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Manager Arsene Wenger

BREAKING: Walcott out Gnabry starts for Arsenal v Stoke

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been forced to make a quick a quick adjustment to his starting lineup as Theo Walcott is ill and will not start against Stoke City.

Walcott was initially named in the Arsenal starting team, but a very late team change sees the England winger dropped from the team and 18-year-old Serge Gnabry comes into the starting team to make his debut, while 31. Ryo Miyaichi has been drafted into the squad to replace Walcott.

Meanwhile, Wenger has been talking about his new signing Mesut Ozil recently and the Gunners boss looks ahead of the German home debut.

“There’s a lot of expectation when you make a big signing like that, but hopefully he is used to that and I hope he doesn’t put too much responsibility on his shoulders,” he told reporters in his pre-game interview.

About the return of striker Nicklas Bendtner in the squad, Wenger said: “Bendtner has worked very hard and deserves a place on the bench today.”

Midfielder Mikel Arteta is also on the bench after recovering from a thigh injury.

“Mikel Arteta is just a little bit short but it’s good to have him back also.”

Arsenal v Stoke City

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Gnabry, Ozil, Wilshere, Giroud
Subs: Vermaelen, Arteta, Viviano, Monreal, Jenkinson, Miyaichi, Bendtner

Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Walters, Nzonzi, Adam, Wilson, Arnautovic, Jones
Subs: Whelan, Pennant, Palacios, Crouch, Etherington, Sorensen, Ireland

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

Ozil starts: Arsenal v Stoke Live Coverage, Team News, Live Scores

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Club record summer signing Mesut Ozil will make his home debut for Arsenal in today’s Barclays English Premier League clash with Stoke City at Emirates Stadium.

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Ozil, who has been very impressive for Arsenal since his move to London, keeps his place in the starting side, as manager Arsene Wenger opted to play the same team that beat Marseille in the Champions League group opener in midweek.

This means that striker Olivier Giroud, who had been struggling with a minor knock has passed fit to play, while the on form Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere all start as well.

At the sometime, Mikel Arteta returns and has taken a place on the bench as he continues his comeback from injury. Also on the bench is striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has named striker Marko Arnautovic in his starting team and he plays alongside Kenwyne Jones, after replacing Matthew Etherington in the only change from the side that drew 0-0 with Manchester City the last time out.

Peter Crouch remains on the bench, but will certainly play some part as the game progresses.

CORRECTED STARTING TEAM, FOLLOWING WALCOTT’S LATE OMISSION BECAUSE OF BEING ILL

Arsenal v Stoke City

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Gnabry, Ozil, Wilshere, Giroud
Subs: Vermaelen, Arteta, Viviano, Monreal, Jenkinson, Miyaichi, Bendtner

Stoke: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Walters, Nzonzi, Adam, Wilson, Arnautovic, Jones
Subs: Whelan, Pennant, Palacios, Crouch, Etherington, Sorensen, Ireland

Arsenal agree deal for Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal got the deadline day activity off to a bright start by agreeing a fee with Real Madrid to sign midfield playmaker Mesut Ozil, according to Press Association Sport.

The English Premier League side has been silent in the market thus far this summer with manager Arsene Wenger claiming he will not be spending any crazy money on one player.

However, it is believed that the bid for Ozil was a club-record bid of 50million euros (£42.2m).

It is understood that the 24-year-old German is now having a medical in Germany for the EPL side after he discussed personal terms ahead the proposed transfer move to the Emirates.

Ozil had been linked with moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City but it now seems he will be making a move to join Wenger and the Gunners.

Another Real Madrid player, Angel Di Maria is also on the Arsenal radar.

It is believed that Wenger is also working hard on landing a few more signing with a striker parts of his plans after he had moves for Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney knocked back.

Arsenal are also still interested in signing Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Watch Arsenal v Tottenham Live Stream on NBC Sports: Team News

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal recalled Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs and Tomas Rosicky to the starting line up for today’s Premier League clash with Tottenham at Emirates Stadium.

