As usual with Arsenal, half the Premier League club’s supporters see the glass being half full while the rest view it as half empty. It just depends if you’re wearing rose-coloured glasses or not. Yes, the Gunners have managed to finish the season in the top four again and have reached the European Champions for the 16^th straight year. That in a nutshell is the extent of the club’s accomplishments this season. They also played some attractive football and weren’t a bad side to watch at all.

However, on the downside, the season kicked off back in August with the Gunners having an opportunity of winning four different pieces of silverware. Needless to say, they went zero for four as one by one they dropped out of the League Cup, the League title, the FA Cup and the Champions League. They were also embarrassed along the way with losses to lower-division teams. Their highlight was the 2-0 win over Bayern at the Allianz Arena in Munich in the second leg of the Champions League. Unfortunately they were beaten at home at the Emirates 3-0 in the first leg.

Critics will be quick to point out that making the Champions League shouldn’t be something to celebrate because the club isn’t actually there to win the trophy. Instead, it’s just happy to cash in on the financial gains the tournament offers. They say the club just banks the money year after year without spending any or enough of it to improve the squad. Whichever way you feel about the club and its goals are entirely up to each individual supporter.

However, even the staunchest of Arsenal fans, those who place French manager Arsene Wenger up on a pedestal, still realize there’s a lot of work to be done and improvements need to be made during the off season. There’s not really much point pontificating on who Wenger will buy in the summer as there would be an update every five minutes and most of the rumours are simply rubbish anyway. These transfer stories are made up by journalists at the spur of the moment with most of them having no substance at all. The time to report on transfers is after they’ve actually taken place, not before.

Of course, Arsenal has a strong core of good and mostly young players. These include the likes of Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Lukas Podolski, and Olivier Giroud. Many fans would like to see Wenger build a strong team around this nucleus with the rest of the squad, such as Gervinho, Thomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal, Nicklas Bendtner, Andre Arshavin, Bacary Sagna, Abou Diaby, Francis Coquelin, Marouane Chamakh, and keeper Wojciech Szczesny being expendable. The Gunners also have some fine youngsters coming up through the ranks or out on loan, including Ryo Miyaichi and Joel Campbell 

Fans need to sit back and detach all emotional attachment when analyzing this club though. In fact, those on the outside looking in are often more capable of giving an honest opinion since there’s nothing swaying it. There were some positive aspects this year though that bode well for the future. Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla proved he could handle the pace of the EPL and chipped in with a dozen goals and about 16 assists. The 28-year-old should be even better next year as he’ll be used to the opposition. Cazorla is a key figure in the Gunners squad due to his consistent and cutting-edge performances.

Midfielder Jack Wilshere is another key player. He’s only 21 and the English international seems to drive the squad from his midfield position. Usually Arsenal goes as Wilshere goes. He dictates the action with top-class defensive and offensive skills. If he can stay healthy he’ll be a star in this league for years to come. He’s perhaps the most important Gunner due to his tender age and he can only get better. He’s captain material for the club and his country. Walcott also had a career year by reaching the 20-goal plateau and his confidence is growing. He’s still in his early 20s as well and could break out in a big way next season.

There’s a lot to build on here and the team may just need some fine tuning rather than an overhaul. It’ll be interesting to see what Wenger does with the spending money in the summer. Many fans would rather buy several strong players rather than blow the whole load on just one or two big-name signings. Players will come and players will go over the next several weeks. We’ll just sit back and see what unfolds at the Emirates and then report on all the happenings as they take place. However, Wenger will have to act relatively quickly before all of the best transfer targets are signed by competitors. 

Viola Want Jovetic to Consider Staying

Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle says that he would try and convince star striker Stevan Jovetic to cancel transfer plans and stay with them once he returns from international duty.

The 23-year-old Montenegrin has emerged as the top summer target for Premier League club Arsenal although it is believed that Juventus are the ones leading the chase for his signature at the moment.

With a summer move away from Fiorentina on the cards for the coveted forward, their chief is still hoping that he could keep hold of him.

Talking to the Italian press, Della Valle said: “I’m going to meet him when he comes back from the national team. He has a right to decide where he plays. I hope he can stay with us.”

Sanogo: ‘Arsenal Is My Choice’

Auxerre youngster Yaya Sanogo has confessed that a transfer to Arsenal FC is his preferred career move and is hoping that the Gunners could help him improve his game.

Arsene Wenger recently told the press that he is close to signing the 20-year-old Frenchman and now the player himself has echoed those claims.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Sanogo said: “Arsenal could be a great club for me. I scored nine goals this season with Auxerre and they think I can improve my level in England. I am pleased to be following in the footsteps of Abou Diaby who came through from Auxerre. There are many teams interested in me, but Arsenal is my choice.”

