Arsenal

Baptista wants to stay at Arsenal
Brazil international Julio Baptista has revealed he would happily stay at Arsenal beyond his season-long loan. Baptista, who moved from Real Madrid in a swap deal with Jose Reyes, played at his new home stadium on Sunday in Brazil's friendly against Argentina. And the 24-year-old said: \"I hope to get as big a welcome in the league. \"I'm very confident I can be a big addition for Arsenal. I'm very humbled Arsene Wenger is so interested in me and I'd be very happy to stay here.\" Gunners boss Wenger had been keen to sign the versatile Baptista 12 months ago, but he chose to move to Real from Sevilla instead in a £13.8m deal. However, now the Frenchman has finally landed his man on an initial loan deal and suggested he might be employed as a \"hanging attacking midfielder\". New Arsenal team-mate Gilberto Silva has promised to help Baptista settle, but does not expect to be sharing the more defensive midfield duties with his fellow countryman. \"I don't know, but I think he will play more in attack,\" he said. \"He's a very, very good player and will bring a lot of experience, even though he is only a young player. \"He has experience with both his club and the national team.\" Baptista will be hoping to figure more prominently in Brazil's friendly against Wales at White Hart Lane on Tuesday before returning to the Emirates for a potential debut against Middlesbrough on Saturday. And Brazil coach Dunga believes the new signing will prove a big hit in north London. \"Technically, he brings the quality of a Brazilian player but he also brings his personality. He is very strong, very strong-willed. He is a winner,\" said Dunga. \"Also, he can play in three different positions - he can defend, he can attack and he can score goals and this is very important.\"

Atletico want Reyes compensation
Atletico Madrid claim Jose Antonio Reyes owes them £1.35m in compensation following his decision to join neighbours Real Madrid on deadline day. Arsenal rejected Atletico's bid for Reyes last week - but the Spanish side say he signed a contract with them. Atletico's director Jesus Garcia Pitarch told his club's website: \"It included a 2m euros (£1.35m) penalty clause in the event he did not join us. \"Now the legal services of the club will intervene to reclaim this money.\" Reyes, 23, moved to the Bernabeu in a season-long loan swap for Brazilian forward Julio Baptista that includes an option to make the switch permanent at a later date. \"In the end, the player did not come and I think it is for the best,\" Pitarch added. \"All the players here have a degree of commitment and that is the most important thing.\" \"Reyes did not have that. But Maniche, for example, refused other offers to come to Atletico Madrid (from Dinamo Moscow on Wednesday).\"

Arsenal 1-1 Middlesbrough
Arsenal were forced to come from behind again at their new Emirates Stadium to rescue a point against Middlesbrough. James Morrison curled in on 21 minutes after a one-two with Jason Euell - and keeper Mark Schwarzer kept Boro ahead with a number of fine saves. But Boro had skipper George Boateng sent off on 64 minutes for two cautions and then Thierry Henry scored from the spot after Emanuel Eboue was fouled. Arsenal poured forward after that but Boro withstood the intense pressure. The result leaves Arsenal still searching for their first Premiership win of the season and was a world away from the 7-0 thrashing they handed Boro the last time they met in London. William Gallas made his Arsenal debut and was employed at left-back - a position he was supposedly reluctant to play at with former club Chelsea. And he was caught napping for Boro's goal, admittedly along with the rest of the Arsenal defence, when Boro took an unexpected lead. Morrison picked up the ball on the right flank and exchanged passes with Euell to cut inside the Arsenal backline before flicking a smart shot beyond Jens Lehmann. Until then, Arsenal had made all the running, carving out intricate patterns of play and regularly testing Schwarzer. But for all their possession, the Gunners had little penetration - and even less potency when they did manage to create an opening. Schwarzer was easily equal to efforts from Henry and Robin van Persie - and made one outstanding reflex save to tip over a fierce shot from Alexander Hleb. Boro's doggedness in defence was typified by Jonathan Woodgate, making his debut following his loan move from Real Madrid. Tough in the tackle and bossing his team-mates with authority, Woodgate led Boro's backline with a genuinely classy performance. And in midfield, Boateng performed similarly, until he got himself sent off. His first yellow card was unnecessary as he argued with the referee following a quick free-kick taken by Henry, which clipped the outside of the post. Moments later Boateng clipped Freddie Ljungberg, appeared to hurt himself in the process and his misery was compounded when he was booked again. And then it got even worse for Boro, as they conceded a penalty after Stewart Downing was judged to have tripped Eboue. Henry converted with ease to bring his side level - and immediately Arsenal made three changes to their line-up. Among those to come on was new signing Julio Baptista, the muscled Brazilian seemingly introduced to add steel to Arsenal's silk. But he could not help Arsenal find a way through, and their usually measured approach play became increasingly frantic. Boro will be delighted to have come away with a point, while Arsenal continue to misfire and the concerns must be growing in north London with the side fourth bottom of the Premiership table. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger : \"I cannot say that I am unconcerned. When we fail to win a game we have dominated, it is always worrying. \"It was one of those games when we had all the ball, and the chances against a side that refused to come and play. \"But we got ourselves into trouble by falling behind and gave ourselves a mountain to climb. We just cannot finish off teams.\" Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate: \"We knew we would need strength of character and discpline in the way we played and we had it in abundance. \"We showed it throughout and to hang on the way we did when we were down to 10 men was was a fantastic achievment. \"We scored a great goal on the break and then it was a case of defence against attack but someimes you have to do that at places like this.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Gallas, Hleb, Fabregas, Silva (Rosicky 69), Ljungberg (Julio Baptista 69), Van Persie (Adebayor 69), Henry. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Flamini. Booked: Van Persie. Goals: Henry 67 pen. Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Parnaby 72), Euell, Boateng, Rochemback, Downing (Cattermole 72), Yakubu (Viduka 85). Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Johnson. Sent Off: Boateng (64). Booked: Pogatetz, Davies, Euell, Boateng, Downing, Cattermole. Goals: Morrison 22. Att: 60,007 Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).

