Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand :: News!

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Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand :: Squad

• 1. Manuel Almunia :: Spain

• • If any questions remained over Manuel's capacity to play at the highest level, he answered them emphatically last term. The Spaniard capitalised on Jens Lehmann's early-season injury to establish himself as Arsenal's No 1 goalkeeper. A run of eight clean sheets in his first 11 appearances gave Manuel confidence and, as the season unfolded, he looked increasingly at home between the posts.
    
    He quickly won over the fans too, making a splendid stop from Robbie Keane's spot-kick at a crucial point in the North London derby at Emirates Stadium just before Christmas. Nicklas Bendtner scored the winner that day but Manuel's heroics provided the platform for a vital victory. Manuel is renowned for his shot-stopping ability and top-class kicking but he is now commanding his area with increasing authority too. As one of the oldest members of the squad, his growing leadership qualities will come in handy this season.

• 2. Abou Diaby :: France

• • Abou will be hoping to establish himself in the centre of midfield this season after the summer departures of Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva. The form of Flamini forced Abou to settle for a left-sided role last term. His strength, technical ability and clever manipulation of the ball made the 22-year-old a useful outlet but injuries restricted him to 28 appearances in all competitions. Nonetheless, when fit and on form, there are few brighter prospects in French football.
    
    Wherever he plays, Abou is capable of popping up with a goal or two. His rasping drive against Derby was one of the goals of last season and a strong surge into the box brought a crucial Champions League goal at Anfield late in the campaign. A graduate of the famous Clairefontaine Academy near Paris, Abou captained France Under-19s to success in the 2005 European Championship and is currently on the fringes of the senior squad.

• 3. Bacary Sagna :: France

• • Some of English football's finest imports needed time to adjust to the pace of the Premier League, including luminaries like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires. Not Bacary. The Frenchman took to the English game immediately following his arrival in the summer of 2007. First and foremost, Bacary has proved himself to be an exemplary defender. His positional awareness, tackling ability and aerial strength secured Arsenal's right side. It was there that he developed a strong understanding with Emmanuel Eboue.
    
    Bacary also impressed on the front foot. Neat and tidy in possession, his willingness to overlap gave Arsenal the width they needed to stretch defences. His crossing was another weapon - one pinpoint effort set up Emmanuel Adebayor's thumping headed winner at Villa Park. The Frenchman's worth was underlined at Stamford Bridge in March. His first professional goal gave Arsenal a priceless lead but an ankle injury forced him out of the game (and the season). Bacary's departure unbalanced the back four and Chelsea struck twice to inflict a painful defeat. That untimely injury denied Bacary a chance to shine at Euro 2008 but he is widely-regarded as the long-term successor to current France right back, Willy Sagnol. He looks set to have a long-term impact at the Emirates too.

• 4. Cesc Fabregas :: Spain

• • From promising youngster to the heartbeat of the Arsenal side - Cesc has come a long way since joining the club as a 16-year-old in September 2003. Likeable and level-headed off the pitch, Cesc is the complete midfielder on it. He has always been tigerish in the tackle and blessed with wonderful technique and vision, but Cesc added a new dimension to his game last season - goals, and plenty of them. He netted seven times in his first nine games and, although that scoring rate fell away, Cesc still ended up with 13 in all competitions. There were some belters too, including long-range efforts at Tottenham and Milan. To nobody's surprise, the fulcrum of Arsène Wenger's side walked away with Arsenal.com's Player of the Season award for the second successive year.
    
    He has plenty of admirers outside Emirates Stadium too, not least among his peers - they voted him PFA Young Player of the Year. The Spaniard first came to prominence at the Under-17s World Cup when he walked off with awards for best player and top scorer. Soon after arriving from Barcelona he became Arsenal's youngest ever player and scorer. By the time he had left his teenage years behind, Cesc had surpassed 150 appearances for the Club. Of course, the 21-year-old is now also a fixture in Spain's national squad and played a major role in his country's Euro 2008 triumph. Cesc came off the bench to devastating effect in the group stage and netted a penalty shoot-out winner against Italy in the Quarter-Finals - his first spot-kick as a professional.