Swans’ Williams Refuses to Speculate on Club Future

Swansea City defender and rumoured Arsenal transfer target Ashley Williams has refused to speculate on his club future and belives that any interest in his services is just paper talk at this point.

The 28-year-old centre-half was one of Swansea’s best performers this season and played a major role in their Capital One Cup triumph too. As a result, he has been linked with summer moves to sides such as Arsenal and Liverpool, both of whom are reportedly in the market for defensive reinforcements.

When asked if there is any possibility of him leaving the Swans in the upcoming transfer window, Williams replied: “As far as I know. I don’t know anything about it, I just read it in the papers like everyone else.I play my football for Swansea City and now I’m just going away and looking forward to a holiday.

“I’ve said before, I’ll take it as a compliment, it means you’re doing your job well. I’ve done that this time, I haven’t looked too far into it The season’s been such that since the cup final we’ve had so much work to do that I haven’t really thought about it.

“If somebody comes in and the club want to do that you have to sit down with the chairman and talk about it. I can’t really think about that at the moment, I play for Swansea City and I would never be disrespectful to the club, the fans and my team-mates. That’s it really, I can’t say any more than that.”

Bendtner Devalues Himself Some More

Juventus’ on-loan Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been operated on for a wrist injury which he picked up last weekend on the final day of the Italian Serie A season.

The 25-year-old Dane has scored just eight goals in the past two years and none in his disappointing spell with the Old Lady. He missed a large chunk of the ongoing season due to a serious thigh injury and is now carrying another one, which further complicates the Gunners’ task of offloading him in the summer.

Bendtner’s personal life isn’t short of mishaps either. He is currently serving a three-year driving ban and six-month national team ban for his DUI offense back in March.

Wenger Hints At ‘Spending Spree’

Arsene Wenger wants to use Arsenal’s impressive end to the 2012/13 season as a springboard for future success and has hinted that he will spend money on some good, quality players in the summer.

The Daily Mail have quoted the Gunners boss as saying: “The last three months are a springboard for next season.We have to transfer that belief into the start of next season. We need stability and to strengthen. Is it spending a lot on one player or buying many players?

“We want additions but we want to keep the structure and spirit and quality of the team. Let’s not forget there are many clubs with big money and not enough talent to strengthen all the teams. But we will go out in a proactive way.”

Wenger Praises Arsenal Players

Arsene Wenger commended his Arsenal players after they maintained their top-four status for the 17^th consecutive season by defeating Newcastle United 1-0 on the final day of the season.

The Gunners boss was elated with his team’s outstanding end-of-the-season form which saw them win nine of their final 11 games, including Sunday’s all-important fixture against the Magpies.

“It [qualification] means that we are able to play with the top teams in Europe, it means it’s easier to bring in players. Let’s not forget that we are not in yet, we have to qualify and that is always a tricky round, but at least we have a chance,” Wenger said.

“I’m happy because the exceptional attitude and determination of this group of players has been rewarded, they continued to believe when we were seven points behind Tottenham in mid-March. You could never see a sign of giving in,” he added.

Jenkinson Determined to Become First Choice

Carl Jenkinson is targeting a bigger role in the Arsenal squad and wants to become the club’s first-choice right-back next season.

The 21-year-old Gunner currently plays second fiddle to Bacary Sagna at Emirates Stadium, but the Frenchman is widely expected to depart for Paris St Germain in the summer. And if that happens, Jenkinson wants himself to become Arsene Wenger’s preferred man on the right side of the defence.

In a recent interview, he said: “Next season is a big one for me and I want to grab it with both hands. I want to be the first-choice right-back at this club and I am not going to stop working until I get there. It’s what I want to achieve and after that I want to stay in the position for years to come. I’ve got to work my socks off and keep developing if I want to do it.”

Meanwhile, on the subject of PSG’s rumoured interest in his services, Sagna told the Daily Star: “Of course it makes me proud to read PSG are interested. They are a very attractive club. Personally, I’ve not been approached by PSG. I don’t know if they have contacted my agent or if these are rumours.

“I don’t close any door. I could very well extend my contract here in London but equally I could leave at the end of the season. I only have one year left on my contract – we will see.”

Cazorla Backs Pellegrini to Find Success in PL

Santi Cazorla believes that his former coach Manuel Pellegrini would prove to be a big hit in the Barclays Premier League if Manchester City appoint him their new manager.

The Blues recently sacked Roberto Mancini after he failed to fulfil any of their set major targets for the season. They have been strongly linked with a move for Pellegrini, and Cazorla – who played under the Chilean at both Villarreal and Malaga – has nothing but good things to say about his former mentor.

In an interview with The People, the 28-year-old Arsenal playmaker said: “What can I say about Manuel Pellegrini? He has been very important for my career. As a manager, he has shown he is at the top level in Madrid, Malaga and Villarreal. He made his mark.