Arsenal board let me down - Cole
Ashley Cole joined Chelsea because he was angry that the Arsenal board made no serious attempt to keep him. The England defender asked for £60,000 a week in December 2005 but the Gunners board decided on a maximum of £55,000. \"I don't believe the board gave a damn about keeping me, it preferred to haggle over a difference of £5,000,\" said Cole in his new book My Defence. The book is being serialised in the Times and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said on Friday: \"We wish him well.\" Wenger added: \"He is a good guy but he was in a situation where his feelings towards the club changed. Is it his fault? Is it our fault? Is it his agent's fault? \"That today is not really important. At the end of the day the most important thing is that he is happy and the club is happy.\" Cole says in his book that Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein had initially agreed to the wage demand with his agent, Jonathan Barnett. The defender, who signed for Chelsea on 31 August after weeks of wrangling, was told of the board's refusal to sanction the deal when driving his car and \"nearly swerved off the road\". \"I was trembling with anger. I suppose it all started to fall apart for me from then on,\" he added. At a later meeting at Dein's house, Cole told him: \"I feel betrayed and let down by a club I've given my heart and soul to.\" Cole said his relationship with the club further soured when fitness coach Tony Colbert suggested the defender was faking an injury. He had told Colbert he was feeling OK as he walked into the changing rooms at Arsenal's training ground but shortly afterwards a sharp twinge recurred in his thigh. When Colbert heard Cole now complaining of an injury, he said: \"What do you expect me to do, Ash, when you tell me you're OK and then come in here like you've just been shot? \"Be honest with me, are you just making out that it's worse than it actually is because you've got an eye on the World Cup?\" Cole also felt that although Arsenal made a serious attempt to keep skipper Thierry Henry, who eventually signed a new deal despite interest from Barcelona, they did not show him the same interest. \"The club made Thierry feel wanted and special, wooing him, wining and dining him, speaking in public about how much they wanted him to stay, going on a deliberate charm offensive,\" stated Cole. \"But me? I didn't have one dinner, one meeting or one phone call from anyone. \"That's not sour grapes, it's just a sad truth. The truth is that the Gunners had done nothing all season to hold on to me.\"

