Arshavin Wants To Be Arsenal No10

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Russian International Andrei Arshavin has revealed that he hopes his transfer to Premier League club Arsenal goes through after Zenit St Petersburg rejected a £10million bid from the Gunners recently for the playmaker.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is expected to ask the board at the North London club to make an improved bid of around £12million for Arshavin as he looks to replace his injured captain Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium.

Premiership rivals Manchester City are on standby to make a move for 27-year-old Arshavin, should Arsenal not be able to agree a fee with Zenit for the Russian schemer. It is believed that any new offer by the Gunners could include add-ons to top it up to nearer the £20million valuation of Arshavin by the Russian side.

However, Arshavin seems to have set his sights on a move to the Gunners and has revealed that he would like to wear the No10 shirt at the Emirates, which is currently occupied by William Gallas, who has been strongly linked with a move away from Arsenal this month.

Arshavin told the Daily Telegraph: “I would prefer my present No.10, but in the team where I hope to move it's not vacant. So I'm ready for any number they are going to offer me."

“In some games last season, we [Zenit] played football which was very similar to that of Arsenal.”

Arsenal In Hunt For Battaglia?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to step up his efforts to sign Sebastian Battaglia from Argentine Champions Boca Juniors, with an offer for defensive midfielder being mooted, according to The News of the World.

28-year-old Battaglia has been at Boca for the best part of his playing career apart from a disappointing spell at La Liga club Villarreal, who he played for between 2004/2005. The Argentine International came through the youth ranks at the South American side and is the most decorated player in Los Xeneizes history, with 17 professional titles.

Wenger has been keen to add a ball winner to the midfield at the Emirates Stadium after the departure of Mathieu Flamini to AC Milan last summer. The need is now greater at the Premier League club due to the injury to Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas, who is out for the next three-months with knee ligament damage, which has made the Frenchman turn his attention to the highly-rated Argentine.



Battaglia is valued in the region of £4million by Boca, with it remaining to be seen if the Argentine side are willing to let the midfielder leave the Estadio Alberto J Armando for the Premiership.

The Argentine has played nearly 200 league games for Boca during his two spells at the club and was a pivotal figure in the Argentines winning the Apertura in a three-way play-off recently. Battaglia has 8 caps for Argentina and was recently voted Boca’s best player in a poll.

Barcelona Line Up £45million Bid For Arsenal Pair?

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La Liga giants Barcelona are set to test the resolve of the board at Arsenal, with a sensational £45million double swoop being mooted to Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas and striker Robin van Persie away from the Emirates Stadium, according to the Daily Star.

Barca, are believed to be upbeat that they can prise long-term target 21-year-old Fabregas along with 25-year-old Dutch International Van Persie from the Premier League club. Having signed Alexander Hleb from Arsenal last summer.

Arsenal’s playmaker Fabregas, who left the Catalan club to join the Premiership side in 2003, has been consistently linked with a move back to Spain, with Real Madrid also heavily linked to the midfielder. Fabregas has always insisted he would like to move back to Spain in the future, with Barcelona the more likely destination due to the players, strong links with the club.

It is now understood that Van Persie is also on the radar of the La Liga pacesetters after a meeting between Blaugrana coach Pep Guardiola and sporting director Txiki Beguiristain.

A Barca source says: “This is not the first time that Barca have looked at Van Persie, but there is a feeling that he has now matured and is ready for the move.”

Although a move is unlikely during this transfer window for the pair, especially with Spanish International Fabregas out injured for the next three-months with a knee ligament injury. A £45million bid for both Fabregas and Van Persie is expected in the summer, with Barca midfielder Yaya Toure likely to be part of any deal that brings the pair to the Nou Camp.

More Injury Woe For Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Gunners defender Mikael Silvestre will be ruled out for three weeks after picking up a thigh injury, while Kolo Toure could also be facing a stint on the sidelines.

31-year-old Silvestre had to be withdrawn after half-an-hour in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the third round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Wenger expects the French International to be missing for the rest of January, with Silvestre certain to miss the Premier League clashes with Bolton Wanderers, Hull City and Everton. Silvestre joins captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and long-term absentee Tomas Rosicky on the sidelines at the North London club.

However, Wenger also revealed that Gael Clichy should be back in time to face the Trotters at the Emirates on Saturday, but is concerned about Toure, who has an inflamed groin.

“It is a thigh problem," Wenger said about Silvestre.

“(He will be out for) three weeks, 21 days.

“I have to look at it but at the moment with the injuries we are a little bit short everywhere.