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The Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has also named new signing Mathieu Flamini on the bench and he is expected to play some part in today’s fixture as Arsenal look to take all three points at home.

Per Mertesacker captains the side today.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have record signing Erik Lamela on the bench, with the likes of Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and Hugo Lloris all returning to the starting team, after being rested for the midweek Europa League game.

Andros Townsend has had a very solid start to the season and will get another chance to impressive Roy Hodgson, even though the England boss was at Anfield to watch the likes of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley put on a disappointing display against Liverpool in a 1-0 defeat.

Arsenal v Tottenham

Tottenham team: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose, Capoue, Paulinho; Townsend, Dembele, Chadli, Soldado.
Subs: Friedel, Naughton, Holtby, Lamela, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Defoe.

Arsenal team: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud.
Subs: Fabianski, Sagna, Monreal, Flamini, Zelalem, Gnabry, Sanogo.

Live Audio Commentary: Arsenal v Napoli

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Per Mertesacker will captain Arsenal in tonight’s Emirates Cup campaign against Napoli, while Jack Wilshere and Lukas Podolski also start the game.

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Mertesacker takes over as the captain as both Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta are unavailable at the start.

Vermaelen misses the game with an injured back, while midfielder Arteta is only the bench for the game, but is expected to play some part as the contest goes on.

Arsenal confirmed on the club’s website that manager Arsene Wenger has made five adjustments from the team that started the last pre-season game against Urawa Reds in Saitama last Friday.

Santi Cazorla and summer signing Yaya Sanogo will not be involved in today’s game, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and Ignasi Miquel are all on the bench.

For Napoli, Gonzalo Higuaín, who was linked with a move to Arsenal before going to the Serie A side, starts on the bench, but Pepe Reina starts in goal

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Rosicky, Podolski, Gnabry, Giroud.
Subs: Martinez, Sagna, Arteta, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Akpom, Miquel, Zelalem.

Napoli: Reina, Britos, Cannavaro, Mesto, Pablo Armero, Behrami, Inler, Insigne, Pandev, Hamsik, Jose Callejon.
Subs: Rafael, Dossena, Christian Maggio, Juan Zuniga, Josip Radosevic, Albiol, Dzemaili, Fernandez, Higuain, Mertens, Calaio

ESPN3.com Live: Fulham v Arsenal Teams

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Arsenal left midfielder Jack Wilshere on the bench for today’s Barclays Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Fulham v Arsenal Live on ESPN3.com

The England midfielder makes way for Tomas Rosicky as manager Arsene Wenger makes two changes from the side that played to a goalless draw with Everton in midweek. T

Also coming into the Arsenal starting team is Nacho Monreal, who starts at left-back with Kieran Gibbs dropping to bench.

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny start at center-back so captain Thomas Vermaelen remains amongst the substitutes.

Fulham, meanwhile, made four changes from the last outing in the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea with Stanislav Manolev and Kieran Richardson both come into the team.

Steve Sidwell is back from suspension and Alex Kacaniklic also starts.

Out goes John Arne Riise, Giorgos Karagounis and Mladen Petric and Sascha Riether.

Fulham v Arsenal Teams

Fulham: Schwarzer, Manolev, Senderos, Hangeland, Richardson, Emanuelson, Sidwell, Enoh, Kacaniklic, Ruiz, Berbatov. Subs: Etheridge, Riise, Petric, Karagounis, Hughes, Rodallega, Frei.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Rosicky, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla. Subs: Mannone, Vermaelen, Podolski, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Gibbs.

Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

Arsenal vs West Ham: Easy win predicted, Team News, tips, scores and more

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LONDON (Sporting Alert) – Arsenal FC have defeated West Ham United in three of the last four English Premier League and will be the pick to take another win at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

After picking up just one point from its last three Premier League games, Arsenal are desperate for points as they seek to close the gap on the leaders and move closer to one of the Champions League slot.

