Arsenal will need maximum points to keep the pressure on Manchester United when Blackburn Rovers visit the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The north London side are five points behind United, but have a game in hand over the Premier League leaders.
They were forced to fight back from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw away to West Bromwich Albion in their last match, and were held by Sunderland to a scoreless stalemate in their previous home league affair.
Rovers’ form in their past five games has been nothing short of abysmal – scraping a point from their clash with Blackpool after trailing by two; losing to Fulham, Aston Villa and Wigan; and luckily snaring a draw against Newcastle in a game Alan Pardew’s men dominated.
Arsenal’s push for the Premiership could be boosted by the return to fitness of stars Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott for the clash with Steve Kean’s side.
Van Persie picked up a thigh injury while on international duty with the Netherlands, while Fabregas could return from a hamstring injury sustained in their loss to Barcelona in the Champions League this month.
Walcott has not appeared in Arsenal colours since February – outed by a right ankle injury, but reportedly trained well in the international break.
Blackburn have no fresh injury concerns, but will be focussing on breaking their run of five straight away losses in the league.
Martin Keown, who won three Premier League titles under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, has claimed that his old club’s current squad face the prospect of leaving the Emirates if they fail to demonstrate their winning potential soon. The Gunners’ current campaign has fallen apart as spectacularly as it has suddenly, and the team are struggling to regain the form they showed before a last-minute collapse against Birmingham in the Carling Cup Final which preceded rapid exits from the Champions’ League and the FA Cup.
Keown believes Arsenal still have a chance to snatch the title from Manchester United’s grasp and has stated that the current squad, “have a chance to be part of history and become legends at the club.” If the north Londoners don’t improve however, the former centre-back has explained from his own experience that “Wenger invests a certain amount of time in you as a player and once he feels you are at the end of the line he gets someone else in to do the job.”
Although Keown’s departure from Highbury came at the age of 37, when his influence had declined due to fatigue, his former manager has previously proved his willingness to release his younger stars who underperform, and nothing suggests that his present charges won’t suffer a similar fate. Jose Antonio Reyes was let go at the age of 23, Alexander Hleb was sold at 27 as well as Philippe Senderos, Mathieu Flamini and Emmanuel Adebayor who have all been sold in the past three years.
Although Flamini left for AC Milan after refusing to renew his contract and Philippe Senderos didn’t represent a dependable long-term option due to persistent injuries, Wenger got rid of the other three based on performance and mentality. Not one of them can legitimately claim to have improved as a footballer since leaving, although Hleb was a bit-part member of Barcelona’s Champions League winning side the season after he left and Adebayor is currently enjoying the limelight on-loan to Real Madrid. But what about the class of 2011? With history in mind, shouldn’t Abou Diaby, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey Arshavin and possibly even Gael Clichy be worried they could soon be leaving the Gunners?
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It is widely rumoured that the Frenchman has lost patience with Bendtner whose missed chance in the closing stages of Arsenal’s recent Champions League tie against Barcelona may have been his last opportunity to impress. Bayern Munich are apparently interested in the Danish striker, but the futures of Denilson and Abou Diaby remain less certain. The Brazilian has started less than half of Arsenal’s League games this season having featured 51 times in the 2008/2009 campaign, and although his diminishing game-time is largely due to Jack Wilshere’s emergence, Denilson failed to perform at the required standard during Cesc Fabregas’ absence recently. Diaby, however, represents a different consideration.
The France International remained relatively injury-free throughout last season, having endured an extended absence following a leg-break in his first season with the Gunners, and was arguably one of Arsenal’s best players. Unfortunately, injuries have once again impeded his development and the 24 year-old has only featured 16 times this term, scoring a single goal. I believe Wenger will afford the former Auxerre midfielder more time to exhibit his talents on a more consistent basis, but Aaron Ramsey’s return to the first-team, the irreplaceable position Alex Song has carved for himself and Jack Wilshere’s excellent form will force Wenger to at least ponder Diaby’s place in his squad for next season.
