Mathieu’s Contract “D-Day” Extended?

Mathieu Flamini has reportedly been given extra time to make up his mind up on renewing a contract with Arsenal.

The 24 year old has failed to tell Gunners boss Wenger whether he is staying at Arsenal or not. Wenger set today as a deadline and is still waiting for the former Marseille man to get back to him.

Wenger told reporters:

“I’m waiting for him to come back to me and tell me whether he’s going”

I’m sure Mathieu can get a better deal elsewhere, but would he really be happier in Italy playing for an unattractive footballing side in Juventus? Money talks in football, and so do agents, two things which could play a part in Flamini’s move away from the Emirates.

News Update:

Gunners boss Arséne Wenger told The Daily Mail that young midfielder Jack Wilshere could be involved in his Carling Cup plans for next season.

Arsenal have recruited Greek youngster Nikos Karelis according to Reserves + Youth blog, Young Guns.

Jens Lehmann continues his whining and moaning on the sidelines by saying life on the bench “sucks” at the Emirates.

Finally, congratulations to Theo Walcott who has won the Arsenal.com Player of the Month award for April, while Gael Clichy has retained Gunners Live Player of the Week for this week!

Lille Star “Discusses” Premier League Move

Cameroonian hotshot Jean II Makoun is in talks with a Premier League side concerning a move to an “ambitious London club” according to his representative.

Makoun’s agent, Jean-Christophe Thouvenel has revealed that Makoun has a “get out agreement” with LOSC to be transferred in the summer and is planning a big-money move for one of Ligue 1’s most consistent performers.

“The discussions are very advanced with a London club,” Thouvenel told setantasports.com.

“It is not West Ham, no. Tottenham? Well, I cannot reveal it to you right now.

“To give you a clue, without naming the club, their manager is not English, they are a very good club that have a very ambitious project, they want to attack well and defend well.

“Last year Mathieu Bodmer and Kader Keita left Lille, and the club asked Makoun to stay one more year to help them with their transition to a new era.

Makoun’s proposed move could happen if French midfield star Mathieu Flamini refuses to sign a new contract by his tomorrow evening deadline.

More Tomorrow.

Report: Derby 2-6 Arsenal - Rams To The Slaughter

Emmanuel Adebayor notched a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal cruised to a 6-2 victory over Derby County at Pride Park on Monday evening.

Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie netted in the first half, either side of Jay McEveley’s close range strike and then Adebayor and Theo Walcott got on the scoresheet for The Gunners in the second half, as did Derby’s Robert Earnshaw - his first league goal for The Rams.

First Half:

Sometimes when there are a lot of goals it is due to fantastic forward play but in truth neither team seemed overly concerned about defending in this virtual dead rubber match.

The first goal was the perfect example of this. Darren Moore’s limited skillset were fully illustrated when he received a pass from Robbie Savage in the first half and gave the ball straight to Bendtner 30 yards from goal who exchanged passes with van Persie before slotting home with ease.

It seemed like it could be a procession thereafter but The Rams deservedly got back on level terms when McEveley got inbetween Alexandre Song and William Gallas and after his attempted header fell to ground he slotted home the loose ball.

They never looked like holding this advantage though and after missing an easy chance, after sterling work from Theo Walcott, van Persie scored when Kolo Toure delivered a long ball that caught out Moore and the Dutchman had time to chest down and fire into the roof of the net on the half-volley

Second Half:

An injury meant Van Persie was replaced at half-time by Adebayor and the Togo striker immediately threatened to set Pride Park alight as Derby’s defence completely disappeared.

Adebayor soon got on the scoresheet when Walcott raced past Alan Stubbs and his cross was deflected on by Emmanuel Eboue for the big striker to tap-in at the back post.

Earnshaw got one back for The Rams, but Walcott emphatically curled into the far corner after cutting in from the left for a brilliant solo goal and then Adebayor converted Gael Clichy’s cross from the left to bag a fifth for Arsenal.

A 30th goal of the season came minutes later for the Togelese striker in a game which proved to be a comfortable result for The Gunners in the end.

Teams:

Derby: Carroll, Todd, Moore, Stubbs, McEveley, Mears, Savage, Ghaly (Feilhaber 60), Lewis, Villa, Sterjovski (Earnshaw 69).
Subs Not Used: Price, Edworthy, Beardsley.

Goals: McEveley 31, Earnshaw 77.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Toure (Djourou 78), Gallas, Song Billong, Clichy, Eboue, Fabregas, Denilson (Silva 64), Walcott, Van Persie (Adebayor 46), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Almunia, Senderos.

Goals: Bendtner 25, Van Persie 39, Adebayor 59, Walcott 78, Adebayor 81, 90.

Derby Preview - Looking Foward To A Thrashing…

…Or maybe not. The corresponding fixture at the start of the season was a 5-0 demolishing job of The Rams, Ade notched a hat-rick, while Diaby scored a cracker from distance. But as this season draws to a close, Derby have been unlucky with a hatful of a results, many should of been three points for Paul Jewell’s side.