“With Manchester City, if he goes there, he’ll do spectacular things and they will get better as a team. He’ll adapt to the Premier League. He’ll change City’s style but the players he has got, they’ll adapt very well. I hope the best for him.

“If he goes to City, he deserves that and I’ll be happy for him. He’s ready as he likes pressure. He’s ready for any team. In Madrid, he didn’t have the luck. It doesn’t mean he’s not able to be at any club in the world.”

Wenger Was Sure Arsenal Will Come Back

Arsene Wenger said he was always sure that Arsenal would pip Tottenham in the battle for the Champions League qualification after his men secured a top-four finish by defeating Newcastle United 1-0 on the final day of the season.

Laurent Koscielny’s winner against the Magpies made sure that the Gunners finished in fourth place, having two more points than the fifth-placed Spurs.

In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Wenger said: “I’m proud of the character and the spirit, especially with all we had to deal with during the season. The players are special. I’ve told them many times and they’ve shown it. In the last two months they have been absolutely exceptional. It’s a good basis, as well, on a longer term to go into next season on such a strong run.

“I’m very proud. We were very far behind Tottenham and even after defeat there (at White Hart Lane) we’ve shown character and attitude to come back and make 73 points, which is three points better than last season. I have had many groups in my life and the focus and the desire to do well was always exceptional. It’s one of the best groups I’ve had in my life on that front. The combination of quality and attitude has been great, and that’s why I always had faith that we would come back.”

Wilshere Hails ‘Role Model’ Beckham

Jack Wilshere has paid his tribute to former Manchester United legend David Beckham who retired from professional football last weekend.

The Arsenal youngster believes that the 38-year-old veteran was the greatest English footballer of all-time, and his attitude and professionalism makes him the perfect role model for up and coming players.

Arsenal Player have quoted Wilshere as saying: “For me, he is the biggest English footballer there has ever been – both on and off the pitch. Sometimes people forget what he did on the pitch, he was a great player and he showed that for many years. For any young English midfielder, and for me growing up, he was the perfect role model.

“You can just watch him and learn – not just the way he plays but from his attitude as well, his professionalism and his love for the game. That rubs off on everyone.”

 Arsenal fans had to endure a few nervous minutes at the end of the Gunners 1-0 win in Newcastle on May 19, but all’s well that ends well as the club managed to finish in fourth place in the English Premier League this season to earn a berth in the qualifying stages of next season’s European Champions League. All Arsenal needed to do to finish in fourth was to beat Newcastle since the other results didn’t really matter.

Going into the match it was possible they could lose fourth spot to Spurs if Tottenham won and Arsenal lost or drew. Spurs waited until the 88^th minute to go ahead in their match at White Hart Lane against Sunderland when Gareth Bale blasted in his 21^st league goal of the season. This meant Arsenal had to make sure they hung on for a win, but they weren’t threatened at all by Newcastle during the entire 90-plus minutes at St. James’s Park.

Chelsea beat Everton 2-1 at home Stamford Bridge to take third place with 75 points while Arsenal were fourth with 73 and unlucky Spurs finished with 72. Man United won the league with 89 points and last year’s winners Man City came in as runners up with 78 points.  Wigan, Reading and Queens Park Rangers were all relegated. Cardiff City and Hull have been promoted to the Premier League by finishing first and second in the Championship League wile Crystal Palace and Watford will play off for the final EPL spot Monday May 27 at Wembley.

Arsenal earned 26 points out of 30 over the final 10 games of the season to qualify for the Champions League 16 consecutive seasons. As with many Gunners performances over those 10 matches, it wasn’t very impressive, but it was a workmanlike effort and it resulted in the crucial three points. French international defender Laurent Koscielny scored the lone goal after 52 minutes to seal the win. Theo Walcott made a superb run in the dying minutes of the match, but his effort rebounded off the post.

After the game Walcott said, “It was so tense. We had to dig deep and our defense was so solid. We did our job and we are so happy.” It’s true, Arsenal defended well and the players did their jobs, but Newcastle put up a rather tame effort. Still Arsenal were in 10^th place at the beginning of December, and like last season, they improved while Tottenham lost crucial points along the way. Spurs sat in third place in the table with a seven-point lead over Arsenal after their London derby in March. However, they blew their lead and only have themselves to blame.

Spurs’ defender Michael Dawson realized this and told the press, “We have missed out and it is another hard day to take. We can’t just look at today — we put ourselves in this position. We hoped Arsenal would slip up but they didn’t, unfortunately.”

While many Arsenal fans were disappointed with this season and last, the Gunners managed to end up with three more points this season. Manager Arsene Wenger was pleased with the effort over the campaign and said on Sky TV, “They are special. I’ve told them many times but they’ve shown it in the last two months they’ve been absolutely exceptional. We have shown character and attitude. I’ve had many groups in my life and the focus, the desire to do well, was exceptional. It’s one of the best groups I’ve had in my life on that front.”