The most popular scoreline around is at 6/1 for the Gunners to come away with a 2-0 win – with an 0/U 2.5 Goals at 11/10.

Theo Walcott was on target in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea on Sunday playing on the wing, but manager Arsene Wenger is consider playing the pacey attacker down the middle instead of Olivier Giroud, who could find himself back on the bench, following his poor should against the Blues.

“We’ve got some very good players at this club,” Walcott said. “I think players are maybe not believing they are good enough.

“Trust me, I see them every day in training and they should believe that.

“We’ve got a great bunch here and we’ve got a great manager behind us.

“He always puts it on himself and at times it’s unfair on him, because we’re the players that go out there every week and try and win for him.

“We need to do it for him because he’s been very helpful for us young players coming through.”

Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are available for the English Premier League game after overcoming illnesses over the weekend.

“We could have Podolski back in the squad because he is back to full training today,” Wenger said on Arsenal.com.

“Yes he’s better. He was sick. He was in bed but I think he will be in full training today.

“Maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain back in the squad because he has been sick. Maybe he will go out today and practise again.”

The Gunners have won just nine EPL games this season and find themselves seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham in the points standings, but Wenger still believe his side is ready to hit a good run of form and move on the table.

“It gives me confidence but it is also frustrating as we don’t want to be in this position,” the manager said.

“We want to challenge for the championship and therefore now until the end of the season we really have to stand up and show our strength and character.

“Last season we came from further behind and finished third but Chelsea are a bit away from us now.

“The game that we lost at Chelsea on Sunday had difficult mathematical consequences.”

In the meantime, Marouane Chamakh is ineligible as he cannot face his parent club, while Andy Carroll and George McCartney (both knee) are both unavailable. Mali frontman Modibo Maiga is away at the African Nations Cup.

The likes of Joe Cole, Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan are the picks to score for the Hammers, who are in 12th place.

Correct Scores That Could Be…

Arsenal to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 7/4 ; 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 Draw 5/1 ; West Ham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 15/2
Arsenal to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 7/2 ; Any Other Score 11/4 ; West Ham to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 28/1

 

Reports – Wenger contacts David Villa about move: Arsenal Transfer News

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David <strong class='StrictlyAutoTagBold'><figcaption id=Villa linked with Chelsea and Arsenal in January” src=”https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.150/hns.349.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/David-Villa-300×130.jpg” width=”300″ height=”130″ /> David Villa linked with Chelsea and Arsenal in January

LONDON (Sporting Alert) If you believe the transfer rumour in football these days, then Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger is determined to add David Villa to his side.


Wenger has expressed his interest in signing Barcelona ace since the beginning of the January transfer window and according to the Sunday People, the Frenchman has taken further steps to convinced the forward to join him in London.

ALSO READ: Arsenal Transfer Reports: Wenger bids for Barcelona’s David Villa

The report claims that the Arsenal boss “has spoken to Villa” with permission from Barcelona, about his interest in signing him in the January window as he seeks to add more goalscoring option to his side after losing Robin van Persie to Manchester United in the summer.

Villa, since returning from foot surgery, has been struggling to keep a starting place in the Barcelona squad and has admitted that he could leave the Spanish giants in search of more first team football.

It is understood that Barca manager Tito Vilanova met with the Spanish all-time leading goalscorer and assured him that he’s still a vital part of the club’s plans and insists that he wants him to stay at Camp Nou.

But Wenger wants a proven scorer after his summer recruits struggled to adjust in the first half of the Premier League and the 31-year-old Villa has emerged as the club’s main target.

The Arsenal boss also missed out on signing one of his top targets in Demba Ba, who decided to link up with Chelsea, after hitting two past the Gunners in his final game playing for Newcastle.

Theo Walcott has been banging in the goals since switching over from the wing to play central, but Wenger would still rather to have the speedy England attacker on the flank, so he can bring Olivier Giroud back into his setup.