“I hope Kolo [Toure] will not be out for a very long time because he has an inflamed groin.

“On the left-hand side we are a bit short but Gael Clichy should be back for next week.”

Arsenal Chief Reveals There Will Be No Major Spending In January

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Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has revealed that the Gunners will not be spending lots of money in the transfer window, which will worry manager Arsene Wenger, who is eager to bring some new faces to the Emirates Stadium in January to get the Premier League clubs faltering season back on track.

Wenger has captain Cesc Fabregas out with a long-term injury along with Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky, who has played no part in the North London clubs season to date. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor has failed to find the form of last season and Eduardo is still weeks away from a return to action to the Arsenal first team from a broken leg.

For the first time since Wenger took over at Arsenal in 1996, Arsenal had been expected to be a player in the January transfer market due to injuries and the form of the side. However, Hill-Wood has declared that even though there is money it won’t be spent on players this month. Instead the Gunners chairman has insisted that Wenger give some of the young talent at the Premiership side a chance.

Hill-Wood said: “One has got to look ahead - in the future there is probably not going to be much more money coming in. We have got money, but I am not sure we are going to spend it. We've got to continue to run the business in a sensible way.

“It may sound boring, but we are not going to rush out and spend fortunes on people who won't help us achieve anything better than where we are at the moment.

“Arsene has a lot of young, talented players at the club and I think he will probably give a chance to one or two of them.”

Arshavin On Verge Of £18million Arsenal Move

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Russian International Andrei Arshavin is on the verge of joining Premier League club Arsenal in an £18million deal, with the Gunners set to beat local rivals Tottenham Hotspur along with Liverpool to the signature of the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker.

27-year-old Arshavin had been on the brink of a move to Spurs in the summer, but this didn’t materialise due to the two clubs not being able to agree on a fee for EURO 2008 star. Now according to Italian paper Tuttosport, Arshavin is set to become an Arsenal player, with a five-year deal in place and a fee of £18million agreed with Zenit to allow the Russian to leave for the Emirates Stadium.

Arshavin’s agent Dennis Lachter has backed up these claims by revealing that Arshavin’s transfer to the Premiership will be confirmed in a few days and that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had tried to sign the player in the summer.

“Andrei is rated by Wenger who wanted him to sign [for Arsenal] last summer. This transfer would please everyone but we must wait a few days for confirmation,” said Lachter.

Wenger is in desperate need of a playmaker at the North London club, with Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas ruled out for four-months through injury and now appears to be on a verge of a signing that the Frenchman hopes can get the Gunners faltering Premier League season back on track.

Arsenal's Fabregas: Move To Italy? Only To Milan

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Serie A giants AC Milan, who have been linked with a move for Spanish International Cesc Fabregas in recent reports, will be pleased to hear the Arsenal midfielder reveal that if he were to leave the Emirates Stadium for Italy. It would have to be to the San Siro to join the Rossoneri.

Gunners captain Fabregas has always maintained that he is happy at the Premier League club under manager Arsene Wenger, but continues to be the subject of speculation. La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and former club Barcelona are keen to bring the midfielder back to Spain along with Milan, who see the 21-year-old Spaniard as the perfect player to inject some youth into an ageing midfield at the San Siro.

Fabregas has now revealed that should he ever leave the North London club for Italy then the only option for the EURO 2008 winner would be Milan.

“I would undoubtedly pick the Rossoneri,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I think they are the Italian side that play the best football. I mean, there are several strong outfits in Serie A, such as Inter, Juventus and Roma, but they seem too much dependent on their star players.

“They run into trouble as soon as these are out injured. On the other hand, Milan lean on the group and their organization. I feel this is a winning mentality and a philosophy that I approve of.”

Fabregas has also revealed that he would have preferred Spain to meet Italy in the final of EURO 2008 as opposed to their quarter-final clash in which Fabregas scored the winning penalty against the World Cup holders.

“I think we met the Azzurri too early,” he smiled, “I would have preferred to face them in the final.

“Either way, I believe Italian fans can be happy: you lifted the World Cup and we just hoisted the European trophy. Do you fancy a swap?”

Premier League Trio Given Hope In Xavi Chase As Barca Talks Stall Again

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Premier League clubs Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have been given fresh hope of signing EURO 2008 star Xavi from La Liga giants Barcelona Xavi after talks about a new deal at the Nou Camp for the midfielder stalled again.

28-year-old Xavi is a product of the Barca youth set-up and has been at the Catalan club since 1991, but has not been able to agree a new deal at the Nou Camp, with the Spanish International’s current contract due to run out in 2010.