Fans of top teams expect a regular delivery of silverware and Arsenal’s have been deprived for six years, which certainly indicates a time for change in some form at the Emirates. The post-2005 project has to be rendered a failure to a large degree, but Wenger retains one of the most gifted squads in Europe, once he rediscovers a system that best suits their talents or employs players who would immediately fit that system, the Gunners will be back to winning ways.
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Two Midlands relegation candidates coming off heavy defeats will meet on Sunday, when Birmingham welcome Wolves to St Andrew’s.Mick McCarthy’s Wolves side have been entrenched in the bottom three for much of the season, and are sitting second from the bottom with four games to play – one point short of safety after their 3-0 mauling at Stoke on Tuesday.
Birmingham, meanwhile, are faring slightly better in 15th place, but are only four points clear of the drop zone.
Last Saturday, they ran into a rampant Liverpool outfit at Anfield, finding themselves on the wrong end of a 5-0 thrashing.
It has been a season of contrasting fortunes for Alex McLeish’s men – with their Carling Cup triumph over Arsenal on February 27 offset by some poor form in the league that has them in danger of becoming only the second side ever to win the league cup and be relegated in the same campaign.
In their only other meeting this season, a Stephen Hunt goal on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure Wolves a 1-0 win at Molineux.
Both managers have injury concerns, with Birmingham defenders Scott Dann and Martin Jiranek, plus striker Obafemi Martins all in doubt.
McLeish is hopeful big striker Nikola Zigic can overcome his groin and hip problems in time to play, but Enric Valles, James McFadden and reserve goalkeeper Maik Taylor are unlikely to play again this season.
First choice ‘keeper Ben Foster, who hobbled off with a thigh injury just before half-time in the Liverpool match, is expected to play
For Wolves, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is doubtful after suffering a recurrence of his hamstring injury, but Steven Fletcher could be available despite limping off against Stoke with a knee problem.
Irish duo Kevin Doyle and Hunt are nearing returns from their respective hamstring and hernia complaints, but are long shots to play against Birmingham.
Mirror Football is reporting that Newcastle is ready to join the hunt for Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, however they are likely to face competition for the 18 year old from arch-rivals Sunderland. Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is working through an extensive list of targets and Wickham is believed to be an option.
Wickham is the sort of raw talent that Pardew would hope to lure to Newcastle with the promise of more first-team football than he would likely get if he joined a team like Arsenal or Spurs. However, Steve Bruce is looking to substantial add to his striking options next season; Bruce is targeting as many as three new forwards and has described Wickham as the top young striker of his generation.
Wickham has been attracting plenty of interest from Premier League clubs and he has scored 8 league goals this season; Wickham has also represented England at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level. Wickham extended his contract in January until 2013 – but it is believed that there is a clause in the contract that would allow Wickham to move for a fee in the region of £15m, it is also believed that Tottenham have first refusal on the player. Wickham signed an extra one year extension in April committing him until 2014.
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Liverpool forward Dani Pacheco spent the last part of this season on loan at Norwich City and although he didn’t start as many games as he would like he was very much part of things. It is then fairly inevitable to wonder what will happen to Pacheco next season. Clearly at the moment he will go back to Liverpool, work hard over the summer and try and get into the Liverpool first-team.
But if he isn’t likely to get an opportunity at Anfield then he could do a lot worse than spending at least one more season at Carrow Road. Last time Norwich were a Premiership side they recruited David Bentley on a season-long loan and he was an integral part of the Norwich first-team. It’s a shame his career has taken a nose dive since. However, his time at Norwich benefitted both Arsenal and Norwich and was an important step that allowed Arsenal to sell the player to Blackburn.
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That same season Norwich invested around £3m in Dean Ashton and had a role in developing him into a top Premier League and England player that persuaded West Ham to part with over £7m to buy him. It is a real shame that injuries ended the career of a player that could have been one of England’s best old fashioned centre forwards. Another England player Scott Parker also once had a spell on loan at Norwich.