Arsenal will now have a few weeks to decide what, if any player moves need to be made during the offseason. There are likely several changes to be made and some Gunners have probably played their last games for the club.  

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Newcastle Sunday May 19

Wojciech Szczesny 6.5
Like several other games this season, the keeper didn’t have much at all to do today, but was awake when he needed to be.

Bacary Sagna 6.5
Sagna played better than he usually does, but it still may not be good enough and he could be headed out of the Emirates. He’s not really what you’d call an elite player in his position and could be improved upon.

Per Mertesacker 6.5
After a shaky start he settled down and played a solid match.

Laurent Koscielny 8
The French defender scored the game winner from a few yards out after a free kick. He also defended as well as he has all season. He got better as the year went on.

Kieran Gibbs 7
Gibbs deserves to start ahead of Nacho Monreal and this game was a good example why. He played well defensively and on the attack.

Mikel Arteta 6
Arteta suffered a calf injury injured last week and probably shouldn’t have started this match as he was take off after 28 minutes and used up an early substitution as he was replaced by Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain.

Aaron Ramsey 6.5
Ramsey also improved as the season went along. He has energy and a lot of heart and puts in a good effort, but needs to work on his passing skills, which was evident in today’s game.

Tomas Rosicky 6.5
Rosicky’s a solid pro. He had a steady game with no major miscues or game-changing offensive plays. Played a more defensive role today.

Santi Cazorla 6
This was one of the Spaniard’s quieter games this season. He wasn’t really a factor, but didn’t hurt the squad at all. Was taken off after 89 minutes for Santi Cazorla.

Theo Walcott 7
Not Walcott’s best game of the season, but his run in injury time was one of his best this campaign. He beat a few players and the goalie, but hit the post. His free kick also led to the Gunners goal.

Lukas Podolski 6.5
Podolski met Walcott’s free kick with his head to set up the goal. Other than that, he worked hard, but didn’t create much. Came off after 78 minutes for Olivier Giroud.

Substitutes

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6
Came on after 28 minutes for Arteta and didn’t really impact the game in a positive or negative way, but put in a good effort.

Olivier Giroud 6.5
Came on for Podolski after 78 minutes in his first match back after a three-game suspension. He played hard and came back to help out in defence.

Jack Wilshere NA
Came on after 89 minutes for Cazorla.

No Arsenal Bid for Rooney But Sanogo Deal Is Close

Arsene Wenger has rubbished media reports which claimed that Arsenal have already launched a bid to sign want-away Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

The 27-year-old England international wants to leave the Red Devils for a new challenge, and the press recently claimed that Wenger has contacted his club with a view to signing him this summer.

However, the Gunners boss has denied those reports and made it clear that his sole focus at the moment is on Sunday’s game against Newcastle United and not on recruiting Rooney.

He said: “At the moment, we have no interest in anybody. We have only one interest, which is of course Sunday’s game. The first thing we would do is to call Man United, which we have not done.”

But at the same time, he did confirm that Arsenal are close to signing Auxerre starlet Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer.

“We are advanced with him but it’s not done,” Wenger said.

We’re Almost As Good As City and Chelsea – Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes that there isn’t a big difference in the quality of his Arsenal side and that of their league rivals like Chelsea and Manchester City.

City are set to end the season without any major trophy, while the Blues only have two more points than the Gunners in the PL. And that makes Wenger to say that his side is almost as good as their top rivals’.

Ahead of Arsenal’s season-ending trip to Newcastle United, Wenger told the press: “We are not far from Manchester City, we are not far from Chelsea.

“Having been seven points behind, we are happy [the race for a top-four finish] goes to the last day. I said that to the players, that we would have a great second half of the season. It’s always down to mental strength in our job and we responded. I must give my players huge credit.”

A defeat for Arsenal on Sunday coupled with a win for Tottenham will push the former out of the top four, which makes it a very crucial game. While Wenger admits that the pressure would be huge, he claims he likes such situations.

“The pressure is big but I always say the worst thing in my job is to play games without pressure. It’s boring,” he added.

Mertesacker Going Nowhere

Per Mertesacker feels that he has become an integral part of Arsenal’s first-team squad and will therefore be at the club next season too.

After struggling to find his feet in his debut campaign in the Premier League, the 28-year-old German has improved significantly this season and is now regarded as one-half of the Gunners’ first-choice defensive pairing alongside Laurent Koscielny.

It was suggested earlier this season that he might be sold in the summer but the player himself says he is going nowhere.

Sport1.de have quoted Mertesacker as saying: “I do not think they want to get rid of me after this season here. I have become an integral part of the team and have really earned respect here. Sometimes you have to be self-confident enough and just let the press write what they want, but it is always getting quieter in this regard, and that is a good sign.”

