Arsenal

Euro experience frustrates Wenger
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he will always have unfinished business in the Champions League - even if the club go on to win it three seasons in a row. He has never won the trophy in his 10 years with the Gunners and saw them lose to Barcelona in this year's final. He said: \"No matter when I stop, I will always feel I have not done enough. \"I will always have that feeling - even if I won the Champions League three seasons running, I'd still think it. It is in me, I don't know why but it is.\" Although the Gunners boss has not himself re-run every minute of last season's final, Wenger admits a sense of what might have been will always remain. \"I have not intentionally watched it again but I have seen it again,\" added Wenger, whose side lost 2-1 to Barcelona. \"When I come in to training, we always have people who watch videos. Even when you do not want to watch it, you get to training and people are looking at it. \"We should have won it, yes, because we had the chances to score the second goal and also because we lacked a bit of experience in the way we conceded the goal. \"However, you cannot say it was a big failure on the day, that the team did not turn up. \"We gave absolutely everything, were a bit unlucky and a bit lacking in experience.\" Wenger accepts his side have now become something of a scalp in European football - given their exploits last season. \"The fact we believe we can go into the final again is compensated by the fact that we will not surprise Real Madrid or Barcelona now if we play them,\" he said. \"They would expect a different game, for us to be strong. But, on the other hand, we would be stronger and believe more we can do it.\"

Cole's agent handed FA suspension
Agent Jonathan Barnett has had his licence suspended for 18 months and been fined £100,000 for his role in the Ashley Cole tapping-up affair. An independent Football Association disciplinary commission found Barnett had breached two rules regarding illegal approaches. Nine months of Barnett's ban from acting as an agent have been suspended. Cole - then of Arsenal - Chelsea and manager Jose Mourinho have already been punished for their role in the meeting. England defender Cole and his agent Barnett met with Mourinho, Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and agent Pinhas Zahavi at the Royal Park Hotel in London in January 2005, while Cole was an Arsenal player. The England full-back later signed a new contract with Arsenal but moved to Chelsea last month after a summer of protracted negotiations between the two clubs. Barnett denied any wrongdoing but the commission found two misconduct charges against him proved - that he procured a breach of Premier League rule K5 regarding illegal approaches and that he was guilty of failing to respect the rights of a third party (Arsenal). The commission said it was \"wholly satisfied that Mr Barnett was a prime mover in the setting up of the meeting\". It added that the second nine months of Barnett's punishment will be suspended on condition that he does not, within the 18 month period, breach any Football Association rule. Chelsea were fined £300,000 and handed a suspended three-point deduction when the Premier League investigated the case last year. Mourinho and Cole were also fined £75,000 apiece, with Cole failing in an appeal against his punishment. The FA said it does not have any jurisdiction over agent Zahavi, who was thought to be at the meeting to help broker a deal.

Wenger encouraged by Arsenal win
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his side's Champions League Group G victory over Porto provides further evidence of their growing confidence. \"We are getting stronger and stronger,\" said Wenger, after the 2-0 home win. \"We're sharp and we always looked dangerous and I feel we have a lot of potential - we're getting better.\" Of Thierry Henry's headed opening goal, Wenger quipped: \"He proved he can score headers. So you always learn something about your players.\" Wenger added: \"Thierry doesn't only play to score goals. But to score 50 in Europe is a tremendous performance. The numbers don't lie. \"You will not find many players who have scored more goals in Europe than he has.\" One concern for Wenger was William Gallas' hamstring injury after the French defender limped off late on. \"It looked to me very serious but I hope it's not too bad,\" said Wenger. \"For Saturday we will be short and then I don't know if he will be available for the French national team.\" Porto coach Manuel Ferreira admitted his side were unable to cope with Arsenal's speed of play. Ferreira said: \"Arsenal are a team with the ability to change a game very quickly. Their play was really fast and we couldn't keep up. \"As soon as they scored the second goal I knew it would be much much harder. We tried to keep the ball but they were really on a roll. \"We had to stick to our own system. If we had got into playing Arsenal's way the result could have been much worse.\"

