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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Frimpong Chooses Ghana Over England

There is yet more bad news for Arsenal today because midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has chosen to play for Ghana instead of England. This means that if he is selected for the African Nations Cup he will miss vital games during the new year period.

Frimpong, 19, has played for England at both Under-16 and Under-17 level, and was also selected for an Under-21 squad last month, but he was forced to withdraw with an injury. After meeting with Ghana officials on Monday evening it appears as though Frimpong now wants to play for Ghana.

Kwesi Nyantakyi is the president of the Ghana FA and he has said, “We had a meeting last night and he told me he wants to play for Ghana. We will send off all the necessary paperwork to FIFA now and we hope to have everything concluded within two or three months.”

Nyantakyi finished off by saying, “I am very happy for this because he is a good player. He will play for Ghana.”

Despite his games at youth level for England and his selection for the Under-21′s last month Frimpong has now had a change of heart and wants to play for the country of his birth and confirmed as much on his social media page Twitter. He said, “I have done my part for the love of the country. Now let’s wait and see the outcome…”

Gooners everywhere wish you good luck Emmanuel whoever you play your international football for, but we would prefer to see you in action at Arsenal in January rather than the African Nations Cup.

Per Mertesacker- ''I Am Ready For It"

Per Mertesacker signed for Arsenal last Wednesday, but due to the current round of international matches he has yet to meet up with his new team mates, but he is due to meet them all at Colney today.

Mertesacker, 26, has been speaking about his move to Arsenal and the challenges that lie ahead. He said, “It is exciting, it is like before the first day at school. It is a new phase in my life and I am really looking forward to it but I also feel nervous. Now I have a new challenge in a new country, a new style of play and a new language. I am ready for it.”

Arsenal fans are certainly hoping you are ready for it Per, especially now that Thomas Vermaelen is out for at least six weeks.

Mertesacker earned his 76th cap for Germany on Tuesday when he played in the friendly international against Poland which ended 2-2 and he admits that he is not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up for next years European Championships, for which Germany have already qualified. He said, “It was great to be part of the team again. It is going to be an open race for places. We have a lot of options for next year at Euro 2012 in the centre of the defence. There are four or five top players there.”

There may be four or five top central defenders in the German squad, but right here right now you are the number one at Arsenal. Gooners are sure to get their first glimpse of the 6ft 6in Mertesacker on Saturday when he makes his debut against Swansea City at the Emirates Stadium. Wrap him in cotton wool please we can ill afford to lose him as well!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Arsenal Rumour Latest-Abdellaoue And Gotze

It may only be less than a week since the summer transfer window closed, but already the rumours are in full flow for the winter one which opens in 116 days time. The latest players that are being linked with Arsenal are a striker and a midfielder who has already been mentioned numerous times before.

Norwegian International Mohammed Abdellaoue is a striker for Hannover 96 and a report on insdefutbol today says that sources in Norway have confirmed that Arsenal are keeping a close eye on him.

Abdellaoue is 25 and he scored 10 goals in 26 appearances last season for Hannover, but this season he has already scored six in his first seven games. He has also been capped by his country 16 times and scored five international goals, with three of those coming in his last two games.

The report goes on to say that Abdellaoue could be available for as little as €5million, which would give Hannover a substantial return on the €1.4million that they paid for him.

The other player that is in the news again today is Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund. Last week we brought you the news that Arsenal had a £35million bid turned down for Gotze on deadline day, and today Manchester United and Bayern Munich have joined the race to sign the talented teenager.



Dortmund maintain they will not sell to another Bundesliga club so it looks as though it could be a straight race between Arsenal and United, but any transfer will have to wait until the end of the season according to reports on footybunker today.

Arsenal supporters will get a good look at Gotze in the next couple of months when the Champions League group games get under way and those travelling to Germany next week will see him first hand.

If Arsenal are ever going to entice the likes of Gotze to the Emirates they will have to have a major over haul of their transfer policy and wage structure, because if the don’t stories like this will remain just that. Stories.

VARMAELEN JOINS WILSHERE IN TREATMENT ROOM !

Just when you thought things were on the up at Arsenal, and lets face it they couldn’t have got much worse could they, there are reports in today’s Daily Mirror saying that defender Thomas Vermaelen could be out for two months!

The defender took a knock on his Achilles against Udinese two weeks ago which forced him to miss the defeat at Old Trafford, and he also pulled out of Belgium’s internationals this past weekend in hope that the injury would recover. Alas it has not and yesterday he underwent surgery to correct the problem.
Vermaelen could be out for two months, but it is hoped he will be back sooner, which comes as yet another massive blow to manager Arsene Wenger who learnt at the weekend that midfielder Jack Wilshere could be out for three months.

The current injury to Vermaelen is on the opposite leg to the one that he suffered with last season, which forced him to miss the majority of the season, and it is hoped that by having surgery now the same problem will not occur again.

I must say I feel sorry for Arsene Wenger as things just seem to go from bad to worse right now, but many will say it serves him right for not adding more players during the transfer window. Life doesn’t get any easy being a Gooner does it!

Arsenal chase Barcelona Youngster

Arsenal are currently looking at the latest Spanish sensation to come out of Barcelona, 17 year-old Gerard Deulofeu.

Chief scout Steve Rowley has been keeping a close eye on the teenager over the summer, and he is already being compared to the great Lionel Messi. Deulofeu is only on a youth contract at Barcelona and cannot sign a professional contract until he is 18, but his current youth contract does have a £3million buyout clause attached.

Barcelona are aware of the interest from Arsenal, and Chelsea are rumoured to be interested as well, and do not want another situation like what happened with Cesc Fabregas back in 2003.

Barcelona are already preparing a contract for Deulofeu to sign when he becomes 18 early next year and the Spanish giants hope that they will be able to hold on to their man until then.