• 5. Thomas Vermaelen :: Belgium

• • Vermaelen (23), who was the Ajax club captain last season, made his first team debut for the Dutch club at just 18, after playing at Youth level for Belgian side KFC Germinal Beerschot. During his 143 appearances with the Amsterdam side, Thomas, who is predominantly a central defender, gained experience in both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League including two appearances against Arsenal in the 2005/06 Champions League Group Stages.
    
    He has made 21 appearances for Belgium, now being a regular in his country’s set-up since making his full international debut in March 2006. During his time with Ajax, the club won the Dutch League Championship in 2003/04, with Vermaelen also winning the Dutch National Cup on two occasions (in 2006 and 2007) and the Dutch Super Cup twice (in 2006 and 2007).

• 6. Philippe Senderos :: Switzerland

• • It's hard to recall a better centre-half performance from last season than Philippe's display against Milan in the Champions League. The Swiss defender tends to be judged on his rare mistakes but he was outstanding after replacing the injured Kolo Toure after seven minutes of the first leg against the reigning European champions. Philippe snuffed out the threat of Kaká, Alexandre Pato and company before repeating the trick in the San Siro 13 days later. Ironically, he joined those players after agreeing a season-long loan with Milan last season.
    
    Now back in England, Philippe's tenacity, aerial power and will to win will be valuable assets. Also he tends to thrive when he gets a run in the side. That was certainly the case when William Gallas was unavailable and Philippe contributed to six clean sheets in his first eight games. He made 31 appearances in total during the 2007/08 campaign and popped up with a couple of goals too. It's easy to forget that Philippe is still a young player because he seems to have been around for a while, not just at Arsenal but at international level too. He was part of the Swiss defence which did not concede a goal at the 2006 World Cup and played every minute of his country's campaign at Euro 2008.

• 7. Tomas Rosicky :: Czech Republic

• • Tomas is one of Arsenal's matchwinners. Unfortunately, the Czech star was unable to exert any influence in the second half of last season due to injury. Tomas limped off after nine minutes of the FA Cup tie against Newcastle on January 26 at Emirates Stadium. Arsène Wenger described his injury as "not a serious one, but a strange one", but ultimately it ruled Tomas out of the rest of the campaign, Euro 2008 and the start of pre-season. It was a pity for Tomas and Arsenal because, prior to that, he was showing exactly why Wenger had likened the Czech midfielder to another attacking No 7. Tomas' knack of popping up in the box to apply the finishing touch to a flowing Arsenal move is reminiscent of a certain Robert Pires.
    
    Quick and skilful with a powerful shot and an eye for a pass, Tomas is mainly deployed on the left of midfield but is just as happy in a central position, a role he fills for his country. Tomas made his international debut aged just 17 and represented his country at the 2000 and 2004 European Championships, plus the 2006 World Cup. He is one of Arsenal's most experienced players and his return this season can only enhance the Club's chances of silverware.

• 8. Samir Nasri :: France

• • Samir was signed in the summer as a ready-made replacement for Alexander Hleb, who left for Spanish giants FC Barcelona. The French international midfielder is just as assured in possession, just as inventive - and he has an eye for goal too. The 21-year-old, who made two appearances at Euro 2008, arrives with a big reputation after being voted as French Ligue One's Young Player of the Year in 2007. Samir made 145 appearances for Olympique Marseille, winning the Intertoto Cup in 2005 and helping them finish third in the French League last season.
    
    The new Arsenal recruit was a major reason why Marseille will compete in the Champions League this term. Wenger is clearly delighted with his major summer acquisition. "He is young, quick and technically an outstanding player," said the Arsenal manager. "He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and the French national team over the past two seasons and he will add great quality to our squad."