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein says The Gunners are determined to keep Arsene Wenger for another ten years and beyond as the French boss celebrates a decade in charge in North London. Since his arrival from Nagoya Grampus Eight on September 28, 1996, the Frenchman has become one of the most respected figures in football with his unique interpretation of the beautiful game bringing him three Premiership titles and four FA Cups at Highbury. The former Monaco chief has also overseen the long awaited move to Emirates Stadium and constantly unearthed gems of young players such as Patrick Vieira, Nicolas Anelka, Kolo Toure and Cesc Fabregas whilst bringing constant success to The Gunners. It is remarkable that during his ten-year tenure his position has never been remotely in doubt due to his enduring ability to challenge at the top level, with last season's fourth place finish finally marring a record that saw his sides end a full season in the top two without fail. Now Dein, who was instrumental in recruiting the Frenchman ten years ago, says the Gunners board are determined to keep hold of Wenger in perpetuity in whatever role he seeks to occupy. \\"We want him for the rest of his career,\\" said Dein. \\"If he wanted to give up the tracksuit he'd be invaluable in the boardroom in a technical role.\\" Wenger has previously stated he will not complete another ten years managing at the top level, but his enthusiasm currently remains undiminished and with a young team at his disposal the Frenchman is excited about the imminent future. \\"We have a young team and want to continue developing,\\" said Wenger. \\"Reaching the Champions League final last season gave us belief. \\"I listened to Tony Blair on the television and when he said that '10 years ago we started' I thought for a moment he was talking about me! \\"He talked about how the world had changed in that time and our world has changed here too. The stadium is a concrete sign that we are going in the right direction.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he is concerned by the growing number of foreign owners coming to The Premiership. Four of the clubs currently in the top six of The Premiership have been snapped up by investors from overseas, while West Ham appear to be on the verge of a possible takeover too. Wenger feels that Premiership clubs need to be careful about letting the pattern continue, as the league runs the risk of losing its English identity. \"This trend (for foreign ownership) does worry me. Generally you want the clubs to be in control of their own destiny,\" he said in The Mirror. \"If you suddenly have 20 foreign investors who buy 20 English clubs you are in danger. \"The manager is foreign, the players are foreign, you need to draw a line. England doesn't control it any more.\" Wenger regularly chooses not to select any home-grown players in his starting line-ups, but he maintains that Arsenal's English ownership will always keep the club on the right track \"I feel the soul of football in this country is first granted by the owners of the clubs,\" he explained. \"Here, for example, at Arsenal I feel I am really at an English club. \"Traditionally the people who owned the clubs were first and foremost supporters. \"If that ceases to be the case then the clubs lose something.\"

Charlton v Arsenal
Andy Reid is in line for a return to the Charlton side to ease the injury crisis at the Valley. Jerome Thomas, Souleymane Diawara and Omar Pouso are poised to return to training, while Jonathan Fortune (toe) and Gonzalo Sorondo remain sidelined. Arsenal defender William Gallas will have a fitness test on his hamstring ahead of his side's trip to The Valley. Johan Djourou (foot) is also a concern and a decision will be made as late as possible, so Justin Hoyte stands by. Charlton (from): Carson, Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, Fortune, Rommedahl, Kishishev, Faye, Ambrose, Reid, Holland, M Bent, D Bent, Hasselbaink, Holland, Ashton, Myhre, Sankofa, John, Walker, Lisbie. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Hoyte, Djourou, Gallas, Hleb, Baptista, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Van Persie, Flamini, Adebayor, Almunia, Ljungberg, Walcott, Song, Henry. # Charlton manager Iain Dowie: \"We will have to be very resilient. It is a myth that you can bully Arsenal - but you have got to get close to them. \"If you stand off and allow Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky or Alexander Hleb time they will pick out a pass. \"We have to attack them when we get the opportunity. Arsenal are not unbeatable, but you have to win enough of the one-on-one individual battles.\"

Ljungberg facing fitness battle
Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg faces a fitness race to be ready in time for Arsenal's next Premiership match. The Gunners entertain Watford on Saturday but the Swede, 29, is a doubt after sustaining a calf injury in his country's 2-0 victory over Spain. The problem means he is definitely out of the midweek Euro 2008 qualifier in Iceland and now his focus is on recovering in time to face Watford. Ljungberg said of the Iceland game: \"It is sad but the fact is I can't play.\" Sweden coach Lars Lagerback had already called up Elfsborg's Stefan Ishizaki as a replacement before news of Ljungberg's withdrawal had been confirmed. Lagerback said: \"Of course it's bad for us and sad for Fredrik. \"We have alternatives in our squad but I will not go in to details about our team on Wednesday.\" Ljungberg, who is Sweden's captain, went off after 56 minutes of Saturday's game and has returned to London for treatment from Arsenal's medical team.

