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 Weigh Up £10million Offer For Diakhate?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is understood to be weighing up a £10million offer for Dynamo Kiev defender Pape Diakhate, should Gunners defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure leave the Emirates Stadium in January, according to The Sun.

24-year-old Senegal International Diakhate is also believed to be a target for Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Manchester City and Portsmouth, with the central-defender having attracted the interest of Juventus, Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the past, while at Ligue 1 side Nancy.



Gallas’ future is unclear at the Premiership club after criticising his team-mates at the North London recently and being stripped of the captaincy at Arsenal by Wenger. With Toure also keen to leave the Gunners after reportedly also having a bust-up with former Chelsea defender Gallas.

This has led Wenger to sound out Diakhate as a possible replacement at the Emirates after the defender impressed the Frenchman with his displays in the Champions League for Kiev this season. However, Wenger is sure to face competition from Man City boss Mark Hughes, who is desperate to shore up a shaky defence at the Eastlands, while Pompey could also have a say in where Diakhate may end up, should the defender decide to leave the Ukrainian club.

Wenger: Gallas Is Not Right Mentally

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that defender William Gallas has still to find the stability in his mind after being stripped of the Gunners captaincy following an outburst in the media.

31-year-old Gallas, who has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates stadium in January, has become a cause of concern for Wenger. The Frenchman believes that while the former Chelsea player has regained some form for the Premier League club of late, Gallas has still to get things right mentally.

Wenger said: “On the human level, what happened with William was the most difficult thing I have had to handle in my career because I have a lot of esteem for him.

“He was caught in a media storm, a witch-hunt that isolated him to the point where it became a handicap for the team. He has refound the stability in his game but I am not convinced that, in his mind, he has refound his stability and his joie de vivre.”

Wenger also went on to reveal his disappointment at summer signing Samir Nasri from Marseille, who Wenger feels has had far too many injuries since his £12.7million switch.

Wenger added: “I thought Nasri had the qualities to be, say, a mixture between (Robert) Pires and (Alexander) Hleb. The dribbling of Hleb and the passing, vision and finishing of, Pires.

“His contribution? He has had too many injuries, far too many. It’s perhaps down to the fact he played sooner than I would have liked without being sufficiently ready for the Premier League.”

Gallas Out? Chiellini In? As Wenger Rings The Changes At Arsenal

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is set to let defender William Gallas leave the Emirates Stadium for Serie A giants Juventus, but wants Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini to come in the opposite direction as part of the deal to reunite Gallas with former boss Claudio Ranieri, according to the Sunday Mirror.

31-year-old Gallas has been heavily linked with a move away from the Gunners when the transfer window reopens next month. With La Vecchia Signora coach Ranieri favourite to land the player he brought to the Premier League in 2001, while in charge at Chelsea.

Gallas, who was stripped of the captaincy at the North London club after criticising his team mates in the media is believed to be available at around £5million, but Wenger is understood to only be willing to let the former Chelsea player leave if a suitable replacement can be found.



Arsenal have been linked with AS Roma defender Philippe Mexes recently, with 24-year-old Italian International Chiellini now on the radar of the Frenchman to shore up, what has been a shaky defence at the Premiership club this season.

However, it is unlikely that Ranieri would be willing let Chiellini leave for England as the Italian wants Gallas to form a partnership in the heart of the Bianconeri defence with Chiellini. In addition to this Chiellini is valued at as much as three times that of Gallas and is believed to be happy at the Turin side. So despite Wenger being assured that there will be transfer funds available next month after a meeting with new chief executive Ivan Gazidis. It remains to be seen if Wenger would be prepared to spend the extra £10million to replace Gallas, with a like-for-like replacement.

Chiellini has been at Juve since 2005 after joining from Fiorentina in 2005 and has made 93 appearances for Juventus since his transfer from from the Viola. The central defender made his senior debut for Italy in 2004 and has been capped 16 times by the Italians.

Arsenal Tracking Roma Defender Mexes?

