Question:

Reyes putting problems behind him
José Antonio Reyes insists he is happily settled at Arsenal after a difficult season last term, on and off the pitch.
Reyes started the 2004/05 campaign in stunning form, netting six goals in his first six games, but as the season progressed the Spaniard failed to rediscover that form and was also the subject of a Spanish radio hoax.
But the former Sevilla man has come back this season looking stronger than ever, finally showing the potential Wenger saw in him when he signed him for a club record transfer fee.
Reyes is now happy to put all those bad things behind him and, after signing a long term contract over the summer, he now just wants to focus on continuing to play well for Arsenal.
"Thankfully all the Real Madrid rumours are a thing of the past and I can now focus on Arsenal," continued Reyes.
"Last season wasn't very nice for me and I am keen there will be no repeat.

Answer:


Reyes putting problems behind him
José Antonio Reyes insists he is happily settled at Arsenal after a difficult season last term, on and off the pitch.
Reyes started the 2004/05 campaign in stunning form, netting six goals in his first six games, but as the season progressed the Spaniard failed to rediscover that form and was also the subject of a Spanish radio hoax.
But the former Sevilla man has come back this season looking stronger than ever, finally showing the potential Wenger saw in him when he signed him for a club record transfer fee.
Reyes is now happy to put all those bad things behind him and, after signing a long term contract over the summer, he now just wants to focus on continuing to play well for Arsenal.
"Thankfully all the Real Madrid rumours are a thing of the past and I can now focus on Arsenal," continued Reyes.
"Last season wasn't very nice for me and I am keen there will be no repeat.

Answer:


More defensive injury worries
Sol Campbell made a winning return to the international football as England triumphed over Austria, but the defender will miss the next qualifier against Poland after limping off with a hamstring injury.
The news will certainly not be welcomed by Arsène Wenger, who already is dealing with long term injuries to Ashley Cole and Thierry Henry. Campbell, who has been captain in Henry's absence, had been playing well since returning to the Arsenal side, but could now miss more matches for Arsenal with the extent of the injury not known.
In today's match, Campbell had looked untroubled, but pulled up shortly after half time after stretching to make an interception. He was replaced by Rio Ferdinand after 65 minutes.
Although the severity of the injury is as yet unknown, England boss Sven Goran Eriksson did reveal that the defender will miss Wednesday's match with Poland.
"Sol Campbell is out for sure, it is a hamstring," Eriksson told BBC Sport

Answer:


Henry wants trophies, not a contract
Striker Thierry Henry has indicated that he is concentrating on winning trophies with Arsenal at the moment, not signing a new contract.
Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger also insisted yesterday that there is no rift between him and Henry over the striker's decision to delay contract talks.
Henry does not want to enter into discussions until the end of the season. He will only have 12 months left on his current deal then.
Wenger said: "Our desire is to talk about it earlier but you can only talk about it when both parties are ready.

Answer:


Arsenal preparing to break the bank to keep Henry
Arsenal are prepared to make Thierry Henry the highest paid player in the club's history in an effort to hold onto the prolific French striker.
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood says the club are preparing to make 28-year-old Arsenal striker Thierry Henry the highest paid player in the club's history by offering him a reported £100,000 a week contract.
Hill-Wood told The Evening Standard: "We've not talked about the offer yet.
"But it is fair to say he would become the highest paid player in Arsenal's history - and deservedly so."
Henry has been delaying contract talks, citing that he wants to concentrate on his football. This has led to speculation that the striker will be off in the summer.

Answer:


From The Gunners to Da Gunnerz?
It may be someone's idea of a very funny joke, but if Channel U TV are to be believed, rapper and entertainer Jay-Z is set to purchase a large stake in the North London club.
After buying out co-founder Damon Dash for around £15 million, Jay-Z's Rocawear clothing brand is generating around £200 million a year in sales.
The rapper cum businessman also recently featured on the cover of the well-respected financial business magazine Fortune.
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, is rumoured to have met with leading Arsenal officials to negotiate a deal which would make him a majoe shareholder within the club.
Jay-Z is, at the moment, developing his own S. Carter high-end clothing line, and in the spring he introduced a collaboration with Swiss luxury-watch maker Audemars Piguet.