Chamakh Expects Arsenal Exit

Marouane Chamakh has admitted that it doesn’t seem likely that Arsenal will retain his services this summer, and therefore, he would be open to signing for his former club Bordeaux.

The 29-year-old Arsenal outcast, who spent the second half of the ongoing season at West Ham, made his name at Bordeaux before joining the North London giants in 2010. After a promising start to his career in the PL, he soon fell out-of-favour with coach Arsene Wenger, and now he says that he will be seeking a move back to his boyhood club at the end of the season.

In an interview with 10 Sport, Chamakh said: “I am always nostalgic. I spent so many good times here.Everyone knows that Bordeaux is a club that is in my heart. If I find an agreement with Bordeaux, why not.”

When asked if a deal could really happen, he replied: “Yes, this is possible because there is a good chance that I will not stay at Arsenal. If I come back to France, it will be in Bordeaux.”

Adler Not too Keen On Arsenal Move

Hamburg goalkeeper and rumoured Arsenal FC transfer target Rene Adler says that he is not looking to leave his current club this summer.

Arsene Wenger is in the market for a new goalie, and it is believed that Adler’s name is high on his shopping list. But the Frenchman’s hopes of recruiting the 28-year-old German have been dealt a blow, as the player doesn’t seem too keen to sign for his side on anyone else for that matter.

Sport-BILD have quoted Adler as saying: “I am under contract with Hamburg, that is a fact. I can say that I have not thought about leaving or considered a transfer since I joined Hamburg (in May 2012).”

 
Arsenal remains in the driver’s seat after a thorough 4-1 win over Wigan Athletic at the rain-soaked Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 14. The Gunners just have to win their final game of the season at St. James’ Park in Newcastle to ensure themselves of a third or fourth place finish in the Premier League and an invitation to next season’s European Champions League tournament. Man City wrapped up second place with a 2-0 win over Reading today while Chelsea is in third place with 72 points followed by Arsenal with 70 and Spurs with 69.

However, it might be easier said than done. Today’s win means that Wigan is definitely going to be relegated along with Reading and Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle will remain in the Premier League. There’s no pressure at all on Newcastle for the final match while Arsenal will certainly feel the weight of it on their shoulders. The Gunners could still end up in second, third or fourth place depending on the Chelsea and Spurs results. Chelsea meets Everton at home on Sunday while Spurs will host Sunderland.

Arsenal was basically in control of the match against Wigan right from the opening kickoff, but it took three second-half goals in the span of eight short minutes to guarantee all three points. This was probably Wigan’s biggest game of the season oven though they beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup Final at Wembley just three days earlier. A draw would have kept them alive mathematically, but realistically they had to beat the Gunners as well as Aston Villa in their season finale. But after eight years in the Premier League they’ll be heading down to the Championship.

Lukas Podolski put Arsenal in the lead after just 11 minutes when he headed home a loose ball from six yards out. The goal came from a left-sided corner kick by midfielder Santi Cazorla and the ball fell right to the German international Podolski who headed it past keeper Joel Robles. Wigan pushed back after the goal, but striker Arouna Kone was foiled when Gunners’ defender Laurent Koscielny cleared the ball.

Wigan evened the score just before half time when Shaun Maloney hammered home a perfect free kick from about 25 yards out. With no men on the posts, Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny made a valiant diving effort to his left to save the shot and managed to get his fingertips to the ball. However, it just eluded him and found the back of the net in the bottom corner.

The Gunners went ahead for good after 63 minutes when Cazorla was sent down the right wing and his cross was met by Theo Walcott who scored his 14^th league goal and 20^th overall of the season. Podolski added his second of the game just five minutes later. Cazorla set him up and Podolski gave Arsenal the insurance marker they were looking for. Aaron Ramsey widened the lead after 71 minutes when he broke down the left side of the pitch and cut into the 18-yard box. He then slammed the ball past a helpless Robles at the near post into the top of the net.

The game was beyond Wigan’s grasp at this point and it was inevitable they’d be relegated. They only have themselves to blame though since they don’t start playing their best football season after season until they’re threatened with relegation. Instead of learning a lesson from it and addressing the situation, the club has played with fire once too often and has now been burned. Meanwhile, the Gunners can finish the season on a high note against Newcastle on May 19 with a win and a guaranteed Champions League spot.

Arsenal player ratings vs Wigan on May 14, 2013

Wojciech Szczesny 7.5
He had no chance on the goal and got his fingers to the free kick. He also made fine saves whenever he was called upon, especially against Arouna Kone.

Bacary Sagna  6.5
Sagna had his problems at times with Shaun Maloney and Kone, but other than that he had a decent game.

Per Mertesacker  6.5
The big German also struggled at moments with Kone, but like the rest of the back four, did a good job for the majority of the game.

Laurent Koscielny 7
A good defensive display from Koscielny. He tackled well and was there when needed, especially when it looked like Kone was about to score.

