ARSENAL F.C. NEWSROOM

Juventus know £5M for Arsenal's Gilberto
tribalfooball.com - February 08, 2007

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva is ready to join Didier Deschamps' Juventus next season.

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Juve already have registered their interest with Arsenal and know it will take £5 million to take the hard-working midfielder to Turin, says Tuttosport.

Bianconeri scout Mauro Sandreani watched Gilberto in action on Tuesday night against Portugal and the report says the midfielder, who acted as Gunners captain in Thierry Henry's absence earlier this season, has already reached an in-principle agreement over the summer switch.

Deschamps sees Gilberto as the man to fill the void left by Partick Vieira after the former Arsenal captain left for Inter Milan last summer.

"Gilberto Silva?" Brazil coach Dunga said yesterday. "For me, he's a player who can do good things in the Italian league, who can play in a big club like Juve.

"He is mature and he doesn't fear responsibility."

Walcott calm amid clamour

Theo Walcott insisted last night that he was coping with the enormous pressure that had accompanied his first year at Arsenal and that his failure to score in 25 appearances had not put him under additional strain.

Walcott arrived in January last year, from Southampton for a potential £12million and ended the season in England's World Cup finals squad. He returned to the Premiership and has started nine games, but even Arsene Wenger, his manager, admitted recently that the teenager had suffered a dip in form.

''Playing for Arsenal should not really put any pressure on me — I am only 17 and just want to go out and enjoy the game like everybody else," said Walcott, who is expected to feature against Wigan at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday given Arsenal's growing injury list.

''I have worked really hard to get here and am part of the team now, so I feel much better," he added. "I do not think about it really, because if I do think about it, then it will put too much pressure on myself and it will be, 'when is the goal going to come?' sort of thing. Hopefully it will come soon, but I can wait."

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Arsenal move for Carson

Arsenal are preparing a £5 million summer move for Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson due to the growing question marks over the future of the club's present No 1, Jens Lehmann.

Carson, on a season-long loan at Charlton, faces an uncertain future at Anfield with manager Rafael Benitez unwilling to place the 21-year-old ahead of Jose Reina in the pecking order.

Arsenal are ready to test Liverpool's resolve to hold on to the England squad member, with Lehmann still holding out for a two-year contract at the Emirates Stadium.

The Germany goalkeeper has been offered a 12-month extension to his present contract, which expires at the end of the season, but the 37-year-old has so far refused to accept the proposed deal.

The former AC Milan goalkeeper has made more than 170 first-team appearances for Arsenal since being signed from Borussia Dortmund in 2003 as the successor to David Seaman, and he played a key role in the club's run to the Champions League final last season, most notably making a late penalty save from Villarreal's Juan-Roman Riquelme to secure a decisive draw in the semi-final second-leg in Spain.

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AC Milan to battle Arsenal for Akinfeev
tribalfooball.com - February 19, 2007

AC Milan are ready to battle Arsenal for CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.

The highly-talented youngster is a target for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger as he seeks a replacement for 37 year-old No1 Jens Lehmann, who comes off contract in June.

Milan have identified Akinfeev as the man to succeed Dida, who like Lehmann will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Upon learning of Arsenal's interest, Akinfeev said: "I am delighted that a club of such calibre are interested in me. You can't have too many chances like that in your career.

"Of course, if they make an offer, I'll take it seriously and will think about it."

Julio Baptista hopes he has done enough to earn a permanent switch to Arsenal.

The Brazilian is on a season-long loan at Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid and has been used most often in the cup competitions for The Gunners.

Baptista has scored six goals in two Carling Cup games to help Arsene Wenger's side to a final clash with Chelsea on Sunday.

Despite not featuring too regularly in the Premiership, Baptista believes he is worthy of a permanent deal.

"I think I've shown what I'm capable of and now it's the decision of the club," he said.

"It's all quite complicated and I'm not trying to get involved at all but my agent is coming here in the next month and will begin all the negotiations."

Baptista is set to start against The Blues in Cardiff, as Wenger continues his policy of blooding Arsenal's young talent in the cups.

He added: "This is the competition I'm having most opportunity, it's the one in which Arsene Wenger is really giving me a chance, the only one where I've been able to show how I am able to play.

"It has been very important, as much as anything for my own self-confidence, for showing that I can really do it and that when I'm needed I can do the business.

"And when you're a little bit older you do feel a little bit more senior."

Meanwhile, Theo Walcott expects some of the Arsenal youngsters on show on Sunday to break into the first team anytime soon.

"You see Denilson breaking through - he's going to be a brilliant player," said Walcott. "I expect a lot of players to break through soon. Next season's going to be our season."

Arsenal defender William Gallas has set his sights on securing a starting place against Chelsea in Sunday's Carling Cup final:

The French defender has played just twice since November after being hampered by a thigh complaint.

