Tag Archives: Wenger

Wenger commits to Arsenal

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has given the Gunners a boost ahead of their season-opener with Liverpool by signing a new deal at the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal 19/10 to beat Liverpool).

The 60-year-old tactician joined Arsenal from Japanese side Grampus Eight in 1996 and has become the club’s longest-serving manager with 14 years in north London.

He has guided the club to three Premiership titles, while also claiming the FA Cup on four separate occasions.

The fiery Frenchman has yet to win the Champions League but did lead his troops to the final in 2006, only to see them beaten 2-1 by Barcelona.

The former Monaco boss has been linked with a number of managerial posts during his time at Arsenal, with Real Madrid mentioned as a possible destination over the past few years.

But Wenger has always remained loyal to his current employers and has now penned a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2014.

It is not known whether the Strasbourg-born manger intends to carry on in management when his new deal runs out but it seems likely that he will remain with the Gunners for the rest of his career as he appears as enthusiastic as ever about his current charges’ chances of bringing trophies to the Emirates.

“My heart belongs to Arsenal and my desire is to see this team win silverware,” he said. “My commitment and drive are as strong and fresh as ever. Signing a new deal means that I can see this talented group of players reach their potential. Trust me, they are ready to deliver.

“With my staff and players we are in front of an exciting challenge and we are looking forward to achieving much success.”

Wenger is the Premiership’s second-longest serving manager behind Sir Alex Ferguson but he has not delivered any silverware for five years and there were rumours that he was keen to try his luck elsewhere.

However, the latest news will end any speculation and means the players can now focus on the job of trying to break the duopoly of Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the Premiership table.

With Liverpool under new management and Manchester City spending money like it’s going out of fashion, the Premiership could be a more open affair this season, with Arsenal looking to win domestic football’s biggest prize for the first time since the 2003/04 season.

Having the likes of Robin van Persie fit for the whole season will be key to Wenger’s chances of winning the Premiership crown and he should be fit to face the Reds on Sunday at Anfield (Van Persie 5/4 to be Gunners top goalscorer in Premier League).

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Wenger makes future admission

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Arsene Wenger has been offered a new deal to extend his stay at Arsenal and the Frenchman expects the formalities to be sorted out in the near future (Gunners 6/1 – 2010/11 Premier League Outright).

The 60-year-old has been with the Gunners since 1996 although he has won nothing in the last five seasons since beating Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final (Arsenal 7/1 – 2010/11 FA Cup Outright).

But Wenger has kept Arsenal competitive, both domestically and in Europe, while he has also been forced to live within his means as the club moved from, Highbury to the Emirates for the start of the 2006/07 season.

However, there had been suggestions that Wenger was facing a make-or-break year following the half-decade barren run prior to his announcement that the Gunners want to tie him down to a new deal.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield, Wenger said: “I have to show as well how much I believe in this team by showing my commitment.

“My situation will be sorted out very soon.

“I believe my commitment to the club has nothing do with the speculation of how the season would go, because that would be unfair.

“If I do not do well, and one day the club is not happy with me I can completely understand that I do not stay here any more.

“But I believe we will do well.”

Wenger has spent the summer fighting to keep hold of captain Cesc Fabregas who has been the subject of least one big-money bid from Catalan giants Barcelona.

It is a battle the Frenchman appears to have won although no Gunners fan is likely to sleep too well until the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

However, Fabregas is struggling for fitness ahead of the new season after being given extra time off because Spain got to the World Cup final.

Striker Robin van Persie is also in the same boat after Holland’s run in South Africa while Alex Song and Denilson face late checks on calf and abdominal problems.

Johan Djourou (hamstring), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (broken leg) are all definitely sidelined but summer signings Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny are in the squad and ready to make their Gunners debuts.

Arsenal are 9/5 to get their season off to a winning start at Anfield this weekend.

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Wenger eyes title charge

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Arsenal are 6/1 to win the Premier League title this season and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes they have a good chance of doing so.

The Gunners have not won a trophy since beating Manchester United in the FA Cup Final in 2005 and have not lifted the title since the ‘Invincibles’ swept away all before them the season before.

Despite playing free-flowing attacking football that excites crowds up and down the country, the pressure is starting to mount on Wenger to win some silverware.

Just a trophy would be nice but bringing the title to the Emirates Stadium would be the ultimate achievement and Wenger says such a scenario is not out of the question.

“I believe we have a good chance,” Wenger revealed. “The most important thing is that we have that belief. We finished third last season, so we have two stairs to climb and I am confident that we can do it.”

Arsenal’s chances of winning the title have no doubt been boosted by the news that Cesc Fabregas will be staying on board for at least one more season.