Kieran Gibbs 6.5
Gibbs was faced with the task of keeping his eye on Wigan’s Callum McManaman and went about it well until McManaman came off with an injury. A solid effort defensively and offensively.

Mikel Arteta  6
It was one of Arteta’s quieter games as his passing wasn’t up to par. His foul also led to the Wigan free kick and goal. He was substituted by Thomas Vermaelen after 91 minutes when he injured himself.

Aaron Ramsey  7
Ramsey’s passing was sometimes off the mark, but he put in an energetic effort and took his goal well. It ended quite a lengthy drought for him.

Tomas Rosicky  7
Rosicky also put in a solid, if unspectacular effort. He linked the midfield and forwards well and had a fine game. Came off for Jack Wilshere after 78 minutes.

Santi Cazorla  8.5
The Spanish midfielder had one of his best games of the season as he was buzzing all over the pitch. He helped set up all four goals and had a couple of good chances himself. He was virtually unstoppable once he got going.

Theo Walcott  8
Walcott was energized right from the opening kickoff.  His pace proved to be too much for Wigan and he scored the game-winning goal and put in some nice crosses.

Lukas Podolski  7.5
Podolski scored a pair of goals and put in a workmanlike effort for the cause. He’s still one of the team’s best finishers. Came off after 78 minutes for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Substitutes

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6.5
Came on after 78 minutes for Podolski and kept up the energy level.

Jack Wilshere  6.5
Came on for Rosicky after 78 minutes and played well.

Thomas Vermaelen  NA
Came on for Mikel Arteta after 91 minutes when Arteta seemed to suffer a hamstring injury.

Manchester United Launch Shock Fabregas Bid – Report

Former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has emerged as a shock transfer target for the Premier League champions Manchester United.

According to a report published by The Evening Standard, the 26-year-old midfielder is wanted by the Red Devils as replacement of their retiring legend Paul Scholes, and they have already made contact with Barcelona to make the deal happen.

The Blaugrana paid Arsenal £35 million for Fabregas’ signature in 2011 but have since failed to accommodate him in their star-studded midfield. They now want to strengthen some other areas of their squad and have therefore decided to cash in on him.

It is believed that Barca would be willing to do business if they receive a bid of around £20 million.

The Gunners purportedly have the first-rejection option for Fabregas but it is unclear if they intend to exercise it.

AVB Urges Latics to Upset Gunners

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas expects Wigan Athletic players to be at their best and upset Arsenal when their team visits Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Spurs’ Sunday-night 2-1 win over Stoke City lifted them above the Gunners on the Premier League points table, but they will have to relinquish their fourth and final Champions League spot again if Arsene Wenger’s men collect all three points against the Latics tomorrow.

An upset win will also keep alive the PL survival bid of Wigan, who will get relegated otherwise. And therefore, Villas-Boas has urged the newly-crowned FA Cup champions to do all they can to defeat Arsenal for both their causes.

He said: “Obviously there is great emotion and motivation going through the Wigan players’ heads at the moment, and we saw the message from Dave Whelan saying they are absolutely focused. I expect them to give them a hard game because the objectives are there for both teams. Arsenal are a very experienced side, but Wigan are very, very motivated to save themselves.”

Pardew Assures Magpies Won’t Slack Off Against Arsenal

Newcastle United coach Alan Pardew has retracted his earlier comments to the press in which he had indicated that his side might not play to the best of their abilities in their final game of the season against Arsenal.

After the Magpies’ 2-1 defeat of QPR secured their Premier League status, Pardew had said: “I don’t really care if Arsenal win 4-0 if I’m honest – I’m sure Spurs will – but I only care that our fans enjoy themselves.”

His views disappointed Tottenham fans and also infuriated a certain section of his own club’s supporters. As a result, he has now come forward to claim that his previous remarks weren’t supposed to be taken seriously.

In a fresh interview with nufc.co.uk, Pardew said: “I know people will have picked up on my comments about not caring about the result against Arsenal, which were, of course, a joke. It is definitely not the case that I would be happy for us to lose 4-0 against Arsenal on Sunday.

“I simply want our players and fans to be able to enjoy the game without looking over their shoulders. Even though we are now safe, we will be putting in the same effort that we would for any other Premier League game.”

“Arsenal will be doing everything they can to try and achieve a Champions League spot and we won’t make it easy for them, make no mistake about that. This is a game everyone at this football club wants to win,” Pardew said much to Tottenham’s relief.

 
Wenger Urges Gunners to ‘Finish the Job’

Arsene Wenger has told his Arsenal charges that their Champions League destiny is in their own hands and urged them not to let all their good work go to waste.

If the Gunners win both of their remaining two Premier League fixtures against Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United, they will finish in top-four ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Not too long ago, Arsenal failing to maintain their Champions League status seemed like a very real possibility, but they have fought back once again in their typical end-of-the-season style.