It is understood that there have been more than 10 meeting between Xavi and the Catalan club, but the two parties are still unable to come to an agreement, with the Spanish International seeking parity with top-earners Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry at the Nou Camp.

Director of football at Barcelona, Txiki Begiristain has admitted that the deal could take weeks or months to conclude and insisted that this type of deal is not easy to close.

Begiristain said: “Xavi is a great player and has some large expectations. In the world of the football it is not easy to close this type of contract because of the length of the deal and the need to keep a salary equilibrium of the staff.

“If it was easy the deal would already be done.”

However, Xavi’s agent Ivan Corretja revealed recently that the talks will not be allowed to go on forever and confirmed the interest in Xavi by clubs from the Premiership.

Corretja, told The Daily Star recently: “We have not been able to solve the situation at Barcelona, despite some months of negotiations. We feel he should be offered a deal which reflects his performances on the pitch.

“Everybody at Barcelona knows that there are some big European clubs interested in Xavi, particularly in England at the moment, and we will not allow this to go on forever.”

With 18 months remaining on Xavi’s current contract at Barcelona, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is monitoring the situation at the Nou Camp, with an offer in the region of £20million being mooted in the January transfer window to bring Xavi to Old Trafford. However, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is also keen to pair Xavi with countryman Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates Stadium, with Liverpool also reportedly interested in bringing the central-midfielder to Anfield.

New Arsenal Captain Fabregas: "I'm Not Looking To Play Anywhere Else"

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New Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has insisted that taking the armband at the Gunners proves his long-term commitment to the North London club.

EURO 2008 winner Fabregas has been constantly linked with a return to La Liga from the Emirates Stadium, with former club Barcelona and Real Madrid both keen to lure the Spanish International away from the Premier League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger named 21-year-old Fabregas as the successor to William Gallas to skipper the Gunners. After the Frenchman was stripped of the captaincy by Wenger for comments made to the press last week.

Now that he has been made captain Spanish International Fabregas is hoping that it will prove his commitment to Arsenal, with the midfielder insisting once again that his future lies with the Premiership club.

“By becoming captain it shows how much I’m committed to the club,” Fabregas said in the Sun.

“I actually feel I’ve shown commitment since I arrived here. Each year people talk about me leaving yet I’m still here and I want to be part of the future of Arsenal.

“I love the club and I’m totally committed to it. I’m not looking to play anywhere else.

“Of course, the future for Arsenal is bright. The players are very much looking forward to the next few years.”

Wenger revealed that he never doubted Fabregas’ commitment and that the decision to hand the Spaniard the armband was a pretty straightforward one.

“I have never doubted Cesc’s commitment and that was one of the reasons for making him captain,” Wenger said.

“It’s important you are the voice of the club to the outside and your commitment is not questioned.

“Cesc has the leadership qualities, the experience and the confidence of the other players.”

Wenger Reveals Double Injury Blow For Arsenal

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Arsenal have been dealt a double injury blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday, with Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby both out after picking up injuries in training.

Gunners, midfielder Diaby has an abdominal strain, while French International Nasri has a knee injury and both will now join a growing list of injured players at the Emirates Stadium. With Kolo Toure (calf), Theo Walcott (shoulder), Emmanuel Eboue (knee), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) Bacary Sagana (ankle), Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) and Eduardo (broken leg) already unavailable to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

However, Wenger is able to welcome back Cesc Fabregas, who missed the Premier League defeat to Manchester City on Sunday through suspension. Wenger has also revealed that William Gallas will be back in the squad after being dropped for the City game after comments made to the press last week.

“We have lost two but gained two,” said Wenger.

“Fabregas is back from suspension and William Gallas is back too. But they are the only two. We have lost Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby for tomorrow. Diaby has an abdominal strain and Samir Nasri has an inflammation in his knee again.”

Wenger is expected to promote some of his Carling Cup kids for the game with Kiev, with Jay Simpson and Fran Merida likely to be in the squad for the European tie.

Toure To City, Gallas To Anyone, £6million Upson Back To Arsenal As Wenger Rings The Changes

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Following the events at Arsenal this week and the Gunners 3-0 defeat to Manchester City at the Eastlands Stadium on Saturday, which leaves the North London club 10 points off the pace in the Premier League. Speculation is rife that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will make wholesale changes at the Emirates in January, when the transfer window opens.

