Walcott In England Squad

Theo Walcott has been picked in Fabio Capello’s 30-man squad to face USA at Wembley, and travel to Trinidad and Tobago for England’s final match of the season four days later.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Joe Hart, David James, Chris Kirkland

Defenders:

Wayne Bridge, Ashley Cole, David Wheater, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Wes Brown, Jonathan Woodgate, Phil Jagielka, Stephen Warnock

Midfielders:

Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Jermaine Jenas, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone, Stewart Downing, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young

Strikers:

Gabriel Agbonlahor, Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Dean Ashton

Report: Sunderland 0-1 Arsenal - Theo Wraps Up Season

Arséne Wenger put out a mixture of first team and youth as The Gunners triumphed to a 1-0 win over Roy Keane’s Sunderland thanks to a well placed effort by England star Theo Walcott.

On the bench, Reserves top scorer Nacer Barazite, highly rated midfielder Mark Randall and Norwegian rock Håvard Nordtveit watched on.

The Official Arsenal Line Up

Fabianski

Djourou - Senderos - Song - Clichy

Eboue - Denilson - Gilberto (c) - Walcott

Bendtner - Adebayor

Subs - 40. Mannone, 35. Nordtveit, 30. Traore, 36. Randall, 43. Barazite

First Half:

Sunderland were already safe from relegation before this match, but they certainly didn’t come out like it as Carlos Edwards struck a 30 yard volley at Polish shot stopper Lukasz Fabianski who saved well.

Emmanuel Eboue was stretchered off early on after a crunching tackle from Danny Collins, many Gooners hoping the Ivorian was to be replaced!

Arsenal’s top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor had a couple of chances as the game got flowing most notably testing former Spurs keeper’ Martin Fulop with a weakly hit shot.

And as 23 minutes hit the clock, Arsenal formed a superb attack, Gilberto took the ball and threaded it through for Theo Walcott to place it past Fulop and give Arsenal a deserved 1-0 lead at The Stadium of Light.

The First Half fizzled out with few chances for either side, Phillipe Senderos smacked a 35 yard effort over the bar, while Kenywyne Jones had to come off after blocking a storming shot from Gilberto. A decent First Half as Arsenal went in 1-0 at the break.

Second Half:

The Black Cats piled on the pressure in the Second Half as Roy O’Donovan wasted a fantastic opportunity to bring Sunderland level after Dwight Yorke supplied a terrific ball in.

Former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra tangled with Cameroonian International Alex Song as the Sunderland player appealed for a penalty, the Referee Keith Stroud waved play on.

Armand Traore and Mark Randall both came on for the last 10 minutes, the latter made an immense contribution to the game by hitting the back of the net but only to be denied thanks to an offside decision.

Sunderland though, wanted at least a point from the game, and O’Donovan tested Fabianski late on as Roy Keane’s side failed to find an equaliser.

The Full Time whistle went, the final game of the season for Arsenal was overshadowed by Man United’s Premier League win and the tough relegation battle at the opposite end of the table, but if The Gunners performan like this next season you can expect some silverware coming home to the Emirates.

Sunderland Preview - What A Season!

It’s been an interesting season this year for The Gunners. Knocked out of all competitions in 2 months, but you have to feel Arsenal should of really won something and have been unlucky not to.

Sunderland are tomorrow’s opponents, the Black Cats are safe from relegation after some terrific performances from Roy Keane’s side.

Here’s the team news…

Sunderland Team News:

Ross Wallace could return to Sunderland’s squad for their game against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Scottish midfielder has not played in the Premier League since the start of the year when he damaged his knee ligaments.

Wallace has featured in two reserve-team games recently and Roy Keane, the manager, said:

“Ross has trained very well this week and he was good in an eleven-versus-eleven game in training so he comes into contention.”

Jonny Evans missed two days’ training after the Bolton game last weekend but will be fit to play against the Gunners. Keane has no new injury worries ahead of the sell-out game at the Stadium of Light (3pm).

Phil Bardsley (knee), Dickson Etuhu (knee) and David Connolly (hip) are ruled out.

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Arsenal Team News:

Mark Randall and Kieran Gibbs are likely to make the bench after Arséne Wenger announced that he’ll include them in his 16 man squad for the trip to the Stadium of Light.