• 9. Eduardo :: Croatia

• • Returning to action, Eduardo hopes to fulfil his potential as the Club's most clinical finisher since Ian Wright. The Brazilian-born striker took Croatian nationality in 2002 and arrived at Emirates Stadium with a prolific record for his adopted country as well as his former club, Dinamo Zagreb. He took time to adapt to the rough and tumble of English football but came of age during the hectic Christmas period. Six goals in four games, including braces at Blackburn and Everton, kept Arsenal going when the going got tough. Whether he is connecting with a cross, racing onto a through-ball or snaffling a rebound, Eduardo is icy cool in front of goal. That is a rare talent but unfortunately his first campaign will not be remembered for his tally of 12 goals.
    
    Instead it will be remembered for THAT injury - a broken fibula and dislocated ankle, suffered at Birmingham on February 23. It was a sickening moment for Eduardo and, arguably, a turning point in Arsenal's title challenge. Eduardo can expect the warmest of welcomes in the first league match for the Gunners, and once he is back to his best, Arsenal fans can expect more goals from this predatory striker.

• 10. William Gallas :: France

• • William arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2006 as part of the deal which took Ashley Cole to Chelsea and, within a year, he was named as Club captain in the wake of Thierry Henry's departure. William's appointment surprised some but his first season as skipper had more highs than lows. The Frenchman was a driving force as Arsenal opened up a five-point lead in the Premier League but the team fell short in the final stages of the title race. He expects this season to be different. "You want to be the best captain and give good advice to your players, but sometimes you can make mistakes as well," he said. "This season I know what I¹m going to do and I know I am ready to change my way of speaking to the players."
    
    After an injury-hit first season with the Club, William made a major contribution in his second year. His pace, power and football intelligence makes him a valuable asset at the heart of defence and, in a young side, William's experience is priceless. He also has a happy knack of nicking vital goals. William scored four times last term and all of them came at crucial moments - a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United, a deadlock-breaker against Wigan, the winner against Chelsea on the pitch and the volley which ignited a famous comeback at Bolton. William will be hoping for more of the same this season.

 

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Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand :: Squad

• 11. Robin van Persie :: Netherlands

• • If Arsène Wenger was granted one wish before the start of this season, he might well have asked for a fit and firing Robin. A broken metarsal, knee ligament problems and a persistent thigh injury all played their part in restricting the Dutchman to just 23 club appearances between January 21, 2007 and the end of last season. He is due a big slice of luck as far as fitness is concerned. When he is fit, few strikers are more reliable than Robin. He was Arsenal's top scorer in 2006/07 and hit seven goals in his first 11 games last term before injury struck. Robin has bags of skill and is prepared to shoot from anywhere. You can't blame him - his hammer of a left foot means he is a threat from anywhere in and around the box.
    
    The departure of Thierry Henry has seen Robin, understandably, take up set-piece duties too. The emergence of Emmanuel Adebayor meant Arsenal just about coped without Robin, also the prospect of that pair teaming up was a mouthwatering one, but the Togo frontman left for Manchester City. If Robin stays fit, he could be the key to a successful campaign at Emirates Stadium. "For me, Robin van Persie is world class, top, top class," says Wenger. The Premier League has been warned.

• 12. Carlos Vela :: Mexico

• • Carlos made his Arsenal debut a whole 18 months after signing for the Club. On the evidence so far, he has been worth the wait. The Mexican youngster joined the Club from Celta Vigo in January 2007 but spent the next season and a half gaining valuable experience in Spain. After a stint with Salamanca he helped Osasuna escape relegation before joining up with Arsenal's first-team squad in the summer. Carlos made an instant impact with Arsenal, netting four times in two games during pre-season. His close control and finishing ability have already caught the eye, not least when he ghosted past former Gunner Jens Lehmann in the win at Stuttgart last season.
    
    Carlos, who can play as a deep-lying striker or out wide, will now be hoping to make his mark in the Premier League. A Mexican youth international, Carlos shot to prominence in 2005 when he helped Mexico win the FIFA Under-17 World Championships, scoring five goals to scoop the tournament's Golden Boot. It was Mexico's first world title at any level and served notice of Carlos' huge potential.