Pacheco on loan at Norwich next season would appear to benefit everyone. Norwich can get a top quality striker at a low price and Liverpool can get some much needed Premier League experience into the player. Kenny Dalglish will also know that Norwich like to play football in the right way and with a style that will benefit the young Spaniard. Therefore, the only slight concern can be on how often Pacheco will play. But even if you assume he won’t be an automatic starter it will still be hugely beneficial for him to start games every now and again, make an impact from the bench on a regular basis and simply be involved in the first-team squad. Certainly this has to be better than only playing the odd reserve game – which may be the case at Liverpool.
Join the conversation on Twitter and tell me where Pacheco should play his football next season
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FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan
With the Premier League season coming to an end, now seems like as good a time as ever to look forward and see which teams are in good shape heading into next season. There is still one trophy up for grabs, though, and if Manchester United were to beat Barcelona in the Champions League final at the end of the month, it would go down as a truly great achievement. Sir Alex Ferguson has won a fair few trophies in his time at Old Trafford, but would that trump them all?
Great times are surely waiting for United’s neighbours, Manchester City. City ended their 35 year wait for a trophy by defeating Stoke to lift the FA Cup, and if Roberto Mancini stays in charge at Eastlands, then the Italian will be looking to add to City’s trophy cabinet next season. Mancini’s men will not only be expected to challenge for the Premier League title, but having secured qualification for the Champions League, it will also be anticipated that they’ll do well in Europe, too.
Another Premier League side that look like they’re on the up are Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish has greatly transformed the fortunes of the Anfield club and there is a great sense of optimism on the red half of Merseyside. With Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez building a partnership up top, Raul Meireles and Maxi Rodriguez finding some form, Martin Kelly leading a host of impressive youngsters and Steven Gerrard to return from injury; Liverpool could be just a couple of signings away from great times once again.
One set of supporters who are desperate for great times to come again are Arsenal fans. The Gunners have gone yet another season without a trophy and the pressure continues to build on manager Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman can’t go many more seasons without winning some silverware for the Gunners, otherwise Arsenal might be forced into doing the unthinkable and giving Arsene his P45.
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As we head into the off-season, there will be just a few weeks rest before players, managers and the ground staff get ready for yet another season. Great times are waiting for someone, but for who? We’ll just have to wait to find out, and while you’re waiting, you might just want to grab some buds…
Manchester United have moved closer to completing the signing of Phil Jones, after reaching an agreement with Blackburn Rovers.English Premier League champions United were expected to announce the move last week, but it was not until Monday they revealed terms had been agreed with Blackburn after discussions between the respective clubs’ lawyers.
The agreed fee is reportedly in the region of 16.5 million pounds, which may rise to as much as 20 million depending on appearances and Jones’ medal haul at Old Trafford.
United have agreed to a five-year deal with the England Under-21 international.
“Manchester United is delighted to announce it has signed an agreement with Blackburn Rovers for the transfer of Phil Jones,” a statement on the club’s website read.
“The player passed a medical in Manchester last week and has agreed to a five-year contract. The deal will be completed once the player returns from international duty.”
Blackburn also wished centre-back Jones, who played for England in their 1-1 draw with Spain at the European Under-21 Championships on Sunday, all the best in his move to Old Trafford.
“Much as we would love him to stay on with us – and we made all efforts to convince him to stay – Phil has to finally follow his heart,” a Blackburn statement said.
“We are extremely happy with his contribution to our team and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours.”
Jones is expected to form a defensive partnership with 21-year-old Chris Smalling when experienced duo Rio Ferdinand, 32, and Nemanja Vidic, 29, move on.
United are also expected to finalise the signing of Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea, who manager Sir Alex Ferguson said last month would be joining from Atletico Madrid.
In addition to Jones and de Gea, Ferguson is rumoured to be interested in Aston Villa winger Ashley Young.
Emmanuel Adebayor has stated that he will train by himself instead of returning to Manchester City, as the former Arsenal striker has been omitted from the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
The 27-year-old found himself out of favour with Roberto Mancini in 2010/11 and spent the second half of the season on loan at Real Madrid. Following the Spanish side’s decision not to take up a permanent deal for the attacker, the former Togo international has confirmed he has been summoned back to England in an impersonal e-mail.
