Arsenal To Offer £3million For Future "World's Best" Keeper?

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Arsenal are set to make a £3million offer for Dutch International goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen, with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger keen to bring in the highly-rated Vitesse Arnhem player to the Emirates Stadium in January, according to The Mirror.

22-year-old Velthuizen is highly thought of in Dutch football, with the young keeper also on the radar of Valencia and Serie A Champions Inter Milan. Wenger has been following the progress of Velthuizen since last season, with the keeper’s performances for Vitesse earning him a call up to the senior Dutch squad earlier this year.



Wenger faces the possibility of losing Arsenal’s No2 keeper Lukas Fabianski, who is said to be frustrated at his lack of opportunities in the Premier League for Arsenal and is a target for Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain.

It is now understood that Arsenal are ready to make an offer for Velthuizen and steal a march on the Nerazzurri and Los Che in order to bring the young Dutchman to the Premiership. Velthuizen is seen by Wenger as a keeper that can provide serious competition for Manuel Almunia at the Emirates, with Velthuizen open to the move and laying claim to wanting to be the world’s best.

Velthuizen said: “I don't just want to be a top keeper, I want to be the world's best.”

Spurs & Arsenal To Battle It Out For £5million Hennessey?

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are to fight it out in January for the signature of Welsh International goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to reports.

Tottenham have already been linked with Ben Foster at Manchester United, Robert Green at West Ham along with Shay Given at Newcastle United, who Redknapp has declared an interest in. Should the Republic of Ireland International become available.

Now Spurs are to go head to head with Arsene Wenger’s Gunners, who along with Everton were linked with a move for 21-year-old Hennessey in the summer, but were put off by the £10million price tag put on the Welshman by Wolves.

However, it is now believed that Hennessey could be allowed to leave the Molineux Stadium in January for £5million after struggling recently to hold down a place in Wolves manager Mick McCarthy’s first team.

Wenger would like Hennessey at the Emirates stadium to provide competition for current No1 Manuel Almunia, while Redknapp is keen to find a keeper to replace £8million summer signing from PSV Eindhoven Heurelho Gomes, who has been a disaster since his arrival at White Hart Lane.

Should Hennessey leave the Midlands club for the Premier League in January then Tottenham could be a more viable option than Arsenal, with the bigger chance of first team football at Spurs. However, Arsenal have already conceded 18 goals in the Premiership from 14 games and Hennessey could see an opportunity with the Gunners to take the step up to the top-tier of English football.

Hennessey has been at Wolves since 2006 and has made 58 league appearances during his time at the Molineux Stadium. Hennessey has 15 caps for Wales and was named in the 2007/08 PFA Championship Team of the Year.

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.