Nevertheless, the ultimate goal is to bring Villa to the Emirates and Wenger is determined to fend off the challenges of fellow Premier League bosses from Liverpool and Chelsea to get his man.

A January move is what Wenger wants and even suggested taking him on an Arsenal loan deal in this window, after sending Marouane Chamakh to join West Ham on loan until the end of the season.

However, it is understood that Barcelona are not interested, plus Villa wants to stay put for a little while longer.

In fact, reports are saying that the striker has told his representatives to hold off on all interested offers until he sees what happens in the coming weeks.

The Catalan returns to Spanish La Liga action on Sunday and all eyes will be on the starting team to see if Villa makes the cut.

Many pundits have openly expressed their views on why Alexis Sanchez had been constantly getting the nod over the Spaniard in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Wenger has not ruled out the possibilities of loan transfers in this window and wait for some new transfers in the summer.

Gunners Unchanged: Southampton vs Arsenal FC Teams

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ST MARY’S (Sporting Alert) Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has named an unchanged team for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League trip to Southampton.

This means that Theo Walcott remains the center forward with Olivier Giroud left on the bench once again.

Walcott started and scored a brilliant hat-trick against Newcastle over the weekend and Wenger has decided to keep that same team that won 7-3.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also starts against his former club, so too is Laurent Koscielny, who will partner captain Thomas Vermaelen at centre half.

German Per Mertesacker is back on the bench after missing Saturday’s game because illness, while winger Gervinho also starts as a sub.

Southampton vs Arsenal FC Teams

Arsenal FC: Szczesny, Sagna, Vermaelen (c), Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott. Subs: Martinez, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Gervinho, Giroud.

Southampton: Boruc, Cork, Fonte (c), Yoshida, Shaw, Puncheon, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Guly, Ram�rez, Lambert. Subs: K.Davis, Hooiveld, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Richardson, Mayuka, De Ridder.

Wigan vs Arsenal FC Teams: Live game Coverage, Score Updates and More

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WIGAN (Sporting Alert) — After blazing five goals past Reading on Monday night, Arsenal FC will look to build on that victory in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League game at DW Stadium against Wigan.

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BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: DW Stadium
Date: Saturday, 22 December
Live TV: ESPN and ESPN3.com

Arsenal defeated Reading 5-2 in a seven goal thriller in its last outing, which prompted the club’s manager Arsene Wenger to say his team is finally back on track to fight for the title this season.

Wenger is will have a major decision to make on Saturday when it comes to selecting his man to play in the center forward position.

Theo Walcott was impressive against Reading and could get the nod once again over Olivier Giroud, who started on the bench at Reading.

Attacking midfield playmaker Santi Cazorla will be another key figure in the Arsenal line and he’s looking forward to building on his hat-trick from his last game, as well as his first festive football stint.

“I do think it [a winter break] is beneficial because you are able to disconnect mentally, psychologically,” Cazorla said on Arsenal.com.

“There are times when you become saturated with games, you are unclear about things, and the break that happens in Spain makes you more relaxed mentally.

“But I think that the Premier League overall is already tough with regards to the number of matches that you have to play in a row, so I do not think the month of December is very different from the rest of the months.”

Wigan, in the meantime, will have to face the Gunners without the services of several players, who continue to be on the long-term injury list.

Defender Adrian Lopez is out after picking up a hamstring injury that could sideline him for up to 10 weeks, while midfielder James McCarthy has an ankle injury and is doubtful.

Wigan vs Arsenal FC Teams

Wigan: Al Habsi, Pollitt, Beausejour, Caldwell, Boyce, McArthur, Kone, Boselli, Gomez, Jones, McManaman, Fyvie, Stam, Di Santo, Golobart, Redmond, Maloney, Figueroa.

Arsenal FC: Szczesny, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Sagna, Podolski, Cazorla, Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta, Walcott, Mannone, Ramsey, Gervinho, Rosicky, Koscielny, Coquelin, Jenkinson, Arshavin.