French International William Gallas (above) is almost a certainty to leave Arsenal in January after his outburst about rifts and unrest within the corridors of the Emirates Stadium. Gallas has been stripped of the captaincy, suspended by the Premiership club and been told he can leave the Gunners by Wenger, according to reports. With a return to one of the big clubs in France his most likely destination.

Other reports on Sunday have linked Manchester City with a move for Arsenal’s Ivory Coast International Kolo Toure, with City boss Mark Hughes keen to bolster a leaky defence at the Eastlands, despite keeping a clean sheet against the Gunners on Saturday.

Toure the vice-captain at Arsenal would have been favourite to take over from outcast Gallas, but it is understood Wenger has concerns over the defender’s fitness and will opt for Cesc Fabregas instead. Toure has also not been an automatic choice for the North London club this campaign when fit and this lack of backing from Wenger could pave the way for a January move to Man City and end his six-year stay at Arsenal.

With regards to players coming to Arsenal in January, Matthew Upson at West Ham United is said to be a £6million target for Wenger, who sold the player to Birmingham City in 2003 after Upson failed to make the grade with the Gunners after six-years at the club, according to the Sunday Express.

Wenger has always maintained an admiration for Upson, who has forced his way back into the England manager Fabio Capello’s thoughts and put in a superb performance for England in their 2-1 win against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday. So if as expected Gallas departs from Arsenal in January then a move for Upson could materialise as Wenger would need to replace the French International at the Emirates.

Arsenal's Merida: Carling Cup Kids Making Wenger Doubt

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Arsenal youngster Fran Merida insists that he has no regrets about taking the same path as Cesc Fabregas in leaving Barcelona for the Premier League club.

Merida decided to leave the Nou Camp at the age of 16 to develop his football education under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. 18-year-old Merida is tipped to have a great future at the Emirates Stadium and is part of the young Gunners Carling Cup side that have reached the quarter-finals this season after wins against Sheffield United and Wigan Athletic.

“I’m delighted to be here,” Merida told Marca.

“I arrived at the age of 16 and settled pretty well. My loan to Real Sociedad was a good experience and I feel like I’m improving day by day.”

Despite only having made one Premier League appearance for the North London club, Merida believes that the young Carling Cup side, which includes Jack Wilshere, Carlos Vela, Aaron Ramsey and himself would be good enough to compete in the Premiership.

Merida said: “I think we would. We are making Wenger doubt.

“We have been playing well in the Carling Cup, won the last game with Wigan playing good football. What we want to do is reach the top.

However, despite the comparisons with Spanish International Fabregas, Merida insists he will take it a step at a time in the hope of making it at the Emirates Stadium.

“Honestly, my plans are only short-term ones, like going to training tomorrow. What I want to do is have fun, improve and learn. And one day I want to succeed at Arsenal,” Merida added.

Merida is backing the Gunners to bounce back from the defeat to Aston Villa and has praised Wenger for the Frenchman’s management style, with the midfielder insisting the Premiership is not an easy league.

He said: “Every team experiences gaps during the season. No doubt the team will bounce back, as the players and the team are good enough to fight. The Premier League is not easy.

“Everybody has their opinion and can think whatever they want. Wenger has been at the club for ages and did great things. He brought one-touch football to The Premier League.

“The fans love him and I’m happy with him as well. He imposed his personality when he decided to play young players. Arsenal are the only team that play with them in the Carling Cup.

“I don’t regret having left at 16 even if leaving everything is very difficult. You have to take risks in your life. Anyway I am having a lot of fun.”

Gallas Suspended, Stripped Of Captaincy And Told He Can Leave By Arsenal?

Arsenal captain William Gallas has been told he can leave the Gunners by manager Arsene Wenger and has been left out of the Arsenal squad that play Manchester City in the Premier league on Saturday, according to reports.

A family member is claiming that not only has Wenger been left out of the Arsenal team for the clash with City, but he has also been suspended and stripped of the captaincy by Emirates boss Wenger.

The family member told The Sun: “Arsene told him 'If you don't want to be in my team then just go. You are free to leave'.”

"He's had the captaincy taken away and has also been suspended from the team.

"Of course, he's totally devastated about what's happened and is now wondering what to do next.

"He simply doesn't know what will happen to him. He's very down."

This has yet to be confirmed by the North London club, who are yet to comment after Gallas’ outburst on Friday on differences and unrest within the team at the Premiership side.

Should these reports be true then it is likely that goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will skipper the side at the Eastlands Stadium on Saturday, with fans favourite to replace Gallas, Cesc Fabregas suspended for the game with City.