• 14. Theo Walcott :: England

• • Theo joined Arsenal in January 2006 to a fanfare of publicity but, in many ways, he only "arrived" last season. Theo spent most of his first 18 months at Emirates Stadium developing his game on the training pitches but, last term, he made a significant step forward with 39 appearances. The teenager earned a reputation as an 'impact substitute', memorably racing 80 yards to set up a Champions League goal for Emmanuel Adebayor at Liverpool. Theo's efforts were lost in the remnants of a numbing European exit but it underlined what he was capable of. He was equally unlucky at Birmingham in February when a well-taken brace was overshadowed by Eduardo's sickening injury and two dropped points.
    
    Nonetheless, Theo's raw pace and ability is now being channeled to good effect and he was rewarded for his improvement with a call-up to the England squad in May. He might have been a shock inclusion in the 2006 World Cup squad but Theo's international calibre is clear now. The challenge for Theo this season is to secure a regular starting place with his club. Arsène Wenger believes there are "no limitations" on how the teenager can develop and, although the Frenchman tends to deploy Theo as a right winger at the moment, an improvement in his link-up play could see the England man emulate his boyhood hero Michael Owen and flourish up front too.

• 15. Denilson :: Brazil

• • This is a big season for Denilson. The Brazilian midfielder advanced perhaps more than any other Arsenal player in 2006/07 but cut a frustrated figure last term as injuries restricted his progress. He limped off after 18 minutes of the 5-1 defeat at Tottenham in January and did not regain full fitness until April. It was a real anti-climax after a solid start to the campaign which was punctuated by spectacular long-range strikes in the Carling Cup against Newcastle and Sheffield United. Denilson has captained his country at every age group between Under-15 and Under-19 and received his first call-up to the senior Brazil squad in March 2007.
    
    He will be looking to force his way back into international contention this season. To do that, Denilson will need to make his mark at club level and the chance is there, particularly now Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva have left. On the evidence of pre-season, Denilson's quiet efficiency and clinical distribution could give Arsène Wenger just what he needs in the engine room.

• 16. Aaron Ramsey :: Wales

• • Technically sound and assured in possession, Aaron is one of the most promising young players in Britain and is guaranteed a warm welcome among Arsenal's fans after turning down Manchester United to join the Gunners in June. Aaron is the youngest player to represent Wales at Under-21 level and, although just 17, has also been called up to the full national squad. Aaron was called up for friendly international matches in Iceland and Holland last season but was an unused substitute on both occasions.
    
    The young midfielder progressed through the youth ranks at Cardiff City and also became the youngest ever player to represent the Bluebirds, coming on as a substitute in a League match against Hull City on April 28, 2007, at just 16 years 124 days, breaking the previous record set by John Toshack. Aaron made a total of 22 appearances for Cardiff and came off the bench during their FA Cup Final defeat against Portsmouth at Wembley in May. He regularly played wide for Cardiff but prefers to play centrally and impressed in that role during pre-season.

• 17. Alex Song-Billong :: Cameroon

• • Arsène Wenger has believed in Alex's ability ever since he plucked him from Bastia in the summer of 2005. The Frenchman's faith was vindicated last season as Alex showed just why the boss rates him so highly. First-team opportunities were few and far between for the Cameroon international in his first two years with the Club but he made a breakthrough in 2007/08 and became a mainstay of the side last season, racking up 48 appearances. Alex was probably not the first choice of most Arsenal fans at the start of the campaign but he won them over by the end of the season with a string of powerful performances in central midfield.
    
    Alex scored twice too, lashing in a volley at Fenerbahce and leaving the Wigan defence in his wake with a fine individual effort away from home. He was equally impressive when he stepped into central defence – a position Wenger believes he may yet end up in – but Alex looks the part in the engine room and could make the position his own for years to come. His growing reputation at club level has not gone unnoticed on the international scene. Alex is a regular for Cameroon and represented the Indomitable Lions at January’s African Cup of Nations.