Mourinho comments left Cole upset
Chelsea's Ashley Cole was unhappy with new boss Jose Mourinho's evidence at the tapping-up inquiry over the then Arsenal star's meeting with the Blues. In The Times he claims in extracts from his book My Defence, that Mourinho's accounts to the Premier League inquiry were \"rubbish\" and \"not good for me\". \"Jose Mourinho talked about me and my agent being unhappy,\" said Cole. \"I grew agitated when he said I wasn't happy with Arsene Wenger's relationship with some of Arsenal's French players.\" Last year, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon, Mourinho and Cole met at a London hotel and were later found guilty of breaching Premier League rules regarding clubs making illegal approaches for players. And Cole has been scathing about Kenyon's testimony over events that day. He said: \"Peter Kenyon said agent Pini Zahavi made the approach on our behalf. \"I told the inquiry that everything that had been said about the hotel meeting was rubbish. \"I ran them through how a brief meeting with Pini Zahavi was interrupted by a knock on the door and in walked the Chelsea manager and chief executive. \"There was general chit-chat and then we left.\"

Fabregas to sign new Arsenal deal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that midfielder Cesc Fabregas will sign a new eight-year contract. Fabregas, 19, recently signed a new contract that was agreed when he penned his initial deal with the club. But Wenger said: \"The real new contract is now. Nineteen plus eight is 27. There are not many longer contracts. \"But when you are 19 years old and are already a regular player in the team, I do not have a problem. It is a wonderful commitment from him.\" Spanish side Real Madrid expressed an interest in signing the midfielder during the summer - but Fabregas made it clear he was happy in London. Fabregas, who played for Spain at the World Cup in the summer, joined Arsenal from the youth ranks at Barcelona in July 2003. And Wenger added the willingness of Fabregas to sign such a long deal was a reflection of the investment and work they have done with the player. \"It is a reward for us because we brought him over at 16 years of age,\" said the Gunners boss.

Wenger says penalty award correct
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side deserved to win a penalty in the 2-1 away victory over Hamburg. The Bundesliga side had keeper Sascha Kirschstein sent off early on for tripping Robin van Persie in the side's Champions League Group G game. \"I have not seen a replay but it looked a penalty,\" said Wenger. \"I feel you have to show a bit of compensation for the keeper as he has to go for the ball in the box. But for me it was a penalty.\" The incident was reminiscent of last season's Champions League final when Arsenal lost to Barcelona after Jens Lehmann was sent off in the 18th minute for bringing down Samuel Eto'o. \"It was a very promising game until the goalkeeper was sent off,\" added Wenger. Unfortunately it happened to them what happened to us in the final.\" Lehmann sympathised with Kirschstein, who was very upset by his red card, and the Arsenal goalkeeper called for a rule change to ensure games were not damaged as sporting spectacles. \"I find it unbelievable,\" said Lehmann. \"The rule has to be changed. I think Van Persie was fouled but the fact that the keeper was sent off ruined the whole match.\" Hamburg coach Thomas Doll disputed both the penalty award and Kirschstein's dismissal. \"I cannot understand how you can give a penalty for that and how you can send our keeper off on top of that,\" said Doll. \"It of course ruined our whole game plan. \"For me, it wasn't a penalty. He trod on the goalkeeper's hand. You can see it clearly from the replay. \"When you go 1-0 down to a team like Arsenal so early in the match then of course it's difficult to win. \"I am convinced we would not have lost with 11 men.\" Meanwhile Wenger revealed that his side is despreate to make up for last season's disappointment in losing in the final to Barcelona. He said: \"You want to justify what you achieved last year and it is an enticement to come back and win the trophy. \"Somewhere inside all of us, the frustration for us is so deep that we want to come back and win it.\"

if you believe in omens. arsenal were the first english team to beat madrid at the bernabeau last season and after last night they were the first english team to beat hamburg in germany. also gilberto scored the first goal of arsenal's campaign last season and he scored arsenal's first of this campaign. could another final beckon this season.

Brady hoping for Chelsea 'crisis'
Arsenal legend Liam Brady said he is hoping Premiership champions Chelsea are heading for a \"crisis\". Brady also believes Blues boss Jose Mourinho has riled some of his players. \"There could be trouble. I wonder how Arjen Robben is going to feel about the situation if he is not included in the plans,\" said the 50-year-old. \"I'm hoping they lose a couple of games and there's a crisis because they've upset a lot of people over the last three years, Mourinho in particular.\" Brady's slating comes on the back of the long-running Ashley Cole saga that caused a rift between the two teams. Cole, who was fined by the Premier League after he was found guilty for having a secret meeting with Chelsea, has been critical of former team Arsenal in his autobiography. Cole finally joined the Blues during August's transfer window with Chelsea defender William Gallas going the other way after also criticising the Stamford Bridge club.