Straight to the teams…

Derby:

The last time the Rams beat the Gunners was on November 1st 1997, when Paulo Wanchope scored twice and Dean Saunders the other at the Baseball Ground.

That victory is Derby’s only victory in 13 Premier League games against the Gunners, and their only victory in 21 meetings in all competitions.

Rams boss Paul Jewell is still searching for his first league win as manager of Derby and he will no doubt ask his players for a huge effort against the North London side.

In Rams team news midfielder David Jones is a doubt with a tight calf and will face a late fitness test. Mile Sterjovski left early against the Hammers, but he hopes to have fully recovered to take his spot in the side.

Arsenal:

The Gunners will be without winger Alexander Hleb, who is suspended while Abou Diaby (thigh), Mathieu Flamini and Bacary Sagna (both ankle) are also out.

Keeper Manuel Almunia is fit after a wrist problem, but Lukasz Fabianski could make his first top-flight start. Arsenal manager Arséne Wenger belives the keeper is ready for a game.

‘I’ve not made a decision yet about who will play in goal, but I will have a look at Lukasz Fabianski before the end of the season - and it could be on Monday.

‘For me, he’s class. He understands football, reads the game well and is quick.

‘He is technically good with good co-ordination and has a good connection with the team,” said Wenger.

A Match Report Will Appear Post Match.

Gunners Live News Update:

Well done to Cesc Fabregas who won the PFA Young Player Of The Year Award, he was also included in the PFA Premier League team of the year - Sagna, Clichy and Ade were also included.

PFA Premier League Team of the Year:
David James (Portsmouth), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal), Fernando Torres (Liverpool).

In other news, it’s starting to look more and more likely that French midfielder Mathieu Flamini is on his way out of Arsenal. Wenger has given him a deadline until Wednesday to sign a new contract, the former Marseille man has still failed to sign it.

Team For 08/09 Season?

Well it’s time, the current squad of players have shown class, but not enough of it to win anything this season and I still think that a little tweeking in the right places is needed and we’re be up there with United and Chelsea next year. So here’s the team I’d like to see next season.

Goalkeepers: Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone

Defenders: Sagna, Eboue, Djourou, Toure, Gallas, *Zapata, Nordtveit, Clichy, Traore

Midfielders: Walcott, *Ben Arfa, Diaby, Denilson, Lansbury, Song, Fabregas, Rosicky

Strikers: van Persie, Adebayor, Eduardo, Barazite, Bendtner, Vela, *Benzema

Players in: Ben Arfa, Benzema, Zapata,

Players out: Lehmann, Hleb, Flamini, Senderos, J.Hoyte

No more playing the team members out of postion. What do you think? Of course this is a dream team when you look at it, but wouldn’t it be great to get the likes of Ben Arfa, Zapata and Benzema in the team.

Ed’s Note: With our transfer budget low, Benzema is very unlikely to join Arsenal, Ben Arfa though, could come if Wenger feels the need to fork out for a lightweight winger who has been in and out of Lyon’s starting line up all season.

* Players In

Article By Luke

Be Proud Of What We Have Acheived This Season…

I don’t know who Arsene Wenger has upset in recent weeks but it’s clear this was not a season he was meant to succeed. A series of poor decisions, injuries and just rotten bad luck has seen Arsenal’s season capitulate in little over six weeks.

It was all a far cry when the Frenchman came out to us with the broadest of smiles as his young guns reached the 60pt mark in record time, even outpointing the ‘invincibles’, and you can forgive him for having the wryest of smiles as he cited that 8 wins out of the remain 12 would have been enough to win, what must be seen as a remarkable Championship success.

There is no doubting that the match at St Andrews was to prove the turning point and the preceding game after that press conference. The injury to Eduardo, the fall out and the furore that surrounded his skipper’s act of petulance, was the start of a culmination of events, which was to see the wheels of what seemed a smooth, well oiled wagon come off the rails.

It was certainly not foreseen that it was possible, some eight weeks ago, and you have only had to look at websites, forums and newspapers to realise that the steward’s enquiry has already began with the finger of blame not pointing at misfortunes, but squarely at the feet of manager Arsene Wenger.

I find it extremely hard to fathom as to why Wenger is having the finger pointed at by disgruntled supporters. Was it his fault that the club decided to move to the Emirates and faced a constraint of funds in the last seasons? Can you blame the man for not being able to build on the ‘invincibles’ success and as a result has had to take the club through a period of transition?

Why isn’t he being lauded for the remarkable achievements this season, with a side that cost next to nothing, and showed the fans what a strong foundation he has built that will have Arsenal challenging for the games top honours for years to come. It really puzzles me and every football neutral looking in. I wonder what those same supporters would say if Wenger said he had enough and was leaving at the end of the season; a great deal of stutters would prevail among those discontented fans, who will start to realise once again that they have the finest forward thinking coach probably in Europe.