• 18. Mikael Silvestre :: France

• • Mikael is one of the most decorated footballers in Premier League history and the most experienced man in the Arsenal squad. The French defender signed on a two-year deal from Manchester United in August 2008 and has proved to be a valuable squad member ever since. Mikael’s versatility is well known – he can operate at left-back as well as his more familiar centre-back role – and he made 23 appearances in all competitions last season. Calm in possession, strong in the air and an excellent reader of the game, Mikael is also a threat at the other end of the pitch and scored twice in his first season at Emirates Stadium. He endeared himself to Arsenal fans with a header against Tottenham and tucked away a neat finish in a 4-1 win at Wigan.
    
    Before moving to Arsenal, Mikael had been with Manchester United since 1999, winning a host of domestic honours including four Premier League titles, one FA Cup winner’s medal and a League Cup winner’s medal. He was also part of the Champions League-winning side of 2008 and made a total of 361 appearances for the United, scoring 10 goals. Silvestre, who debuted for French national side in 2001, has made a total of 40 appearances for Les Bleus. The highlights of his international career include winning the Confederations Cup in both 2001 and 2003 and reaching the World Cup Final in 2006.

• 19. Jack Wilshere :: England

• • Skilful, strong, inventive and versatile, Jack is one of the most exciting young talents in the English game. He joined Arsenal in 2001 as a nine-year-old and has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the Club’s ranks ever since. By 16 he had made his Reserve team debut and was soon part of Arsène Wenger’s first-team squad. Jack became Arsenal’s youngest ever League player when he came on as a substitute in a 4-0 victory at Blackburn in September 2008. He was just 16 years 256 days at the time. The teenager opened his account for the Club 10 days later with a low drive in the Carling Cup win over Sheffield United and he went on to make six first-team appearances in total last season, making his mark in the Champions League and FA Cup too.
    
    Jack celebrated his 17th birthday on New Year’s Day by signing professional terms with Arsenal and he finished the season in style, helping the Club lift the FA Youth Cup for the first time in eight years. Jack was a vital cog in that Under-18 machine but, on the evidence of pre-season, he can expect to be playing at a higher level this term. Two classy displays in the Emirates Cup – including two goals against Rangers – earned Jack consecutive man-of-the-match awards and his first call-up to the England Under-21 squad. Now he will look to force his way into the Arsenal first team on a regular basis. Without doubt, Jack has the ability to be a major player at Emirates Stadium for years to come.

• 20. Johan Djourou :: Switzerland

• • Johan has made serene progress through the ranks at Arsenal. Now he wants to step into the departed Kolo Toure’s shoes and nail down a first-team place. The Swiss centre-back is an accomplished centre-back. He is assured with the ball at his feet, relishes a battle and has the pace and aerial ability to excel at the heart of defence. Those qualities were evident last season as Johan emerged from the shadow of fellow Swiss international Philippe Senderos. While his compatriot went on loan, Johan made 29 appearances including 15 in the Premier League and six in Europe.
    
    He showcased his talent and showed his character too, not least when he recovered from scoring an own goal at Chelsea to help Arsenal fight back and win that game 2-1. Johan has taken a traditional path to the first-team, completing a loan spell at Birmingham in 2008 before establishing himself at Emirates Stadium. Injuries have hampered his progress at times but the 22-year-old has overcome those obstacles. Now he wants to kick on.

• 21. Lukasz Fabianski :: Poland

• • Lukasz is now the established No 2 keeper behind Manuel Almunia. He came to Arsenal in the summer of 2007 from Legia Warsaw and, as usual under Arsène Wenger, was given his first outings in the Carling Cup. He excelled as the young Gunners marched into the Semi-Finals and reprised his role when Arsenal reached the last eight in 2008/09. Indeed, Lukasz’s double stop during the 3-0 win over Wigan was probably the save of the season. But Lukasz was not just the Carling Cup keeper last term – he was the FA Cup keeper too, helping Arsenal to the Semi-Finals where they lost to Chelsea. The Pole was below par at Wembley but bounced back quickly to perform superbly in a 4-4 draw at Liverpool a few days later.
    