And now that their target is so close, Wenger wants his men to grab the opportunity with both hands.

Ahead of Arsenal’s Tuesday-night encounter with Wigan Athletic, he said: “Both teams have to go for it, it’s a huge game for both of us. We have been very consistent, we’ve been on a remarkable run and our destiny is in our own hands. Two months ago our destiny was not in our own hands. Today it is. So let’s finish the job.”

Wenger Rubbishes PSG Link

Arsene Wenger has made it clear that there is no truth in reports linking him with a summer move to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

It had been recently claimed in the press that the rich Parisian outfit’s owners would replace their incumbent manager Carlo Ancelotti with Wenger in the summer, but the Arsenal boss has completely rubbished those claims.

In an interview with beIN Sport, he said: “I have had no contact with PSG. Carlo Ancelotti has done a good job and I do not see why he would leave the club by viewing the quality of his work this season. I followed their season. They have built their success on a form of individual superiority and the collective one that they found through the Champions League. In Ligue 1, they had a quite difficult journey.

“And for my part, I have a contract with Arsenal, where I have served for 17 years and I do not see myself leaving the club like a thief and not respecting my contract.”

The pressure has firmly been placed on the shoulders of Arsene Wenger and each and every member of his Arsenal squad after Chelsea and Tottenham recorded come-from-behind victories on the weekend. Both London neighbours fell behind quite early 1-0 in their respective away matches against  Aston Villa and Stoke, but came back to earn 2-1 wins. Ironically both Chelsea and Spurs scored the winning goals when their opposition was down to 10 men.

Belgian striker Christian Benteke put Aston Villa ahead of Chelsea after just 14 minutes at Villa Park on Saturday May 11 and went into the half time break ahead 1-0. Things looked bleak for the visitors after 45 minutes when Brazilian midfielder Ramires received his second yellow card of the match and was given his marching orders. The desperate Villa side were hard to break down, but that all changed in the 58^th minute when Benteke joined Ramires after he was also sent off for a second yellow.

It didn’t take Chelsea long to take advantage of their new fortunes and Frank Lampard scored his 202^nd goal for Chelsea just two minutes later to tie Bobby Tambling as the club’s all-time leading scorer. Chelsea appeared to take the lead in the 71^st minute when the ball looked to have crossed the goal line during a scramble. However, the officials allowed play to carry on while television replays showed the ball had just edged over the goal line.

Lampard made sure Chelsea went ahead in the 88^th minute though as he broke Tambling’s record when he tapped home a pass from Eden Hazard. Villa still had seven minutes of injury time to level the score, but couldn’t come up with another goal. The win put Chelsea into third place and guaranteed them a spot in next season’s Champions League tournament.

Spurs also put the pressure on the Gunners with their own 2-1 win the next day at Stoke City. Arsenal fans were celebrating after just the third minute when Steven Nzonzi headed Stoke into the lead. However, Spurs pulled level when American international s Clint Dempsey scored after 20 minutes. He had the ball in the net five minutes earlier as well, but was ruled offside. Spurs luck changed for the better when Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam was sent off in the 47^th minute by referee Kevin Friend for a bad foul on Spurs’ Jan Vertonghen. It was his second yellow card in the space of three minutes playing time.

It looked like it was going to be just a matter of time before Spurs went ahead and they didn’t let their fans down. Former arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor put Tottenham in the lead for good after 83 minutes when he met a cross from Dempsey and slid the ball into the net past the Stoke keeper from just six yards out. Stoke came close to leveling the game in injury time, but unfortunately they couldn’t find the back of the net for the second time.

Of course, these results were the worst thing that could have happened to Arsenal, but the team still controls their own destiny with two games remaining. Chelsea, with 72 points, is guaranteed to finish in fourth at the worst, but also have a chance at edging out Man City (75 points) for second. Chelsea would have to win their final game of the season while City would have to lose their final two. Chelsea would be level in points, but would take second due to a better goal difference.

Spurs are currently in fourth place with 69 points with just one game to go. They could draw level with Chelsea on 72 points, but Chelsea is 16 goals ahead of them in the goal difference department, so it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to make up the difference. With Arsenal having 67 points and a pair of games to go they will finish in either third or fourth place if they win them both.

They meet Wigan on Tuesday May 14 in the biggest game of the season at the Emirates. Wigan are in 18^th place in the Premier League with 35 points and have two games left on the season. If they win both games they will finish with 41 points. Stoke, Norwich, and Newcastle all have 41 points and each have one game remaining. However, Wigan’s goal difference is minus-23 while Stoke’s is minus-11, Norwich’s is minus-18 and Newcastle’s is minus-22. Realistically, Stoke seems to be safe while Norwich and Newcastle still aren’t safe.