Arsenal hit by triple injury blow
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been hit by the news that Freddie Ljungberg, Emmanuel Eboue and Julio Baptista are all facing spells out through injury. \"Freddie has a calf injury, Emmanuel will miss three to four weeks with a medial knee ligaments injury and Julio has a hamstring problem,\" said Wenger. \"Unfortunately when you have so many players away on international duty you can have some bad news.\" However William Gallas is set to be fit for Saturday's game against Watford. Wenger also had some positive news on the progress of Philippe Senderos and Gael Clichy, who have yet to figure in the first-team this season. \"They are making good progress, but I do not know when they will be in the team,\" added the Frenchman. \"They could be in the squad for one of the next two games - but they are still a little bit short of match fitness really.\"

Arsenal v Watford
Left-back Gael Clichy returns to the Arsenal squad after a long fitness battle but Freddie Ljungberg, Emmanuel Eboue and Julio Baptista are all out. Philippe Senderos (shoulder) is not quite ready for a place in the squad while Lauren (knee) and Abou Diaby (ankle) remain sidelined. Chris Powell is back in Watford's squad after recovering from a calf injury. Clarke Carlisle (thigh) is still out and James Chambers has joined Championship leaders Cardiff on loan. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Toure, Gallas, Hoyte, Djourou, Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Henry, van Persie, Rosicky, Adebayor, Almunia, Flamini, Walcott, Song, Aliadiere, Connolly. Watford (from): Foster, Lee, DeMerit, Shittu, Mackay, Stewart, Powell, Mariappa, Doyley, Smith, Mahon, Francis, Bouazza, Spring, Bangura, Jarrett, McNamee, King, Young, Henderson, Priskin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on the pre-match presentation to mark his 10 years in charge: \"I feel honoured people show me that respect and I am pleased with that - but I don't want to damage our chances to win the next game. What I want is to focus on the next game and win it. \"It is not my nature to reflect. What I think is 'how far can this team go?' \"I personally am convinced it can go very far and it is down to all of us to convince them and get the best out of the team.\" Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd: \"The Arsenal players will have earned themselves some frequent-flyer miles this week. \"I know where they have been and what they have done as I consider it part of my job to find that information. \"The timing could work for us, as they also have a Champions League game in Moscow on Tuesday. But then again, they are expected to win this game.\"

Ribery agent makes Arsenal claim
Arsenal boss Arsenal Wenger wants to bring French World Cup star Franck Ribery to the Emirates Stadium, according to the winger's agent. Ribery, 23, was linked with a £10m move to the Gunners in the summer but stayed at Marseille. His agent Bruno Heidersheid told the News of the World: \"Wenger likes Ribery a lot. He wanted to take him this summer but Marseille refused to sell. \"Arsene has made it clear he wants to take him next year.\" Ribery moved to Marseille from Metz last summer and still has four years left on his contract. Heiderscheid insists the France international is keen to join up with Wenger in the Premiership. However, he has not yet had any official contact with the club. \"Franck would very much like to join Arsenal because of Arsene, the style of football they play and because his very close friend from the France team, Thierry Henry, plays for them,\" said Heiderscheid. \"I can categorically deny there is any agreement with Arsenal at this stage or even negotiations. \"These would have to take place in January at the earliest as we see how the season progresses with Marseille. \"Franck is now a very big player in Europe and it's true the biggest clubs want him badly.\" Ribery was handed his international debut just before the World Cup and impressed with his pace and flair on the flank. He is expected to take the role of the retired Zinedine Zidane for Les Bleus.