Other than that, there isn’t expected to be any changes from the team that won against Everton. Lukasz Fabianski, Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner are set to continue, while there’s rumours that Clichy & Gallas could be rested for the final league game of the season

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Pre Match Views:

The Gooner Forum
Arsenal.com
Sky Sports

[P.S Happy Birthday to Dennis Bergkamp.. the Gunners legend is 39 today!]

Arsenal’s Season: The Highs And Lows

What a season. So many positives to take out of this season for Arsenal. But many negatives as well.

From Walcott’s Champions League run, to Eboue’s dreadful shooting.

Here’s a compilation of both our highs and lows from this thrilling season…

Unsettled Midfielder Linked With Gunners

Barcelona midfield maestro Yaya Toure has once again been linked with Arsenal after Mathieu Flamini’s recent departure from the club to AC Milan.

Brother of Arsenal star Kolo, the 24 year old has been likened to Patrick Vieira in his sharp feet, lung-busting runs and screaming shots.

Only 3 months ago, Didier Drogba was complementing his fellow Ivorian hoping he would move to Chelsea.

“He is a fantastic player,” assured Drogba.

“He can run, jump and win the ball in the midfield and also score.

“When he runs he looks like Patrick Vieira. If he comes, everybody will love him.”

This season, Toure has warmed to the Barca fans after being one of the bright sparks in an abysmal season for the La Liga giants. He hasn’t forgotten the trial he had 3 seasons ago though, work permit problems meant that the defensive midfielder couldn’t make a move to Arsenal, so instead he chose Greek side Olympiakos.

Wenger has reportedly been watching Toure’s performances for Barca after the Ivory Coast international told Spanish press that he’s extremely disappointed with their season - a possible sign that he’s on his way out of the Camp Nou.

Hleb On His Way Out - Says Agent

Just like Gunners Live confirmed on Wednesday, Alexander Hleb is on his way out of Arsenal, following Mathieu Flamini’s depature to Italian giants Inter Milan.

The 27-year-old, who has two years left on his existing deal at the Emirates Stadium but has been linked with Inter Milan, apparently looks ready to follow Mathieu Flamini, who has agreed a deal at AC Milan on a free transfer, out of Arsene Wenger’s side at the end of the season.

“Alexander is preparing to make the most serious and important moves of his life,” Nikolai Shpilevsky is quoted as saying in Belarusian newspaper Pressball on Friday.

“He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions. Only time will tell if leaving is the right decision, but there’s no way back now. Everything will be cleared up in the next two weeks.”

Randall & Gibbs Make Squad For Sunderland Game

18 year old midfielders Mark Randall and Kieran Gibbs have both been drafted in for Arséne Wenger’s squad for The Gunners final league game against Sunderland this Sunday.

Both players have been on loan to separate Championship clubs this season. Randall on loan to Burnley, while fellow Englishman Gibbs saw little match action at mid-table side Norwich City.

Wenger told Arsenal.com

“It should be nearly the same group of players who are available, nobody is coming back from injury certainly. I could give one or two players an early breather because they go to Euro 2008 or the African qualifiers.

So Kieran Gibbs, who got on the bench last weekend, could be involved again, so could Mark Randall. But I am really not sure yet.”

Randall is likely to make the bench, while Gibbs has been rumoured to appear in the starting XI after being benched in the Everton game last Saturday.

Aulas: Ben Arfa Likely To Be Sold

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas told the French media that highly rated winger Hatem Ben Arfa is likely to be sold this summer, but only for the right price.

The 21 year old who has been constantly linked with The Gunners throughout the season, is likely to be shipped out of Lyon this summer with French rivals Marseille favourites to snatch the left wing wizard away from “Le Gones”.

Aulas told Marseille newspaper La Provence:

“If they (Marseille) contact us for Hatem, will we be ready to let him go? I say: Why not? I have nothing against that. Marseille is a big club where Hatem could play his best as much as abroad.
The idea of seeing keeping him in France would be more attractive for me. It would be a fine thing for the Ligue 1.”

It’s a massive blow for Arsenal if Aulas’ quotes are true. He seems more comfortable with selling Ben Arfa to a fellow Ligue 1 side rather than a top Premier League side abroad.

Does this mean it’s the end of the rumours linking the winger with Arsenal?

No, not at all, Aulas is a very difficult businessman to deal with, but I feel he still could forge out a deal for Ben Arfa if Wenger offers the right price.

Source: La Provence