Southampton (40 points), Fulham (40), Aston Villa (40), and Sunderland (39) aren’t safe yet either as Wigan could finish ahead of any one of those clubs if they win their remaining two games. This makes Wigan a hugely dangerous team at the moment and they’re going to be fighting for their Premier League lives against the Gunners on Tuesday. If Arsenal loses or draws they will have to beat Newcastle away on the last day of the season and hope that Tottenham drops points at home against Sunderland.

Arsenal are hoping to have keeper Lukasz Fabianski and left-back Kieran Gibbs back in the lineup against Wigan after both have missed the last few games due to injury. However, striker Olivier Giroud will be out as he serves the final game of a three-match ban for a red card. Midfielder Abou Diaby is also sidelined due to a serious knee injury. Wigan won the FA Cup on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Man City and should be a confident squad ahead of the game.

Wenger told the press, `Wigan had a contrasting week because they were on a low against Swansea when they lost at home, a game that of course was a massive game for them, but you could see on Saturday they have quality and they played a remarkable game when they played against Man City. What kind of team will we face? We don’t know. We know just one thing – we want to be at our best in a game of that importance.”

Arsenal Interested In Buying United Ace Rooney

Arsene Wenger has joined Chelsea in the race to sign want-away Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, according to the latest Arsenal transfer news.

The 27-year-old striker is apparently unhappy with his reduced role at United, where he isn’t considered the biggest star any longer. He also has a notoriously icy relationship with David Moyes – the man who has been appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at United. As a result, he has purportedly told the club management to sell him this summer, and Arsenal and Chelsea are two of several top European clubs hoping to lure him.

It is believed that the Red Devils rate Rooney at a rather modest £25 million, but that valuation could fall down even more if he stays at the club without extending his current deal, which only has two more seasons left on it.

Fabregas on Inter Milan’s Radar

Inter Milan are the latest club to be linked with a summer move for Barcelona flop Cesc Fabregas.

The former Arsenal captain has failed to break the midfield duopoly of Xavi and Andres Iniesta at Barca and might be on the lookout for a side that can offer him more playing time. The Blaugrana are purportedly also keen to cash in on him, as they need funds to strengthen other week areas of their squad.

While the Gunners have first refusal rights on Fabregas, Inter are willing to offer their goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to Barca, who are on the lookout for a new gloveman due to the imminent departure of the incumbent Victor Valdes.

In addition to the aforementioned duo, AC Milan are also interested in the 26-year-old playmaker. However, the player himself is thought to be leaning towards a switch to Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Marca have claimed that Fabregas isn’t looking to leave the Catalan club and actually wants to keep on fighting for his place at Camp Nou Stadium.

Piszczek Becomes Latest Right-Back to Be Linked With Arsenal Move

Arsenal are planning to deprive Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund of another one of their star players, with their defender Lukasz Piszczek being the centre of the Londoners’ attention.

The Gunners are set to lose Bacary Sagna this summer and have been keeping tabs on Sochaux’s Sebastien Corchia and Feyenoord’s Daryl Janmaat as his replacements. And now Piszczek has emerged as the latest right-back to join their shortlist.

Dortmund have already agreed to sell their star playmaker Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich at the end of the season, while striker Robert Lewandowski is widely expected to leave as well. Therefore, Piszczek’s potential exit could be the third blow of this kind to Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Gunners Announce Vietnam Friendly Plans

Arsenal are set to become the first Premier League club to play a football match in Vietnam after they finalised the details and made an announcement in this regard.

The Vietnamese officials of this joint venture had broken the news of Arsenal’s planned visit to their country back in March, but Arsenal have only just confirmed it.

On July 17 this summer, the Gunners will show up at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium, where they will play a pre-season friendly against the Vietnam national team.

The club CEO Ivan Gazidis said: “Arsenal has so many loyal supporters in Asia and we are delighted to be visiting Vietnam in July to play a match in Hanoi.

“Everyone at Arsenal is proud to be the first Premier League team to play a match in Vietnam and to be spending time in this wonderful country.

“Arsene Wenger, the players and all the staff have hugely enjoyed our tours to Asia in the past two years, and we are all looking forward to visiting Vietnam as part of our Asia Tour 2013.”

Villa Available but Gunners Not Interested

Barcelona have made their out-of-favour star David Villa available for transfer, according to Catalan-based tabloid Sport.

The 31-year-old striker isn’t considered a first-team regular at the Blaugrana anymore and is therefore looking to find himself a new club where he could have more playing time.

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo have revealed how close Arsenal were to signing Villa in January. They claim that ‘David Villa had one foot in Arsenal’ but the Londoners’ final offer of €10 million was rejected by Barca.

He is now available at a reduced price, but the Gunners have moved on and aren’t interested in the Spaniard any longer.

Their local rivals Tottenham Hotspur are also tracking him, but the deal is unlikely to take place, as the player is leaning towards a move to Atletico Madrid.