TV5 ace and Arsenal face fight to snare Podolski

Robin Van Persie grabbed all the headlines after his two goals gave the Arsenal a 2-1 win at Norwich – and rightly so. Arsene Wenger also managed to garner quite a few column inches in the wake of the Premier League victory after his interview with L’Equipe in which he was less than convincing when it came to affirming his Arsenal future. Fortunately he came out after the game and put that to bed pretty emphatically.

RVP and AW aside, I was particularly taken by Thomas Vermaelen’s outstanding performance at Carrow Road. He defended with a single-minded steeliness and attacked with the same attribute. Boy did he look hungry. His assured display was in contrast to the shaky and, ultimately, costly performance of Per Mertesacker. The contrast between the two is marked. Stay fit, Tom.

Next up is Dortmund at the Emirates in the Champions League and a win would see us through to the knockout stages. But the Germans will be a danger, we saw their strengths out there and they sit second in the Bundesliga. Anyway, enough of stating the bleedin’ obvious, let’s have some transfer speculation, shall we? Or at least attempt to with a trawl through the papers.

The Mail says Arsenal target Lukas Podolski is wanted by the team that dare not speak its name because they can’t afford to keep Emmanuel Adebayor on a permanent basis. In Germany, Bild claims that Podolski could be off to Lazio.

Back to AW, and the Mirror assesses his position and links it with the futures of RVP and Theo, and throw in a transfer target, too.

It reports: While the board are adamant Wenger will stay, mixed messages will not be helpful as they look to tie down Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott – both with 18 months left on their current deals – to new contracts. They are also trying to do business in January to strengthen the squad and push for the top four with Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Gotze (also spelt Goetze) top of their wish-list.

More follows once I’ve had my cornflakes.

This just in: Arsenal have joined the race to secure the signing of young Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler in January, say reports.

Shocking scenes of our old mate Manu Eboue being racially abused in Turkey here.

CARL ELDRIDGE – Avoiding talking about a washed-up player winning a tin-pot cup across the pond on Twitter @eldomedia

Eldo71

Arsenal fan for 40 years. Schoolboys, North Bank, Clock End then East Upper. Then Emirates. AFC dream team: Wilson, Dixon, Sansom, Adams, Pates, Brady, Williams, Pires, Bergkamp, Henry, Wright. Subs: Seaman, Eldridge, Wilshere, RVP, Ball. Manager: Arsene Chapman.

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