    Lukasz is one of the Premier League’s most proactive keepers. He sweeps up behind his back four, kicks superbly and has proved to an excellent shot stopper. The more chances he gets in the first team, the better he is likely to get. Lukasz is still young but he has pedigree. He won the Polish League at Legia in 2005/06 and was voted the best keeper in the ‘Ekstraklasa’ for both 2006 and 2007. He is an established part of the national set-up and was selected for the squad at Germany 2006 and Euro 2008.

 

[thierryhenry50]

Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand :: Squad

• 22. Gael Clichy :: France

• • Gael Clichy is quite simply one of the finest left-backs in Europe. The Frenchman had barely played for Cannes before he was spotted by Arsène Wenger’s scouting network in 2003. He shadowed Ashley Cole for a couple of seasons and became the youngest player to win a Premier League medal in 2004 at the age of 18. Injuries hampered his progress for a while – he sustained an identical injury to Cole when the England man’s absence looked like giving Gael his chance – but his patience was eventually rewarded when Cole left for Chelsea in the summer of 2006.
    
    Now Gael is one of the mainstays of Wenger’s side. Fleet of foot, quick of brain and blessed with a great engine, the 24-year-old is a consistent, tenacious performer in defence. He loves to get forward too and finally broke his Arsenal duck last season with a goal at Stoke. Gael achieved another notable first last term – he made his senior debut for France in a World Cup qualifier against Serbia in Paris. The left-back missed the business end of the 2008/09 campaign through injury and he will look to make amends this season. With Kolo Toure gone, he is the most senior member of the ‘Invincibles’ squad still at Arsenal.

• 23. Andrei Arshavin :: Russia

• • Andrei arrived at Emirates Stadium in one of last season’s most protracted transfer sagas. He was definitely worth the wait. The Russian playmaker proved almost instantly that he is a world-class talent who can make a big difference to this Arsenal side. He scored an outstanding goal against Blackburn to open his account – finding the top corner from an improbable angle – and hit all four in arguably the match of the season as Arsenal and Liverpool shared eight goals at Anfield. Andrei’s vision, technical ability and eye for goal gave Arsenal an extra dimension and one stat summed up his impact perfectly. When the Russian was in the side last season, Arsenal averaged 2.42 goals per game. When he was sidelined, that dropped to 0.5.
    
    Andrei moved to Arsenal from his home-town club, Zenit St. Petersburg, after helping them lift the UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United in 2007. He captains the Russian national side and stood out with his exceptional displays at Euro 2008, scoring twice and earning a place in the Team of the Tournament. His versatility is another big plus for Arsenal. He started his Gunners career on the flank but can also play through the centre, as he does for his country. At 28 the diminutive forward is at his peak. That is a mouth-watering prospect for anyone who follows Arsenal.

• 24. Vito Mannone :: Italy

• • Vito will not forget the final day of last season in a hurry. The Italian keeper was named in the side to face Stoke at Emirates Stadium and he looked the part on a solid Premier League debut. He was beaten from the penalty spot but kept the Potters at bay for the remainder of the 90 minutes. Vito spent most of the campaign keeping goal for the Reserves and he went from strength to strength, making a string of impressive saves as Neil Banfield’s side secured a mid-table finish.
    
    Signed from Atalanta in July 2005, the Italian has worked his way through the ranks and began the current campaign as the third-choice keeper behind Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. Another chance of first-team football depends on injuries to that pairing and Arsène Wenger’s plans for the Carling Cup. And there is always the possibility of a loan – something Vito has experienced before. He played four games on loan at Barnsley in 2006/07.

• 27. Emmanuel Eboue :: Ivory Coast

• • Emmanuel is possibly the most versatile player in the Arsenal squad along Andrei Arshavin. In his first couple of seasons at Arsenal, the Ivory Coast international was a raiding right back. Then he enjoyed a stint on the right of midfield. Last season, he spent time in both of his most familiar roles but also popped up in the centre of midfield and even on the left flank as he racked up 44 appearances. He had a difficult time of it towards the end of 2008 when a section of the Emirates Stadium crowd turned against him during a tense encounter with Wigan. But Emmanuel recovered and found his form in the New Year. He even found his scoring boots in March, netting three times in the space of six days including a late brace against Blackburn.
    