Adebayor Backs Fabregas To Be Arsenal Captain

Togolese International Emmanuel Adebayor is backing midfielder Cesc Fabregas to captain Arsenal, with the Gunners forward claiming that Fabregas is one of the best midfielder’s in the world.

21-year-old Fabregas has already made over 200 appearances for the North London side and is a firm favourite with the Emirates faithful and had been heavily tipped to take the armband off current skipper William Gallas in the summer.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger opted to stick with Gallas, but the French International is reportedly now facing a fight to hold on to the captaincy after comments he made on Thursday concerning unrest within the walls of the Gunners dressing room.

24-year-old Adebayor gave his backing for Fabregas to be captain at the Emirates in the future before the Gallas outburst, but in the light of recent events the EURO 2008 winner could be promoted to the captaincy sooner rather than later.

“He's got the character. He can be Arsenal captain in the future, for sure. He is a good person,” Adebayor told skysports.com

“He's one of the best midfielders in the world. I think everyone knows that. He's a very good player and he is enjoying himself at Arsenal.”

Other substantiated reports have suggested Arsenal are holding a meeting to discuss the next captain, which if true would put Fabregas in the frame along with Kolo Toure, who is vice-captain and outside chance Manuel Almunia the 2nd vice-captain.

Barca Chief To Sell Xavi Against Guardiola's Wishes To Land Arsenal's Fabregas?

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Barcelona president Joan Laporte is understood to be stepping up his efforts to sign Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, with the Catalan club chief even prepared to sell Spanish International Xavi, despite coach Pep Guardiola insisting last week that Xavi (below) remains at the Nou Camp as long as he remains in charge, according to Spanish radio station Onda.

Recent reports have claimed that EURO 2008 winner Xavi is unhappy at the La Liga side, with talks on a new deal at Barca stalling as he seeks parity with the top earners at the Nou Camp. Which has led to speculation that he could leave Barcelona next summer, with Serie A side Juventus interested in Xavi, who was voted player of the tournament at EURO 2008.

Should Xavi not extend his current contract at Barcelona then Laporte could be forced into selling the Blaugrana midfield general, with the midfielder’s deal running out in 2010 and despite having a buyout clause of £100million, it is understood that the Barcelona vice-captain would be allowed to leave for considerably less.

However, these latest reports that Laporte is willing to lure Fabregas from the Emirates Stadium back to the club he left as a 16-year-old at all costs, including selling Xavi, will anger Guardiola, who sees Xavi as an integral part of the Catalan side. With the former Barca legend declaring last week that Xavi will remain at Barcelona, while he is in charge.

“With me as coach Xavi remains here, that is non-negotiable,” Guardiola said ahead of the La Liga match against Malaga.

21-year-old Fabregas has constantly been linked over the past couple of seasons with Barca’s great rivals Real Madrid, but it is hard to imagine Fabregas ever playing for Los Merengues given his attachment to the Blaugrana, and did reveal recently that “It would be a dream” to return to his boyhood club.

“I would like to try to win more titles here, although next season we'll see,” Fabregas said.

“It would be a dream to return to Barcelona one day.”

With Arsenal struggling in the Premier League and not having won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Fabregas could decide to return to Barcelona next summer if the Gunners have a fourth season in a row without any silverware, but whether Xavi is sold to accommodate the signing of Fabregas remains to be seen. However Laporte could go over Guardiola’s head, with the Barcelona president seeing the capture of Fabregas as the key to holding on to the presidency after narrowly getting re-elected earlier this year.

Arsenal's Fabregas: "I'd Love To Be The Captain"

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Spanish International Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he would “love to be the captain” at Arsenal, with Frenchman William Gallas the man in possession of the armband at the Emirates Stadium at the moment.

21-year-old Fabregas has been at the Gunners since 2003 and is a pivotal figure in Arsene Wenger’s North London side, with the EURO 2008 Winner considered in some quarters to be a better candidate to lead Arsenal than the temperamental former Chelsea player Gallas, who has shown signs of petulance while playing for Arsenal in the past.

However, while Fabregas has designs on leading Arsenal the Spaniard insists his main aim is to help the Premier League club win more trophies and make history, with the former Barcelona youth player adamant that he will continue to give 100% for the Gunners, whether he is given the armband or not.

Fabregas said: “I really want to achieve things with Arsenal — to win trophies and make history. That’s why I’m here.

“I’d love to be the captain, but whether I wear the armband or not, I’ll always give 100 per cent for the Arsenal fans.”