He made a return to action earlier in February and is desperate to face his former side Chelsea on Sunday, but is aware he may be forced to settle for a place on the bench.

"I want to be in the starting 11," he told The Sun. "Not because we are playing Chelsea but because I'm suffering from a lack of playing time after three months out.

"It strikes me as natural I should play in this game, so I can return to peak form. But the decision is down to the manager.

"I see it as a chance to get back the rhythm I lack."

Gunners chief Arsene Wenger has used the competition as the stage to hand his rising stars the chance to perform and even though Arsenal have problems in defence, Gallas is set to be handed a spot on the bench.

And even though he is champing at the bit to start, Gallas admits he can see the merits of Wenger's policy.

He added: "I think it is a good idea of the manager to give the youngsters their chance. It is a good thing for them to get to play in a final.

"It will allow them to learn about the pressure of such big events."

Theo Walcott admits he is only scratching the surface of his potential:

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger raised eyebrows when shelling out £12million to bring the youngster to North London from Southampton in January of 2006.

Walcott has shown flashes of quality in Arsenal colours and is set to secure a starting berth against Chelsea in Sunday's Carling Cup final.

The Millennium Stadium is the perfect stage for Walcott to demonstrate his quality, but he is aware that he has not produced his best on a consistent basis.

"The fans are great but it has been hard, because you just want to play," said the 17-year-old. "But I'm only 17 and playing in the first team at Arsenal, probably the best club in the world I'd say.

"I've got a long way to go yet.

"I would say my levels have dropped a bit for my standards but I'm working hard at every game and in training I'm working hard to get a start in the final against Chelsea, hopefully."

Walcott admits he could have joined Chelsea, but is in no doubt that he made the correct choice in heading to North London.

"There was always a chance I could have gone to Chelsea, but then it was always going to be Southampton," he said.

"I was 10 going on 11 when I was a ball-boy there. I only started playing football late.

"But I've joined the best club I would say. Southampton were brilliant to me but I thought I needed to push my career on. I just need to work hard in training and hopefully get a start on Sunday."

Arsenal striker Julio Baptista says his confidence received a boost from the four goals he scored against Liverpool in the Carling Cup:

Baptista made the move to the Premiership last summer in a one-year loan deal which saw Jose Antonio Reyes go the other way to Real Madrid.

The Brazilian has become a regular in the Carling Cup side and has played in 18 games in total, although the majority of his appearances have come from the bench.

He made his mark at Anfield last month as he netted four times in the Carling Cup quarter-final and the 25-year-old believes it was a turning point for him.

"That was a very significant, very important moment for me," Baptista told The Guardian.

"You hardly ever see players scoring four goals. It really helped my confidence. If you come here and don't show the fans that you are as good as you were there, the people won't respect you.

"You need to start doing the business and so, in terms of earning respect, those four goals for me were crucial.

"I'm playing well again. And look, I haven't been playing that much at all. This is the stage in the season when things get important. And now the going gets serious I am hitting my best form."

Baptista is set to make his first cup final appearance in Europe when Arsenal meet Chelsea in the Carling Cup decider at The Millennium Stadium on Sunday and he is approaching the game with a positive outlook.

"If you have gone this far already in the competition you have got to have the self-confidence and belief to just go for it," he added.

Young Brazilian midfielder Denilson has his sights set on a regular first-team place with Arsenal.

The 19-year-old has proved himself with impressive performances in the Carling Cup this season but now wants to make the step-up and claim a regular spot in the Premiership and UEFA Champions League sides.

"I am not here to be anyone's stand-in," Denilson told The Times.

"I am working to achieve my place in the full team here.

"My focus isn't about being on the bench, it's about playing.

"Chelsea have some very good players, but our young players are not in their shadow.

"We're all growing and have what it takes to equal the other team and even get the better of them."

Arsene Wenger remains convinced he made the right decision to field his youngsters in the Carling Cup final despite Arsenal losing 2-1 to Chelsea:

The Frenchman has been criticised for using the competition to blood his young hopefuls in the past, but they repaid his faith by playing their part in a memorable final.

Whilst a mass brawl overshadowed the occasion, Arsenal's young charges still produced a fine display, especially in the first half, against a full-strength Chelsea outfit.

Wenger felt that the quality his side displayed more than vindicated his decision to choose youth over experience again.

"I had my vision of this competition," said Wenger.

"I was committed to it and I have stuck to it. I don't regret what I did for a second.

"It is a trophy and we wanted to win the game, so we are disappointed to lose.

"But we are full of hopes with what we have produced."

Reflecting on the injury time brawl that resulted in three red cards, Wenger admitted the incident was not exactly the kind of fight he had been seeking from his team.

