New season, but same old problems for Arsenal

The new season is barely three weeks old and already Arsenal players are dropping like flies. Yes, Arsenal’s nemesis is once again threatening to hamper our search for glory. If you don’t know what i’m talking about yet let me spell it out for you I-N-J-U-R-I-E-S.

Firstly Emmanuel Frimpong did his crucial knee ligament after looking like he was breaking into the first team squad, then Samir Nasri did his knee in and was originally ruled out for a month, serial injury-victim RVP then twisted his ankle after just 30 minutes of his first start this season and was ruled out for at least a month, now Theo Walcott, who has easily been Arsenal’s best player so far this term, has also twisted his ankle while on international duty with England.

Three weeks and four injuries, and this doesn’t even take into account the fact that Bendtner is already out with a serious groin injury, Denilson hasn’t featured yet this term and of course Ramsey is still out with his leg brake. If it wasn’t Arsenal it would be unbelievable but us Gooners are used to it by now. I had hoped this year would be different but it seems we’re in for more of the same.

Arsenal.com have provided us with some good news in that Nasri is expected back in full training this week and might be in contention for Saturday’s game against Bolton. But the bad news is that RVP has predictably been ruled out for slightly longer than expected and is now not due back until mid October. Sigh.

Now on to Walcott. Theo went over on his ankle early on in England’s game against Switzerland, looked in some pain and had to be stretchered off the field and went to hospital for x-rays. At the time of writing this article, there is no official news yet on the severity of his injury. After the game Capello said “It’s a little problem or not so big problem,” so the early signs are good, and Sky Sports News are reporting that the x-rays were positive and he should be back within 2 weeks.

Fingers crossed because Walcott has been ridiculously unlucky with injuries so far in his short career and just when he started to look like the player we all hoped he could be, another long lay-off would be a bitter blow for all concerned.

But one thing i know is, Arsenal really need to take a serious look at why we keep getting these injuries. I know, I know, these injuries were all accidents and could have happened to anyone. But they didn’t, they happened to Arsenal players and is anyone surprised it’s RVP and Walcott in particular who are injured so early in the season? Not me.

From football-talk.co.uk

Vermaelen honoured to play for Arsenal

After revealing that Cesc Fabregas wanted to leave the club in the summer, Thomas Vermaelen has now come out and said that Arsenal are a team that everyone wants to play for.

The Belgian joined the club from Ajax last summer, and feels honoured to be first choice at such a presitigious football club.

The centre-back has praised manager Arsène Wenger for the way he was brought into the team, and believes last season was a great experience for him, and one that many are envious of.

He said: "For me Arsenal is one of the best Clubs in the world.

"If you talk with other people they are so jealous because they want to play for Arsenal. They are happy [to talk about the Club] because for them it's such a nice Club who plays nice football. I know every player wants to play for this Club.

"Pressure was not that high [when I arrived] but the most important thing was that the boss gave me the confidence from the start. He let me play the first game, didn't put me on the bench, that was really important."

Vermaelen earned praise for his performances last season, which included eight goals, but insists he is still looking to improve this year.

He said: "I've learned a lot from last season, training with good players, with the boss, who gives me advice. I hope to do better this year."

From arsenal-mania.com

Andoni Zubizarreta: €40m were not enough to sign Cesc Fabregas

Barcelona technical director Andoni Zubizarreta has revealed the fee the Spanish giants were ready to pay to secure the services of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

According to the ex-goalkeeper, both the club and the player wanted the transfer to go through but Arsenal was determined to keep the captain and rejected a €40 million offer. Zubizarreta added how as soon as the North London Club replied by saying they were not interested, no more pressure and no more offers were made to sign the 23-year old midfielder.

The technical director concluded by saying how not signing Fabregas was a big blow for the Spaniards as he described negotiations as impossible to conclude.

In a statement published on Arsenal’s official website last month, the player explained how he understands why the Club opted not to sell him, a decision he respects, adding how he is now totally committed to the Gunners as negotiations with Barcelona have finally ended.

On signing Fabregas, Zubizarreta said:

Both the club and the player did as much as possible. Our second offer was €40 million. From the moment Arsenal said they didn’t want to negotiate, we respected their position.

We would have liked to have signed him, but we weren’t able to negotiate. It wasn’t a disappointment – it was simply impossible. Thanks to the conversations, we have re-established contact with Arsenal.

From thegunninghawk.com