“This is very hurtful and insulting and says a lot about Manchester City,” the African frontman told The Sun.
“On the one hand they want to become the biggest, most successful club in the world, yet the people who run the club are not acting in that way at all. No one at City is man enough to speak to me face-to-face to explain. I just received an email from Brian Marwood’s secretary, a lady at the club called Claire, telling me to report for training on July 9,” he continued.
However, whilst City’s first team has travelled across the Atlantic to start pre-season fixtures, Adebayor has maintained that he will not be training with the reserve side in their absence.
“When I spoke to the other players, I found out the first team was leaving for the pre-season tour of the USA on July 8. So it’s clear they don’t want me here but no one even called. Brian Marwood just got his secretary to send me an email. And I heard this was the same with at least six other players.
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“But I can tell them this. I will not be turning up on July 9 to train with the reserves. No chance. I will train on my own,” he concluded.
The comments all but confirm a departure from Eastlands, with Tottenham, Paris St Germain and Zenit St Petersburg being linked with a move for him this summer.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the rules concerning the tapping up of players must be reviewed.Wenger has watched as clubs have chased Arsenal’s Samir Nasri throughout the off-season, with Manchester United and Manchester City strongly linked to the France midfielder.
Although the rules say that clubs cannot speak to players without the permission of the clubs involved, Wenger feels that they are not respected.
When quizzed if he thought other clubs had tapped-up his players, Wenger offered this response: “I would like to return the question to you.”
“What do you think? We live in a realistic world. I do not want to assess what I cannot prove.”
“I know how things happen. It doesn’t necessarily go through the player or the agent but I think it is a rule that has to be reviewed. It’s not really respected.”
Wenger re-iterated that he did not want to lose Nasri and captain Cesc Fabregas, who has been linked with a return to Barcelona.
Wenger said any additions to the squad would be focused on quality, and that he would not add players for the sake of it.
“It’s not the number, it’s the quality,” he said.
“How many will leave the club? I said from the start I will fight to keep everybody. Nicklas Bendtner might go and Emmanuel Eboue might go. They can talk to clubs, but the rest I will fight.”
Wenger’s first addition to his squad was Lille striker Gervinho, who is said to have cost around 10 million pounds.
The new Arsenal striker bagged a brace against Cologne in a 2-1 friendly win on Saturday and Wenger was pleased with what he saw.
“You could see how quick he is to get behind defenders,” he said.
“He has qualities that are always very interesting for a team like us. I hope (he’ll be a bargain). When you see all the fees around you become dizzy.”
“We do what we want and we look first at the quality of the player and after if we have the money we spend it. In this case he wanted to join us. He had only one year on his contract, so it was a good opportunity for us.”
Cesc Fabregas will meet with Arsene Wenger this week in an attempt to force through a move to Barcelona, according to the Guardian.
The saga, which has engulfed the 24-year-old midfielder’s career for the last few years, finally looks like coming to an end.
Fabregas, valued at £35 million, will plead with Wenger to allow him to move to his boyhood club. The Frenchman is resigned to losing his most prized asset despite insisting he would keep Fabregas at the club.
Arsenal have just returned from their tour of Malaysia and China and Fabregas will look to discuss the situation with Wenger face to face, instead of handing in a transfer request that could ruin their relationship.
The Spaniard is grateful to the Gunners boss for turning him into one of the best midfielders on the planet and hopes to convince Wenger that allowing him to join Pep Guardiola’s side is the best solution for him and the club.
Barcelona are just £4 million away from Arsenal’s apparent valuation and Wenger believes the whole saga has to come to an end for the good of the players at the club.
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Wenger said: “We have to stop at some stage … I hope we can close that very quickly in our favour. For us, it’s important that the team settles psychologically as quickly as possible because we have a tough start.”
He is confident of keeping Samir Nasri but it looks increasingly likely that Fabregas will be playing at the Nou Camp as opposed to the Emirates Stadium next season.