Man Utd v Arsenal
Cristiano Ronaldo is back after missing the Champions League match through suspension, but Ryan Giggs is out. Park Ji-Sung's ankle injury means he is also a non-starter but Nemanja Vidic and Alan Smith are back in the frame. It looks certain Arsenal will be without captain Thierry Henry, who has with a foot injury, and Robin van Persie, who is nursing a hip problem. But defender Kolo Toure is expected to start and midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is pressing for a recall. Interview: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger Interview: Man Utd's Darren Fletcher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Vidic, Silvestre, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Jones, O'Shea, Richardson, Smith, Rooney, Saha. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Hoyte, Djourou, Gallas, Hleb, Baptista, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Van Persie, Flamini, Adebayor, Almunia, Ljungberg, Song, Walcott, Henry. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: \"Historically, our matches against Arsenal have always been feisty affairs. \"When you have clubs with such great histories, who have been competing against each other for titles for so long, I don't think you can avoid that. \"What you want is to make sure the games are being played fairly.\" Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger speaking to Arsenal TV Online: \"Don't forget as well that we have a game in hand. \"We do not go there to lose, we go there to win, and I am confident we have a good chance to do it. \"Let's focus on us and play at our best level and continue to do what we do and try to improve our defensive record.\"

Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal
Emmanuel Adebayor scored five minutes from the end to give Arsenal a first Premiership victory of the season and halt Manchester United's winning run. Cesc Fabregas caught United's Cristiano Ronaldo in possession and Adebayor scored from his threaded pass. United debutant keeper Tomasz Kuszczak had earlier saved Gilberto's penalty after he had brought down Adebayor. Arsenal needed keeper Jens Lehmann to preserve the win, with an astonishing late save from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The German dived full length to his right to turn Solskjaer's left-footed snap shot around the post. With Thierry Henry unfit, Arsenal strung five across midfield, with Adebayor asked to plough a lone furrow up front at Old Trafford. But Arsenal's midfield quintet were completely bypassed by Mikael Silvestre's diagonal ball in the first minute, which found Darren Fletcher breaking into the box, but William Gallas blocked the shot with a well-timed challenge. Edwin van der Sar's failure to shake off a stomach bug handed Kuszczak a debut and his initial action in a first-team shirt was to haul down Adebayor for a penalty. Gilberto's standing foot slipped as he struck the kick, allowing Kuszczak to atone for his error by plunging to his right to save. The Polish keeper's stock rose even further when he parried Adebayor's powerful header against the post and Paul Scholes was on the line to clear the ball away from Gallas. With Freddie Ljungberg, Aleksandr Hleb and Rosicky pushing on from midfield, Arsenal worked the ball slickly to make light of Henry's absence - and Kuszczak was called into action to beat away Tomas Rosicky's powerful shot. Both goalkeepers were hogging the action and Lehmann's sloppy throw led to the ball ending up at Ronaldo's feet and the German had to redeem himself with a sharp save. United's major players were struggling to make a first-half impact, although Ronaldo made one on Lehmann, whose half began with him seeing a yellow card and ended with him seeing stars as he blocked the Portugal winger's shot with his face, knowing little about the save. Arsenal's management of the ball was sublime at times and their five-man midfield made it difficult for United to pick their way through, forcing them to play long balls. The direct route almost paid off when Louis Saha flicked the ball on to Fletcher and hared into the box to meet the cross and glance a header inches wide. Adebayor was given a chance to run on goal by Ronaldo's sloppy pass but the Togo striker's finish was unconvincing, providing Kuszczak with an easier save than he might have expected. John O'Shea then gifted the ball to Julio Baptista and watched with his heart in his mouth as the Brazilian substitute drove on to thump a shot inches wide. There was no hint of either side settling for a draw and in a gripping finale Arsenal took the lead. Fabregas caught Ronaldo in possession 45 yards out and - following a twisting run - threaded a perfect pass for Adebayor to slide the ball past Kuszczak. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Silvestre (Evra 23), Fletcher, Scholes (Carrick 78), O'Shea, Ronaldo, Rooney (Solskjaer 77), Saha. Subs Not Used: Heaton, Vidic. Booked: Brown, Scholes. Arsenal: Lehmann, Eboue, Djourou, Toure, Gallas, Rosicky, Ljungberg, Silva, Fabregas, Hleb (Julio Baptista 68), Adebayor (Flamini 88). Subs Not Used: Almunia, Hoyte, Walcott. Booked: Lehmann, Toure. Goals: Adebayor 86. Att: 75,595 Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Wenger delighted with Arsenal win
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has conceded that defeat at Manchester United could have been \"decisive\" as far as their title chances are concerned. However, the Gunners won 1-0, thanks to a late goal from Emmanuel Adebayor. \"A loss could have been decisive but this win reinforces the belief that we are a very strong side,\" said Wenger. \"I would never have thought that our challenge would have been over if we had lost but psychologically it might have been difficult for the players.\" Wenger added: \"We controlled the game and created chances. We always looked good technically. Everyone in the team played well, gave everything and showed quality. The Gunners had a great chance to take the lead earlier in the match but Gilberto had his penalty saved by Tomasz Kuszczak. The Brazilian slipped as he took the kick, making it easier for the keeper to save the effort. \"I've seen a lot of big players miss penalties,\" said Gilberto. \"Afterwards a lot of my team-mates came over and gave me support. It helped me keep calm. \"A lot of reports said that we were out of the title race but those people are completely wrong.\" Meanwhile, Manchester United skipper Gary Neville said Arsenal made his side pay for their sloppy play. \"We are disappointed. When you make mistakes in midfield they are as good as anybody in making you pay,\" he said. \"Our passing wasn't good and we looked tired. We gave the ball away too many times. We would have accepted 0-0. \"We had two or three clear-cut chances, but didn't take them. They had three good chances too.\"