Wenger fought hard to keep the talented Spaniard but there is every chance he will leave for Barcelona in 12 months time, so this could be his last chance to win the Premier League title.

Arsenal have also been boosted by the news that Robin van Persie is back from injury and with Marouane Chamakh also on board after arriving from Bordeaux, the Gunners should have no problem scoring goals.

It is in defence where Wenger could have problems though and it is widely thought that the Frenchman needs to get another central defender on board before the transfer window closes.

Arsenal kick off the campaign with a tough clash at Liverpool and a positive result could be the springboard they need to mount a successful challenge.

The Gunners are 7/4 to win at Anfield but may have to do it without both Fabregas and van Persie, who are struggling with their fitness having only just returned to training.

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Wenger unhappy with squad rules

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Arsenal boss Arsene WengerArsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he believes the new 25-man squad rule introduced by the Premier League is a “disastrous decision for football” (Arsenal 7/1 to win the Premier League).

Premier League clubs must now name a squad of no more than 25 players for the Premier League season.  The deadline to hand in final squad lists is 1700 BST on September 1 (the same time the transfer window closes) and clubs can make changes during the January transfer window.

Eight of the 25 players must also be ‘home grown’, although the definition of home grown is fairly broad.  To qualify as home grown, players must have spent three years between the ages of 16-21 registered at a club in England and Wales.  This means Arsenal players such as Spanish captain Cesc Fabregas, Brazilian midfielder Denilson, Frenchman Gael Clichy, Danish international Nicklas Bendtner and Cameroonian midfielder Alex Song all qualify.

However, Wenger is still not happy with the limitations that have been put in place and fears the decision to restrict clubs to a squad of 25 is a mistake.

“I am not a big fan of it because it puts, first of all, many players without clubs,” explained the Arsenal boss.

“Secondly it puts the clubs in a weak position most of the time in the transfer market because when you already have 25 players and you buy another one, you know you have 26 and now have to get rid of one. So when you buy a player, you have to integrate into the transfer how much it will also cost to get rid of a player.

“This is a disastrous decision for football and for the players. I was quite amazed that the union [PFA] accepted that. For the clubs as well it is a very bad decision.”

Wenger has so far been fairly quiet in the transfer market, adding just Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh and French defender Laurent Koscielny, from Bordeaux and Lorient respectively, to his ranks so far.  The French tactician has revealed he is seeking at least one more defender before the new season gets underway.

Arsenal kick-off their Premier League campaign with a tricky trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on August 15 (Opening day fixtures – Game with most goals, Liverpool v Arsenal 8/1).

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Wenger wants Fab year in league

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Arsene Wenger has told captain Cesc Fabregas the best way to follow up his World Cup glory is to help Arsenal win the Premier League this season (Arsenal 7/1 – Premier League 2010/11 Outright).

The gifted midfielder helped Spain to become world champions in South Africa earlier in the summer with his club future in the balance.

Fabregas, 23, is wanted by former club Barcelona whose stars – including Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol – have all gone on record backing the deal.

The Gunners, naturally, do not want to lose their best player although Fabregas himself is understood to be keen to make the move to his boyhood club.

However, Wenger insists Fabregas still has his whole career in front of him and wants the versatile midfielder on board for a title tilt in 2010/11.

The Frenchman said: “The best way to show you are committed is that you give your best when you walk on the football pitch and he has always done that.

“When you sign a contract it means we are committed to a player to pay him and keep him no matter what happens.

“There is a great attitude and spirit inside the squad and Cesc Fabregas can help us achieve these targets.

“He is now at an age, 23 years old, and he has just won the World Cup. I believe he will grow in authority again for next season.”

Wenger added: “The biggest achievement for him now is to help us win the championship.”

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004 and their last silverware came a year later when they beat Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup final (Arsenal 7/1 – FA Cup 2010/11 Outright).

They continue their build-up to the new season in the Emirates Cup without Fabregas who has not returned to training yet after the World Cup.

Wenger’s men take on AC Milan on Saturday evening with fellow midfielders Abou Diaby, Denilson and Alex Song also ruled out with slight knocks (Arsenal 8/11, draw 12/5, AC Milan 16/5 – 90 minutes).

Wenger told reporters: “You will see some young players like Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere, also the new players like Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny.

“It will be good to see them in a competitive environment. That will be interesting.

“I will also learn what condition we are in physically, because we have worked quite hard and with two weeks to go it is important that we can last in the games.

“The third point is how ready are we with our team play? How sharp is our passing, and quick movement off the ball?”

Celtic and Lyon are also involved in this summer’s Emirates Cup.

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Wenger looking for strong start

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is positive his side can make a strong start to the season as they look to build on their form from last year(Arsenal 7/1 to win the title).