Answer:


Clichy ready to step into Cole's shoes
Gaël Clichy is relishing the chance to start helping Arsenal improve this season.
With Ashley Cole to undergo surgery, Clichy is ready to step in, despite his lack of match practice so far this season.
"I have had just a couple of reserve team games this season and two appearances as substitute against Ajax and Fulham," Clichy continued.
"But I feel ready, I like the way Arsenal play their football.
"We did not have the start we wanted this season with two defeats but we are getting back on track now."
Clichy went on to praise Cole, insisting it was good for the club that, despite his problems last season, he stayed on for another year.
"It's true I'd have had my chance if Ashley had gone and I did think that might happen for a while," Clichy told The Sun.
"But it's a good thing for Arsenal that he stayed. He is one of the best left-backs in the world."
Clichy is hopeful he can learn from Ashley and become a similar kind of player.
"I hope to be as good as him or even better one day but I am happy to be inspired by him at the moment.
"People say we are very similar in style and it's true I like getting forward too. I take that as a compliment.
"Just as I take it as a compliment when people say I fit in well when I get my chance and have never let Arsenal down."

Answer:

Wenger targets the Champions League
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger tried to cast a brighter picture after yesterday's upset at West Brom.
The boss declared that he would win the Champions League during his time at Arsenal.
Wenger explained: "When we don't win the Champions League were get slaughtered. So the minimum criterion for us is to win it.
"If we don't do that it is deemed as an unsuccessful campaign. We have been in a Uefa Cup final but not the big one.
"I will be unfulfilled if, by the time I stop being the Arsenal manager, we have not won the Champions League.
"But that won't happen. I am sure about that. We will win the Champions League. I will do it."

Answer:


Wenger - Why the England manager's job is not for me
By Richard Clarke
Arsène Wenger does not want to take on the role of England coach and, despite the FA's widely reported interest in Luiz Felipe Scolari, still feels the job should go to a domestic manager.
The Frenchman will celebrate a decade in charge at Arsenal this September. It has been a period of unprecedented success and the jewel in Wenger’s crown could be a few weeks away when they take on Barcelona in the Champions League Final.
The 55-year-old’s name is always mentioned when England have to appoint a new coach. There was a groundswell of support for an English coach this time around but it appeared early on Friday that the Football Association would be appointing Scolari, a Brazilian. That interest may have cooled so, the question remains, would Wenger be interested?
"I am very honoured that some people think I could do the job but I am not a candidate,” he said at Friday’s press conference before the Portugal manager suggested he might pull out of the race. “I am completely focussed on what I am doing at Arsenal.
"I have said all along that I feel this country is ready for an Englishman and that would be my choice. I have no doubt about the quality, the class and the personality of Scolari. He is a good choice. I know him well. I met him a few times. He came here when he was Brazilian coach to watch Gilberto. I like him as a man and as a coach. But I think England are ready for an England manager this time."
Wenger is not just ruling himself out of the top job in this country. He feels international management anywhere would involve a dramatic change of pace.
“I can not say never,” he remarked. “But at the moment it has never crossed my mind. I am very happy with what I do. I like to get up in the morning and do something with my day, every day. Also I feel in a club you get more freedom. In the national team you depend a lot on the quality of players who are available.”
Courtesy of Arsenal.com

Answer:


Wenger plans dynasty with help from Herbert Chapman!
By Richard Clarke
The end of Highbury is close but the extent of Arsène Wenger’s ambition just goes on and on.
In his final Premiership press conference of the season, the Frenchman was asked about his future plans. He spoke of creating a dynasty at Arsenal and his inspiration was a very significant figure in the history of the Club.
"I don't know what I do for the future yet,” he said. “But we close Highbury on Sunday and I would never have thought when I arrived nine-and-a-half years ago I would do that. I didn't think I would stay as long as that and didn't think we'd need a new stadium.
"I would like to still create a dynasty here. I want to take further steps forward with a European [style] academy including a mix of Europe's and England's best players. There's still a lot to do to take this club forward.”
Wenger’s period in charge has seen a quantum leap for the Club. By the start of next season, he will have helped bring about a new stadium, a new training ground, complete overhaul of the youth development system, total about-turn in Arsenal’s playing style, seven trophies and, just maybe, the biggest club prize in Europe.
He is a true innovator, just like the man who inspires him every time he enters the Marble Halls.
“When I walk into Highbury, I see Herbert Chapman's bust,” said Wenger. “He was not just a guy who wanted to win games but he had a vision for the Club. What remains afterwards was not only the success he brought but the legacy he left for the Club. I have a big respect for him.
“But I don't want a bust because Chapman is Chapman and I'm Arsène Wenger.”
For once, the current Arsenal manager may find himself at odds with his own supporters on that last point.
Courtesy of Arsenal.com