The United game was the perfect example of their luck in recent weeks. Once again the gunners were set to rue poor decisions, misfortune in hitting the woodwork and failing to get reward for their dominance on the pitch. This week has highlighted the fine line that exists within football between success and failure. Two games that they deserved to win were cruelly taken away from them and as a result see an end to this season’s campaign that had promised so much.

I’m sure as this season draws to a close, there will more inquests into where it wrong and Wenger will undoubtedly come under scrutiny with regards to transfer policy as he should have foreseen all those injuries and misfortunes that have plagued the last two months. I think some Arsenal fans need to take a bit of a step back and take the positives in what would have been an excellent season. They should also appreciate that they have one of the finest managers of his generation who would have a pick of the clubs should he decide to walk away.

It is important to remember that Sir Alex Ferguson only had one title success in five seasons up until last. It would have been very easy to write him off but Sir Alex in that time has built what he has considered his finest ever side. It takes time to build success and that is what Wenger is doing at Arsenal. Sometimes you have to take a step back before going forward and the team would have learnt some valuable lessons from this season as a result.

Eduardo Back Training For Gunners In 4 Months

Exclusive news has reached Gunners Live this evening concerning Eduardo da Silva, the striker’s doctor told the Croatian media that the 25 year old will be back in training before the end of September.

The Brazilian born Croat broke his leg in a sickening challenge with Birmingham’s centre back Martin Taylor just 2 months ago. Doctors first feared that “Dudu” would miss the whole of next season as well, the good news that we have, is that Eduardo will be back in training for The Gunners in just 4 months.

According to top Croatian press feed “Jutarnji Sport”, the front-man will start light training in August and is likely to be back in the Arsenal line up towards the end of November.

Translation From World Star Translator:

Eduardo has been recuperating in the Runcovoj clinic, Brazil, where currently injured AC Milan striker Ronaldo is also being treated for a knee injury suffered 2 months ago.

Da Silva’s representative Jose Luisom Runcom told Croatian TV

“At first, we guessed he would be out for 9 months, this has been reduced to 6 due to Eduardo’s good recuperation process, he will be back training for Arsenal in 4 months. We are definitely pleased with the progress of Eduardo”.

[Source: Jutarnji Sport]

Transfer Rumours Update

Gunners Live have managed to compile a list of Arsenal’s latest transfer rumours, have a look, of course they’re just rumours but some of them might happen if The Gunners let players go this summer.

Panama international defender Felipe Baloy (27) of Monterrey:

Why? he’s 6ft 1” so would add some height to Arsenal’s central defence and has won 26 caps.
Why not? he will struggle to get a work permit as even though Panama are an up and coming football nation they’re still only ranked 66th in the FIFA rankings.

Spain international central defender Raul Albiol (22).

Why? he’s slightly taller than Baloy and has plenty of La Liga and Champions League experience with Valencia.
Why not? his release clause is £40m and he’s under contract until 2011.

Ireland U-19 international midfielder James McCarthy (17).

Why? He helped get Hamilton promotion to the SPL and Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Rangers, Celtic, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are all sniffing around.
Why not? he failed a trial at Liverpool when he was younger.

Holland international striker Klass-Jan Hunterlaar (24).

Why? he’s always being compared to Marco van Basten, oh and Fernando Morientes as well!
Why not? van Basten takes over at Ajax soon and will not want his best striker leaving for anything less than £30m.

Croatia international midfielder Niko Krancjar (23).

Why? he’s been one of Portsmouth’s star performers this season.
Why not? he’s a right footed left winger and will not provide Arsenal with natural width…and he may cost a mind-boggling £15m.

Trinidad and Tobago international striker Kenwyne Jones (23).

Why? former Southampton boss George Burley described him as a ‘new Didier Drogba’.
Why not? he may have Drogba’s power in the air, but the similarity ends there…and after paying £6m last summer Sunderland won’t let him go on the cheap anyway.

England U-21 international midfielder Michael Johnson (20).

Why? he’s talented enough to be asking for £50k per week, according to reports.
Why not? Liverpool have offered £12m apparently, a figure Arsenal are unlikely to match for a relatively inexperienced player.

Italy U-21 international right back Christian Maggio (26).

Why? apparently he’s been Sampdoria’s best player this season.
Why not? Spurs and Aston Villa’s interest may mean he’s a little bit pricey.

Brazil international goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes (27).

Why? he’s fallen out with the general manager at PSV Eindhoven, Jan Reker.
Why not? he’s going to cost £12m.

Palermo striker Amauri (27).

Why? he’s been in decent form this season and does not need a work permit.
Why not? Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini claims he’s nearly done a deal with Juventus and Arsenal have not been in touch.

Lots more news coming later…