"It is part of a big team to have a high aggression level in a positive way and we have been more lamb than wolf this season," said Wenger.

"Of course, you want to keep things under control and not lose your nerve."

The Gunners' hopes of winning their first trophy in two years now hinge on the FA Cup and Europe, and Wenger has called on his side to bounce back from their derby defeat in Cardiff.

"We still have a good chance in the FA Cup and the Champions League, so we have to show our mental strength."

Cesc Fabregas has warned the rest of the Premiership that Arsenal are only going to get stronger:

The Gunners lost 2-1 to Chelsea in a dramatic Carling Cup final on Sunday but their young players again caught the eye.

Theo Walcott scored his first goal for the club to put Arsenal ahead, while the likes of Abou Diaby, Denilson and Armand Traore impressed throughout the entire Carling Cup campaign.

Fabregas believes Arsenal could be the dominant force in English football within three years and thinks the competition should be very concerned.

"If I was in another team, I would be scared if you could see all the young players who are coming from this Arsenal team," said the Spaniard.

"You can see that if we keep playing for three more years together, then we could do something really big for the club.

"We have shown great talent here. I am also young and just try to do my best for the team."

Fabregas felt Chelsea had luck on their side in the first half at Cardiff, as they withstood Arsenal's pressure and went in level thanks to a controversial equaliser from Didier Drogba.

"In the first half we should have been 3-0 up. Manuel Almunia was doing nothing in the goal," said Fabregas.

"In the second half, Chelsea tried to push a little bit more, and credit to them because they are a good team.

"However, their first goal was clearly offside."

Arsenal and Chelsea have appealed against the red cards shown to Emmanuel Adebayor and John Obi Mikel:

The duo, along with Kolo Toure, were sent off during the closing stages of Chelsea's 2-1 Carling Cup final win over Arsenal on Sunday.

Chelsea substitute Mikel was dismissed for tangling with Toure, after his tug on the Arsenal defender had sparked an ugly brawl.

Players from both teams waded in before order was restored, with Adebayor sent off for his involvement in the fracas.

The Togo striker then refused to leave the field, protesting that referee Howard Webb had red-carded the wrong player.

Television replays later suggested that Emmanuel Eboue clipped Wayne Bridge, although it is unclear whether this incident prompted Adebayor's dismissal in any event.

However, the two London clubs have now lodged appeals against the red cards and their cases will be heard by The FA's Disciplinary Commission on Tuesday.

Mikel has subsequently apologised for his sending off, while Adebayor has maintained his innocence over the brawl which overshadowed the Millennium Stadium showpiece.

Villarreal are keen to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia in the summer:

Almunia has never been considered first choice at Arsenal since joining the club from Celta Vigo in 2004.

The Spaniard has made 42 appearances for The Gunners, but the bulk of those have come in cup competitions.

He has started just one Premiership game this season, but prior to Sunday's Carling Cup final, voiced his determination to become the club's No.1.

With Jens Lehmann likely to leave Emirates Stadium at the end of the season, the keeper's job could be up for grabs next term.

However, reports in Spain suggest Villarreal, who brought in Robert Pires and Pascal Cygan from Arsenal last year, want to tempt Almunia back to his homeland.

A Yellow Submarines director told the Spanish media: "He is a priority for us."

Sebastian Viera and Mariano Barbosa have shared the goalkeeping duties at Villarreal this season, but neither has impressed, prompting the interest in Almunia.

Arsenal's Adebayor in awe of superkids:

Arsenal striker Manu Adebayor is in awe of the club's young guns.

The Togolese striker, 22, was sent off late in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at the Millennium Stadium but was heartened by the performances of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Denilson and Abou Diaby. Arsenal's outfield players had an average age of around 21 but eclipsed more experienced opponents for long periods before yielding to Chelsea's extra power and pace.

"I don't know how this group of players compare with others around the world as I have not seen the youngsters at Barcelona or Inter Milan, but I think they are the best in the country," Adebayor said yesterday. "It was disappointing to lose in Cardiff but the team showed great character and can be happy with the way we played because we put Chelsea in danger so many times. I feel certain that we will keep progressing as a family and will achieve something together.

"We showed a lot of character and have proven that we have cover for each player in the squad. Jeremie [Aliadiere] played amazing football but he has not played much in the Premiership.

"Maybe if I'm not there, Thierry Henry's not there, Jens Lehmann's not there, then these [youngsters] have to do a job for the club. They have shown they can, which shows everything's going well for the team.

"You can see Denilson, Diaby, [Armand] Traore - they play amazing football, they don't lose the ball a lot and they keep on proving themselves in every match. I cannot say whether next year we will win the Premiership or the Carling Cup, but we will certainly prepare for that season to do something better than what we have achieved this year."