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been linked with a January move for French International defender Philippe Mexes at Serie A club AS Roma, according to reports.

Despite, Wenger stating in public that his own French International defender William Gallas will not be leaving the Premier League club in January. After being stripped of the captaincy at The Gunners following his outburst to the press about his team mates at the Emirates Stadium recently. It is widely believed that 31-year-old Gallas will leave Arsenal in January.

Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan have both been linked with the former Chelsea player, with a reunion at Juve under Claudio Ranieri, who signed Gallas for Chelsea, while in charge at Stamford Bridge in 2001 looking the most likely.



This has led Wenger to start his own search for a replacement for Gallas and he has placed Roma central defender Philippe Mexes on his list of targets to replace Gallas at the Premiership club, with a January move for the former Auxerre player being mooted.

26-year-old Mexes has been at the Giallorossi since joining from French side Auxerre in 2004 and has made 120 appearances in Serie A for Roma during his time at the Stadio Olimpico. With the Frenchman, who has been capped 11 times by France a pivotal figure in helping the Italian side finish runners up to Inter Milan in the Scudetto last season.

Milan Set To Miss Out As Juventus On Verge Of Signing Gallas From Arsenal

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Former Arsenal captain William Gallas is edging closer to a switch to Serie A, with Juventus director of sport Alessio Secco flying into London to thrash out a deal with new Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis, according to the Daily Mail.

Juve coach Claudio Ranieri knows all about 31-year-old Gallas, having signed the French International from Ligue 1 side Marseille in 2001, while the Italian was in charge at Chelsea. Reports in Italy claim that Secco met Gazidis at Chelsea’s Champions League match against Cluj at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to finalise a deal to make the Frenchman a La Vecchia Signora player.

Gallas is widely expected to leave the Emirates Stadium in January, having been stripped of the captaincy at the Premier League club by manager Arsene Wenger after an outburst in the media criticising his team mates at the North London club.

While it would appear that Juventus are leading the race to sign Gallas, Serie A, rivals AC Milan are also reportedly interested in the defender, with the Rossoneri keen to bring Gallas to the San Siro. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has identified Gallas as the man to replace veteran defenders Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, who are both coming to the end of distinguished football careers at Milan.

Spurs Planning Sensational Swoop For Arsenal's Gallas?

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is considering a sensational swoop for defender William Gallas from North London rivals Arsenal, when the transfer window reopens in January, according to The Mirror.

Since ‘Gallasgate’, French International Gallas’ future at the Emirates Stadium has been shrouded in doubt, with clubs in France and Italy being linked with a move for the Gunners defender.

While, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has publicly declared that 31-year-old Gallas still has a future at the Premier League side, despite stripping the defender of the captains armband. It is understood that Gallas could still be shown the door at the Emirates come January, with Spurs now linked with a move for the Frenchman.

Former Portsmouth chief Redknapp is now believed to be weighing up an offer to bring Gallas to White Hart Lane in January. This would make the Frenchman the first player to make a direct switch between the two bitter rivals since Sol Campbell left Tottenham controversially in 2001 for Arsenal.

However, should Spurs decide to try and lure the former Chelsea player to White Hart Lane in January. They are sure to face competition from Ligue 1 club Paris St Germain along with Serie A giants Juventus, who are both also reportedly keen on Gallas.

Milan Dismiss Link With Arsenal's Gallas

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Serie A giants AC Milan have moved quickly to quell reports that they are preparing to launch a January bid for Arsenal defender William Gallas.

31-year-old Gallas’ future at the Emirates Stadium has become shrouded in doubt after being stripped of the captaincy at the Gunners by manager Arsene Wenger after comments the French International made to the media last week.

Gallas was subsequently dropped from the Arsenal team that lost 3-0 to Manchester City at the Eastlands Stadium in the Premier League last Saturday. However, Gallas was restored to the starting line-up for Arsenal’s 1-0 Champions League win against Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday and was praised by his performance by Wenger.

The Frenchman’s agent has already declared that Gallas does not wish to leave the North London club, with reports recently linking the defender with a move back to France.