The Gunners finished third in last year’s Premiership table, 11 points behind champions Chelsea, and qualified for the Champions League for the 10th year in succession (Arsenal 16/1 to win the Champions League).

Arsenal are currently holding an altitude training camp in Austria and beat Sturm Graz 3-0 in their second match of their pre-season tour.

Arsenal start their Premier League season with a difficult trip to face Liverpool but Wenger is targeting the match as the chance to kick start the Gunners’ season.

“The aim is to continue to progress as we have been doing,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official magazine.

“We were very close last year – closer than the previous season – so we are heading in the right way. We hope we can continue that this season.

“It is important to start well, start strongly and get into a good position early on and to try to maintain the level.”

Arsenal also started last season on Merseyside, beating Everton 6-1, provoking many onlookers to pronounce them the early favourites for the title. However, their form dipped during the winter months and they failed to pick up a single point against either of the teams that finished above them, Chelsea and Manchester United.

That meant that Arsenal’s run of trophyless seasons stretched to six, despite playing arguably some of the best football in the world.

During this time, Wenger has often been criticised for failing to open his cheque book to sign the big names that many people feel could make a major difference at the Emirates, in favour of promoting from within to develop one of the finest young sides in the World.

Many now feel that this could be the Gunners’ year with the acquisitions of defender Laurent Koscielny and striker Marouane Chamakh giving the squad a more balanced look, and Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen is confident this is going to be the year they once again lift the Premier League trophy.

“We have a good young group who are very aggressive and want to improve,” he remarked.

“I think people will always say we can’t compete – it is not the first time, but we have to do what we always do which is work hard and play our own game, then we can compete.

“I hope we can compete for the title this year and I am convinced we will.”

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Wenger wants Fabregas talk to end

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Arsene Wenger has called for stories about the future of Cesc Fabregas ‘to stop’ as the Arsenal boss is preparing his side for another assault on the Premier League (13/2 Winner).

The Gunners chief spoke out after watching his side comfortably defeat League Two Barnet 4-0 in their opening pre-season game on Saturday. And he called for questions regarding Barcelona’s summer-long pursuit of his captain to come to an immediate end by stressing for the umpteenth time that he is going nowhere.

“There was a lot of unneeded talk. It is not pleasant to read that every day. Now, the story has to stop,” Wenger said.

“Cesc is our captain, he is so important to us and we want to keep him, that is why we were not listening to any offers.

“It was not a problem of money, just the desire to keep him at the club.”

Barcelona (4/5 La Liga Primera Outright) president Sandro Rosell virtually conceded defeat in his efforts to sign Fabregas at the end of last week by claiming they would not offer silly money to try and land their former youth player after having an initial £30million bid snubbed.

Wenger must wait to see if Fabregas, who is enjoying a break following his World Cup winning exploits, pleads to be allowed to leave on his return to the Arsenal squad for the Emirates Cup on July 31/August 1. However, the Frenchman does not believe the player will cause any problems for him.

Wenger added: “We have shown our love and care for Cesc since the start.

“I believe Cesc loves the club, has shown his attachment to the club many times and I am very confident the story will end there.

“We want Cesc to be part of our club next year, and that is it.”

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Wenger ready for “intense” campaign

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has predicted a tight contest in next season’s Premier League title race (Arsenal 6/1 to win the Premier League title).

The French tactician believes the likes of Aston Villa (200/1), Spurs (50/1) and Manchester City (6/1) will join the usual suspects in the battle for the league next season and believes the campaign will be more “intense” than last season.

“It will without a doubt be more intense,” said Wenger. “You have Aston Villa, you have Man City, you have Tottenham and you have Liverpool (10/1) plus the top three from last season, so it will always be more difficult.”

Wenger’s men managed to keep up with the pace set by Manchester United (2/1) and Chelsea (13/8f) until around April last season, when an injury to Cesc Fabregas in their Champions League defeat to Barcelona proved costly for the Gunners.

Fabregas is expected to move back to Camp Nou, having spent his youth career with Barcelona, during the summer, although Wenger has still not given up hope of retaining the Spaniard’s services.  The loss of Fabregas will surely dent Arsenal’s hopes ahead of next season, although they can expect to receive a hefty-fee for the midfielder as he still has a number of years left on his current deal.

The Arsenal chief has hinted he is ready to spend big this summer in a bid to bring the title back to the Emirates, with the Gunners last Premier League title success coming in the 2003/2004 season. Wenger has already added striker Marouane Chamakh to his ranks, the Moroccan hitman operates as a target man and many suggested that was an aspect the Arsenal side had been lacking over the course of last season.

The Frenchman has also stated he is keen to bolster his defence, with Bolton?s Gary Cahill and Fulham?s Brede Hangeland linked, while Barca?s Yaya Toure has also been tipped to head to north London during the summer.

