No Signs of New Signings
Arsene Wenger has admitted that despite the transfer deadline just a few days away, he is nowhere near signing any new players for Arsenal.
The Gunners haven’t been active in the ongoing European transfer window and Wenger says it is so because top quality players are hard to come by during this part of the season. The Frenchman hasn’t completely ruled out new arrivals before January 31, but judging by his comments, it is clear that he is content with the options available at his disposal.
Wenger said: “You do not find them in the street, strikers who can play for us. We have strength in our team. It is difficult in January. Realistically, I cannot tell you I will sign anyone tomorrow, or Tuesday, as we are not close to doing it.”
Arsenal Set to Hit Top Form – Walcott
After scoring the winner in Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in their FA Cup fourth round tie, Theo Walcott claimed that he and his teammates are closing in on their best form.
With the game tied at 2-2, coach Arsene Wenger sent in the 23-year-old winger, whose deflected strike tipped the scales in Arsenal’s favour.
Walcott now feels that the Gunners have put all the negativity behind them and are now set to excel in the remainder of the season just like they always do.
In a post-match interview with talkSPORT, he said: “I am very confident in the team, this team just needs to realise how good we actually are and not read into too many bad thoughts. We have a very good team, very young and great on the eye at times. We can be cold at times as well, but we are starting to learn and we are starting to get back to our best.”
Gunners Interested in Thauvin
Arsenal FC are interested in signing Bastia starlet Florian Thauvin, the French club’s chairman Pierre-Marie Geronimi has claimed.
Newcastle United have been the long-term admirers of the 20-year-old midfielder and are thought to have submitted a bid for him but Geronimi says that the Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger is also interested in taking him to the Premier League.
In a radio interview with France Bleu, the Bastia supremo said: “Florian Thauvin has been the object of just one concrete offer so far, from Newcastle, for €3million (£2.6m), but we refused it. However, he didn’t want to prolong his contract with Bastia, but he will stay until the end of the season.”
When asked to shed some light on Arsenal’s reported interest, Geronimi answered: “We have not received any firm offer from Arsenal and, thus, there is no question of the €5m (£4.3m) reported. This week I have had Arsene Wenger on the phone twice. He expressed his interest in the player to us, but it has not gone beyond that.”
It is unclear whether there is any truth in Geronimi’s statement or it is just a tactic by him to make Newcastle raise their offer for the player.
No Gunners Bids for Roma Ace Yet
AS Roma goalkeeper and rumoured Arsenal target Maarten Stekelenburg’s agent Rob Jansen has revealed that the Italian club hasn’t received any bids for his client so far this month.
It is thought that the 30-year-old Dutchman is being tracked by both Arsenal and their London rivals Fulham but the player’s agent says that any interest has yet to materialise in a concrete transfer offer.
In an interview with calciomercato.it, Jansen said: “At the moment there are just rumours and speculation. We have yet to receive a concrete offer, so it is therefore probable that he will stay at Roma in January rather than leave. We know what is moving in the goalkeeping market, but nothing has been decided.”
Podolski Happy to Sacrifice Personal Preference for Team’s Cause
Lukas Podolski has rejected media reports that he is unhappy at being deployed in an unfamiliar role on the left flank by coach Arsene Wenger.
Before coming to Arsenal, the 27-year-old German had played almost his entire career as a centre-forward but Wenger has used him primarily as a left winger. He has adapted well to his new role and already has 11 goals and multiple assists to his name.
Despite being played out of position, the former Bayern Munich man is satisfied with his personal production and is happy to sacrifice his interests for the good of the team.
Talking about his position at Arsenal, Podolski said: “It is not difficult – I have played on the left for Cologne sometimes and the national team. It is not something special. I think when I play as a number 10 or a [central] striker, I am in this position to score more goals and can shoot more, but with the style of the game of Arsenal, I do it well on the left side and I am happy to play there.
“I scored seven [Premier League] goals now and have nine assists – it is okay, but it is important for me at the end of the season to be in the Champions League.”
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