All the news and gossip relating to Arsenal FC in the past 24 hours.
Arsene Wenger has confirmed his optimism that Abou Diaby will be fit to face Southampton this weekend. The Frenchman hurt his hip after scoring against Finland in a man of the match performance for Les Bleus; but while it is painful medical staff in North London have allayed obvious concerns for a player who missed the majority of last season with injury issues with no chance of a secondary poor injury record this term based on his most recent injury.
Arsenal have become the latest team in the Premier League to be tipped with a sensational move for former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba as his situation in China continues to get messy. A boardroom struggle has put a temporary freeze on his reported £200,000 a week wages at Shangai Shenhua and only three months into his lucrative deal any failure in the clubs recovering from this financial turmoil could see Drogba become available on a free transfer. Liverpool and Real Madrid are also reportedly interested in bringing Drogba back to Europe however he is believed to be keener on a move back to France or to a similar destination to China, with the MLS being touted as a genuine destination if things do not go too plan in the Far East.
Drogba is not keen on a return to the Premier League, owing to his admiration for former club Chelsea, and the Blues’ former assistant coach Ray Wilkins claims the striker would ‘never’ play for the Gunners.
Recently Arsenal’s newest French striker declared his admiration for the knowledgeable and supporting fans at Arsenal, not something he could say about his French followers after he was booed off the Stade de France turf after a fruitless display against Belarus. He has struggled at international level, with only 1 goal in his 11 caps but was nonetheless handed the start for the tie but the 25 year old was withdrawn from the action around the hour mark after failing to make an impression on the French faithful, who took to releasing a chorus of boos as he was substituted.
Carl Jenkinson has announced his intention of making the right back spot his own this season after impressing during the absence of Bacary Sagna as part of Arsenal’s unbreakable backline so far this season. He played 14 games last season after arriving from Charlton including being thrown in the deep end following an injury crisis at The Emirates for a torrid display in the8-2 thrashing from Manchester United. The Finnish youngster however is keen to hold down the right back berth for the remainder of the campaign.
Arsenal’s youngsters were in NextGen action against Olympiakos tonight looking to follow on from success against Marseille in their opening fixture. The match finished 2-0 to the Greeks, with Hector Bellerin sent off late on for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
And finally for a look at where Arsenal’s summer spending places them in terms of net spend compared to the rest of the Premier League clubs, check out the full table here. A clue, they aren’t at the top…
What are your thoughts on everything and anything happening at Arsenal FC on the 12th September 2012?
image: © wonker
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