Wenger will be keen to add some silverware to the Arsenal trophy cabinet next season, with their last title the 2004 FA Cup, but he is well aware it will be tough in the 2010/2011 campaign.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has already proved a shrewd operator in the transfer market with the acquisition of promising youngster Adam Johnson, who narrowly missed out on a place in the England World Cup squad.  Mancini is sure to be busy this summer as he looks to mould a side of his own at Eastlands and a number of top stars have been linked with a move to City.

Chelsea and Manchester United will again be strong, despite the latter?s reported financial worries, while Liverpool remain an unknown quantity until they appoint a new boss (Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is the 10/11f to take charge at Anfield) and the futures of stars such as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are resolved.

Spurs showed their quality throughout last season but with wins against Arsenal and Chelsea in the final stages of the season they perhaps suggested they could push on again next season, although Villa boss Martin O?Neill may be more concerned about keeping hold of his stars, with James Milner attracting interest, than securing new additions at this stage.

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Wenger ready to sell Cesc

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Arsenal and Spain's Cesc FabregasCesc Fabregas says his future is now in the hands of Arsenal and the midfielder is just concentrating on Spain’s World Cup bid (Spain 4/1f to win the World Cup).

Speculation over the future of Fabregas has started to reach fever pitch and now for the first time, the Gunners ace has broken his silence on the matter.

Fabregas has now confirmed that a meeting did take place between himself and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger last week and reading between the lines it looks as though the Frenchman is ready to sanction the move.

The Spanish ace would not go into too much detail but it sounds as though Wenger has granted him his wish of a return to Barcelona if the Catalan giants pay the asking price and he can draft in a replacement before he leaves.

“He told me to concentrate on my football, he told me to concentrate on the World Cup, he told me to leave it in his hands, he will deal with whatever happens in my future and that’s what I’m doing, just concentrating on football,” Fabregas revealed.

“It’s not up to me any more and it’s just now about Arsenal and wherever it has to be and that’s it. I don’t want to say anything else, I just want to be focused for the World Cup because it is the most important thing – the rest is the future and I’m not interested in the future.”

Fabregas is now free to concentrate on the World Cup safe in the knowledge that Wenger will look after him. He knows that all being well, he is likely to sign for Barcelona after the South Africa showpiece.

Wenger now has the tough task of trying to find a replacement and there have already been suggestions he may try and swoop on Everton for another Spanish playmaker, Mikel Arteta.

Replacing Fabregas, like Manchester United discovered after losing Cristiano Ronaldo last summer, will be almost impossible but Arteta has the quality to slip into the Gunners midfield.

Everton would be holding out for at least £15million but Wenger will have plenty of cash to do a deal if Fabregas goes and there will also be plenty left over to swoop for Bolton’s Gary Cahill as well.

The Gunners are 6/1 to win the Premier League next season but without Fabregas it will be a tall order unless Wenger can weave his magic in the transfer market.

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Wenger told he can spend

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Arsenal are ready to back manager Arsene Wenger in the transfer market in the hope he will be able to bring some silverware to the Emirates Stadium next season (6/1 Arsenal – Premier League outright).

The Gunners have seen another season pass by without a trophy and it will be just as difficult next year following the emergence of Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

All three clubs, along with Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, are expected to spend big again in the summer and Wenger needs to be given the cash to compete with them.

The Frenchman is said to be closing in on the signing of Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh who is set to arrive on a free transfer, but it will take more than that to strike fear into their rivals.

Serious money needs to be spent and although chief executive Ivan Gazidis says Wenger will be backed in the transfer market, but the chances are the Frenchman will once again have to be shrewd.

“Arsenal have not had access to the deep pockets of a wealthy investor and we have focused on a path of independence underpinned by a sustainable business model for long-term success,” he revealed.

“With Highbury Square coming to completion and some of our other property developments bearing fruit, we’re now coming to a period where the financial health of the club is secure. That does not mean we have unlimited resources but it does mean we have sufficient funds to invest.”

Scoring goals is not a problem but defence is an area that definitely needs work with William Gallas set to leave on a free transfer, while Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell could also be on the way out.

Wenger wants Bolton defender Gary Cahill but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to stump up the £17m that Bolton will be asking for, while Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be keen.

A new goalkeeper could also be on the agenda as Manuel Almunia has struggled this season while there appears to be no real back up with Lukasz Fabianski blowing every opportunity he gets.

Next season is huge for Arsenal. Star man Cesc Fabregas will only hang around for so long and if the Gunners cannot mount a serious push for domestic and European glory then he is sure to consider his future.

Wenger may struggle to keep hold of him this summer but he will be fighting a losing battle in 12 months time unless the Gunners win some silverware and fast.

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