Reports earlier on Wednesday have linked the Rossoneri with a January bid to take Gallas to the San Siro, but Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has rejected the reports and insisted that there will be no new arrivals at Milan in January. Instead Galliani declared that Milan’s focus is on their UEFA Cup clash with Premiership club Portsmouth on Thursday and continuing their recent form in Europe is what mattered most.

“Gallas? We won't be making any signings in January and we are only thinking about tomorrow's Uefa Cup clash,” Galliani claimed on Datasport.it.

“What matters now is that we continue our form in Europe after picking up six points in the last two games,” he added.

“There will be changes in the team tomorrow night, but every player in our squad is important and so I don't think we will struggle on the pitch.”

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.

Marseille, PSG, Lyon Or Bordeaux To Offer Arsenal Outcast Gallas Way Out?

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Olympique Marseille along with Bordeaux, Olympique Lyonnais and Paris St Germain could offer French International a way out of Arsenal when the transfer window reopens in January. With 31-year-old Gallas being suspended and stripped of the captains armband at the North London club following comments made to the media on Friday.

Gallas has already declared a desire to return to France, with Marseille along with Lyon, PSG or Bordeaux his preferred destination.

“It's true that I'd like to return to France for one or perhaps two seasons to finish my career," Gallas is quoted as saying in Times Online.

“But if I go, it won't be to just anywhere. I'd go to a big club or nowhere at all. The choices look simple to me - it would be Marseilles, Lyon, PSG or, let's not forget, Bordeaux. PSG are a massive club and known everywhere."

This process could now be speeded up in light of recent events at the Emirates Stadium, with a family member of Gallas claiming that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has told Gallas he can leave.

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."

With his Arsenal future in doubt the Ligue 1 sides would be able to lure Gallas away from the Premier League for a modest fee, with Wenger reportedly ready to offload the defender in January.

Gallas has already played for Marseille between 1997 and 2001 before joining Chelsea, making 111 league appearances during his time at the Stade Velodrome, but has singled out Bordeaux coach former Manchester United player Laurent Blanc as a good guy to lead you.

Gallas said: “As far as Bordeaux, I really like the club and the region. I was a Jean Tigana fan when he played for Bordeaux. Their coach now is Laurent Blanc who I've never played for but who knows football off by heart and must be a good guy to lead you.”

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.

Arsenal Boss Wenger To Gamble On Silvestre For United Clash?

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Aside from the form of his Arsenal team manager Arsene Wenger has many injury worries ahead of the Gunners must-win clash against Premier League Champions Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, with the Frenchman revealing that he may take a “gamble” by making summer signing Mikael Silvestre available against the defenders former club.

Silvestre broke his nose in the Champions League tie against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, but Wenger feels that he could play and will decide on whether to take a gamble with the French International over the next 48 hours.

“Mikael has a broken nose with an open wound on the side,” said Wenger.

“Basically he should be capable of playing. But in the next 48 hours I will have to decide what we do. You cannot rule him out and I feel he can play. But I have to decide whether I go for the gamble or not.”

Manuel Almunia, who missed the match with the Turkish side through illness, is expected to replace Lukas Fabianski in goal, while Theo Walcott (shoulder) and captain William Gallas (hamstring) are both major doubts, with Wenger to take a decision on the fitness of the duo on Friday afternoon.

“We will not know about Walcott and Gallas before tomorrow afternoon. It is 50:50 for both,” said Wenger.

“But Manuel Almunia was back in training today so he will be available.”

Wenger is definitely without striker Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee) for the visit of the Red Devils, while Dutch International Robin van Persie will miss the game with United through suspension. Bacary Sagna, who was on the bench for the tie with Fenerbahce after also being injured at Stoke along with Adebayor and Walcott, is also a concern for Wenger.

Wenger continued: “As for Sagna, there was a gamble on him that I did not want to take [last night]. We could not take it today in training either. He still needed to be out of impact work.

“I think he should be OK for Saturday but there is still a slight concern.”

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.”