    He showed his confidence had returned when he insisted on taking a stoppage-time penalty and then thumped it home. The arrival of Bacary Sagna and the emergence of Theo Walcott have increased competition for places on the right, but Emmanuel is a reliable alternative to either of those two regulars and can add balance to an attack-minded midfield. Emmanuel signed for Arsenal from Beveren in January 2005 and, within 16 months, was starting in the Champions League Final against Barcelona. He is also a regular for the Ivory Coast as he represented them at the African Cup of Nations in January.

• 28. Kieran Gibbs :: England

• • Kieran will be looking to make the left-back spot his own in the years to come after enjoying a breakthrough season in 2008/09. Converted from a winger to a full-back, the teenager deputised admirably for Gael Clichy when the French star was rested or injured last term. He has similar qualities to his senior colleague – he is lightning quick, passes the ball crisply and accurately, and he loves to get forward. Meanwhile the youngster’s positional awareness is improving all the time. Kieran made 21 appearances in total last season, including eight in the Premier League and four in the Champions League. His unfortunate slip in the Semi-Final against Manchester United was a low point but Kieran bounced back quickly and seems stronger for that setback.
    
    His England career is also heading in the right direction. Kieran was a regular for the Under-21s last term and has been tipped for senior honours by Arsène Wenger. Kieran first shot to prominence during the FA Youth Cup run in 2007, grabbing a goal in both legs of the last-four defeat to Manchester United. A loan spell at Norwich also helped his development before he returned to Arsenal for a crack at the first-team. He achieved what he wanted, getting and taking his chance in the spotlight. Now Kieran will be hoping to push on and established himself as a regular.

• 30. Armand Traore :: France

• • Armand will be hoping to establish himself at Emirates Stadium this season after a positive experience with Portsmouth last term. The French left-back spent the entire campaign on loan at Fratton Park, making 28 appearances for the south-coast club under three different managers – Harry Redknapp, Tony Adams and Paul Hart. The first of those was against Manchester United and Armand also lined up against AC Milan in the UEFA Cup – two invaluable experiences for a young footballer.
    
    Armand also scored his first Premier League goal during his spell at Pompey, netting in a 3-1 victory over Sunderland in May. Now his sights are set on the Arsenal first-team – he admitted during the summer that his time away from Emirates Stadium had made him love the club even more. The French youngster has all the attributes to be an excellent defender in the modern game. He is powerfully built, fast and attack-minded. And the more he plays, the more he will learn the craft of his position. Signed from Monaco in 2006, Armand has represented France at Under-17, Under-18s and Under-19 level.

• 32. Fran Merida :: Spain

• • A creative, highly technical central or left-sided midfielder, Fran has made a big impact following his arrival at Arsenal from Barcelona in the summer of 2006. Like so many of the Club’s young players, Fran made his first-team debut in the Carling Cup – in his case, a 2-0 win over Newcastle early in the 2007/08 campaign. Once the young Gunners had been knocked out at the Semi-Final stage he took the next step in his development – a loan move. Fran spent four months at Real Sociedad in 2008, helping them maintain a promotion push until the end of the campaign. And there was good news when the Spaniard returned to England with a new contract waiting for him. Last summer Fran starred at the UEFA Under-19 Championships and was named in the tournament’s Top Ten stars for the future.
    
    He continued to make good progress in the season that followed, making five first-team appearances. Three of those came in the Carling Cup but Fran also took his chance in the Premier League, making his top-flight debut at West Bromwich and coming off the bench again at Portsmouth. Fran is one of the Club’s most highly-rated young players and looked right at home in the first team when Arsenal lifted the Emirates Cup in pre-season. The Spaniard partnered compatriot Cesc Fabregas in the heart of midfield and set up a goal for Eduardo in a fine all-round display against Rangers. Don’t be surprised to see him at Emirates Stadium a lot more this season.

