 2

Zat Knight rifled home an injury-time equaliser to rescue a well-deserved 2-2 draw against Arsenal. and provide a significant boost for Aston Villa's fight for Champions League qualification. Martin O'Neill's side had battered the Londoners throughout the first half but somehow found themselves two goals down only to mount a superb fightback.

 

Goals either side of half-time by Denilson and Abou Diaby for Arsenal were not a fair reflection of the game and, after Gareth Barry's penalty pulled a goal back, Knight smashed home a stoppage-time leveller to maintain Villa's three-point lead over the Gunners.

 

Villa captain Martin Laursen was missing and Gareth Barry was made skipper for Villa. Arsene Wenger was without captain Cesc Fabregas through injury and striker Emmanuel Adebayor due to suspension.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL 

ASTON VILLA CANNOT WIN TITLE - WENGER

Arsene Wenger realised it is a big game, but turned down the idea of Aston Villa winning the Premier League. The Gunners manager however accepted that Villa is a serious threat for the top four positions challenge.

 

Without Fabregas and suspended striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Arsenal will travel to Villa Park looking for revenge after Gabriel Agbonlahor helped inflict a shock result when the two teams met last month.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL

FABREGAS OUT FOUR MONTHS

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is set to be sidelined until April with a knee injury. The Spaniard had to be substituted at half-time in Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Liverpool on Sunday following a challenge with Xabi Alonso.

 

The full extent of the damage has now been revealed, with Arsene Wenger confirming that he has a partial rupture of the medial knee ligament. Fabregas had only recently returned to fitness following a problem with the same knee and he will now miss most of the rest of the season. He will have to sit out a crucial period of the Premier League as well as Arsenal's UEFA Champions League tie against Roma.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL 

ARSENAL 1 - LIVERPOOL 1

Striker Robbie Keane dealt a fresh blow to Arsenal's fading title hopes as he secured a point for Barclays Premier League leaders Liverpool in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal had striker Emmanuel Adebayor sent off in the second half, which hampered their hopes of finding a winner after Keane's goal had cancelled out Robin van Persie's strike.

 

Arsene Wenger's men went into the match eight points off the pace, and perhaps more significantly they were - and remain - out of the top four following Aston Villa's win at West Ham. Despite taking the lead through a fine strike from Van Persie after 24 minutes, it proved a false dawn as the Reds levelled before the break when Keane latched onto a long ball up-field and lashed in a thunderous shot.

 

Arsenal were forced to play the final 30 minutes with only 10 men after referee Howard Webb showed Adebayor his second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Alvaro Arbeloa.

 

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL   LIVERPOOL 

VIEIRA: WENGER NEED WARRIORS

Patrick Vieira believes Arsenal must address their lack of midfield bite if they are to challenge for honours. The former Gunners captain, now at Inter Milan, admits to being impressed by the club's free-flowing style when in possession, but feels they are often found wanting when put on the back foot.

 

With the days when he helped the club claim silverware on a regular basis long gone, the Frenchman concedes that the modern Arsenal are suffering the consequences of not possessing enough steel in vital areas. Vieira does not feel that Arsene Wenger needs to completely overhaul his squad in order to bring about the desired results, but admits that experienced heads are needed if the North London club are to fulfil their potential.

 

 

MID'BORO 1 - ARSENAL 1

Former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere spoilt another Arsenal's chance to take home 3 points from Riverside Stadium. The ex-Arsenal forward scored the equaliser with a fine glancing header in the 29th minute.

 

Emmanuel Adebayor had earlier opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a header from captain Cesc Fabregas corner. Though, Arsenal displayed a very promising starts with efforts from Abou Diaby were denied by Ross Turnbull. Wenger sent in Nicklas Bendtner in the 82nd minutes but was not enough for the Gunners to bag the precious 3 points.

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL 

FC PORTO 2 - ARSENAL 0

Arsenal slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Porto and finished second in the group before challenging in the last 16 of the Champions League. With confirmed qualification to the next stage, manager Arsene Wenger was confident enough to take a calculated gamble with his team selection against the Portuguese outfit, who had never lost here to an English side.

 

Bruno Alves opened the scoring with a header past Almunia. The visitors were soon further behind in the 54th minute. Fernando steals the ball from midfield and feed Lisandro for a smashing shot to the top right corner.

BOLA BOYZ   ARSENAL  

ROSICKY OUT UNTIL MARCH

Arsenal have ruled midfielder Tomas Rosicky out of action until March
''at the earliest'' after the Czech star underwent surgery on the
problem in Germany a month ago.The Czech Republic international has
been out with a damaged hamstring tendon since January and has made a
slower than expected recovery, after originally being told his injury
would be cured in "days, not weeks".

Rosicky missed the European Championships for his country, with the
nature of the problem requiring multiple operations. He is due to
report back to Arsenal later this month but manager Arsene Wenger
admits it will be some time before the 27-year-old will be ready to
play again.