Jens Lehmann is facing a police probe after allegedly kicking a water bottle at Manchester United supporters. The Arsenal goalkeeper reportedly reacted to the taunts of the home fans after being struck flush in the face by Cristiano Ronaldo's shot during The Gunners' 1-0 win on Sunday. One supporter in Old Trafford's East Stand complained to police that the Germany international had kicked a bottle in frustration. And Greater Manchester Police have now confirmed that 'officers are investigating an allegation and enquiries are ongoing.' A statement read: \"We have received one complaint in relation to an allegation that a water bottle was kicked into the crowd.\"

Arsenal are set to be boosted by the return of Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie this weekend against Sheffield United. Both players missed last weekend's impressive win at Manchester United through injury. Henry has recovered from a foot problem, while van Persie has shaken off a hip injury he sustained in last week's win at Hamburg. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has no fresh injury worries to contend with ahead of the visit of Sheffield United with only long-term casualties Lauren, Philippe Senderos, Abou Diaby and Gael Clichy all sidelined. \"Thierry is available and we should have Robin van Persie back too,\" Wenger told the club's official website. \"We have no big injuries from last week. The other ones like Philippe Senderos, Diaby, Lauren and Clichy are not back yet but Henry is and van Persie should be.\" Henry has admitted that he should not have played against Middlesbrough earlier this month after returning from international duty with an injury. \"It's better (the injury). I'm there to be picked,\" said Henry. \"I made a mistake. I shouldn't have played against Boro. But we didn't start well this season so when I came back from the Italy game, I had an injection and I made it worse.\"

Arsenal v Sheff Utd
Arsenal captain Thierry Henry is set to return to the fray as the Gunners look for a first league win at the Emirates. Fellow forward Robin van Persie is also available after injury, but Theo Walcott is a doubt having picked up a shoulder knock in a reserve outing. Sheffield United travel south short on numbers, with nine players out. Keeper Paddy Kenny, midfielders Michael Tonge and Nick Montgomery and strikers Danny Webber, Steve Kabba and Neil Shipperley are among the casualties. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Hoyte, Djourou, Gallas, Hleb, Baptista, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Van Persie, Flamini, Adebayor, Almunia, Ljungberg, Song, Henry. Sheffield United (from): Bennett, Bromby, Unsworth, Davis, Morgan, Sommeil, Armstrong, Leigertwood, Kozluk, Jagielka, Ifill, Gillespie, A Quinn, Hulse, Akinbiyi, Nade, Kazim-Richards, Bennett.

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