• 52. Nicklas Bendtner :: Denmark

• • Nicklas is becoming a major player at Arsenal. The Danish international arrived in North London in the summer of 2004 at the age of 16 and is living proof that you can make that step from the academy to the first-team. After learning his trade in the youth ranks, he benefited from a productive loan spell with Birmingham, helping them win promotion to the Premier League. The striker admits that his time at St. Andrews was a vital step in his development and he proved it by breaking into the Arsenal first team in 2007/08 and challenging for a regular place last season.
    
    Nicklas scored 15 times in 27 starts last term – an impressive haul for a player who is still so young. He made an additional 23 appearances as an impact substitute, netting vital late winners against Dynamo Kyiv and Bolton. Nicklas is big but has a deft touch on the floor. He has the ability to link midfield and attack with intelligence then finish off the move with precision. Those attributes have helped him adapt to a new role on the right of a three-pronged attack. The Dane has another target for this season – to play in his first World Cup. As a regular for the Denmark national side, Nicklas’ goals could propel his country to the finals in South Africa.

• 53. Wojciech Szczesny :: Poland

• • Wojciech says he is ready for the Arsenal first team – and you wouldn’t bet against him achieving his goal sooner rather than later. The young Pole spent almost six months on the sidelines after breaking both arms in an unfortunate training ground incident in October 2008. Now Wojciech is back in action and back to his best. Arsène Wenger is clearly a fan. He named the keeper on the bench for the final game of last term against Stoke, took him to the pre-season training camp in Austria and handed him a squad number for the 2009/10 campaign.
    
    Wojciech responded with a string of fine displays in pre-season, featuring in three wins and keeping a clean sheet over his 135 minutes on the pitch. Now the 19-year-old has designs on the Arsenal No 1 shirt and is hoping for a chance in the Carling Cup this year. Wojciech signed professional terms at Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2007 and he had a very early taste of top-flight football when he appeared for his former club, Legia Warsaw when he was just 15. Authoritative, quick off his line and blessed with fine reflexes, the Pole has every chance of emulating his father, Maciej, who kept goal for his country.

 

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Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand

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Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand

* reserved 2 *

 

[thierryhenry50]

Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand

* reserved 3 *

 

[thierryhenry50]

Re: Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand

Ok, index being made, I welcome you to my Master League story: "Arsenal FC - Together We Stand".

As I said before, the idea is playing Premier League, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Champions League, and also give you important info and results of the other game leagues: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands; and any friendly matches.

The only thing I ask you guys, if you reply, is to give me any criticism or suggestions. More pics, less pics, a larger recap, a shorter recap, so, anything that comes to your mind.

I would also like you guys to participate in the story, a betting game. I will put two bets before each game; everyone starts with u$s 500. Example: "van Persie to score 1st goal - 3/1" o "Arsenal to score first - 4/1". I'm sure all of you know how a bet works, but just in case:

If I bet u$s 50 that van Persie will score the first goal, and this happens, I earn u$s 150 (3 x 50); if I bet u$s 50 that Arsenal will score first, and this happens, I earn u$s 200 (4 x 50). At the end of the season, the winner will be, obviously, the guys with more money. The award will surely be, make your virtual player and include you in some Premier League team (I will edit your stats to be in the Starting 11). Hope I get a lot of followers!

 

[thierryhenry50]

Arsenal FC :: Together We Stand :: New Format

FA Executive Committee approves changes to Premier League format
Premier League revised from 2009 onwards​

The FA Executive Committee today approved the proposed changes to the Barclays Premier League competition starting as from the 2009-10 season, as follows:

• Changes to the main competition: now involving 16 teams instead of 20, with the 3 teams that were relegated last season and the team in 17º place, now in Division 2, along the 4 best placed Division 2 teams from last season.

Teams to participate:

For further information:
UEFA Media Services: ++41 848 04 27 27

 

[#71]

wow...great presentation! Like it a lot.. I'll follow your career for sure!
I can see you'll do something different from mine.. Looking good so far Good luck for next season! I'll try to play that betting game whenever I can =)

 

[thierryhenry50]

Thanks for dropping by #71... needing more followers to start the betting game lol. Will try to post the first game tonight!