Wenger fears for keepers' safety
Arsene Wenger fears a goalkeeper could be killed on the football field unless they are given more protection. Chelsea keeper Petr Cech fractured his skull after colliding with Reading's Stephen Hunt on Saturday. The Arsenal boss said it was no coincidence more keepers were suffering serious injuries during matches. But he added: \"I can't imagine a player will go in to try to hit another player on the head with his knee because you know you can kill the player.\" Wenger said there had been four instances in the past six months in which goalkeepers had been badly injured. Chelsea's second-choice keeper Carlo Cudicini was also stretchered off in Saturday's match after colliding with Ibrahima Sonko. Middlesbrough's Mark Schwarzer fractured a cheekbone after a collision with Dean Ashton in April, while Newcastle's Shay Given needed surgery after tearing a bowel in a challenge with Marlon Harewood in September. \"This year there have been four incidents. It cannot be coincidence,\" Wenger said. And the Arsenal boss admitted he feared a serious injury to his keeper Jens Lehmann. \"In some games, Jens has been targeted,\" he said. Lehmann also voiced concern about goalkeepers' safety, saying someone could end up in a wheelchair if they were not protected. \"I really felt sorry for both Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini. It made me really, really angry too. \"I'm upset still because it happened to Schwarzer and Given. Now it's happened to Cech and Cudicini. \"All of them are great keepers, very brave. They never went to challenge or harm the striker, but all four of them got knocked out due to what are called 'clumsy' challenges. \"This word clumsy makes me really angry as well because these stupid TV pundits say sometimes 'it's clumsy' and 'it's a man's game'. \"Yes it is a man's game, but what you have to consider as well is these men have children and wives and their children don't want to see their fathers end up with lifelong damage, driven around in a wheelchair or not being able to work anymore.\"

Henry fumes at disallowed strike
Arsenal striker Thierry Henry was \"fuming\" after having a late goal disallowed for handball in their 1-0 Champions League loss at CSKA Moscow. Henry said: \"The referee saw a handball when there wasn't a handball. You will have to ask him why this is so. \"He gave me a yellow for a deliberate handball but if you can see that on the replay I'll give you whatever you want. \"I know it was a clean and clear goal. The keeper and defenders did not call it, only a linesman 60 yards away.\" Henry, who has no right of appeal against the booking, added: \"I asked the referee and the linesman at the end what they saw and they could not tell me what they saw. \"I was fuming, he should have given me a red card for deliberate handball, that would have been the cherry on the cake. \"I just hope that what goes around comes around and it'll be our turn next time.\" Arsene Wenger also hit out at referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez after Henry's effort was ruled out. Wenger said: \"The referee has not seen anything, I felt it was a goal. We have to accept sometimes that referees give goals because they do not see things. \"Now we have something new - they cancel goals because they saw things which did not exist. That's a problem.\" Wenger, though, admitted his side had been outplayed for large spells of the match which saw CSKA knock Arsenal off the top of Group H in the Champions League. \"We do not depend on decisions, we depend on our own quality of play,\" added Wenger. \"Until they went 1-0 ahead, Moscow were sharper than us, winning more fights than us and finally got the advantage they deserved at that point of the game. \"We tried to attack after that, and they defended in an intelligent way. \"They got a bit of luck with their goal which, but overall they have shown great quality.\" Wenger was also unhappy about the playing surface at the Lokomotiv Stadium. He said: \"We battled hard to come back, but the quality of the pitch was a handicap as well. \"Uefa has to look into that because it is not acceptable that you play on pitches like that in the Champions League. \"They deserve a much better pitch, and that can make them better.\"

Cesc Fabregas has outlined his aim to lead Arsenal to renewed success after inking a new eight-year deal at Emirates Stadium. The 19-year-old Spanish international put pen to paper on an improved deal on Wednesday to ensure that he will remain at the forefront of Arsene Wenger's attempts to wrestle control of The Premiership back from Chelsea. Since becoming The Gunners' youngest ever player, the former Barcelona trainee has helped the London side to triumph in the 2005 FA Cup final as well as playing an integral role in their run to the UEFA Champions League final last season. However, as he looks forward to reinforcing his position as one of the most gifted midfielders in Europe after committing himself to the club until 2014, Fabregas says he is driven by a desire to bring more major trophies to Emirates Stadium. The Catalan midfield conductor also expressed his delight at being able to show his commitment to Wenger after the Frenchman plucked him from Camp Nou and turned him into a Premiership regular and Spain's youngest ever World Cup player. \"I am so happy here and I am delighted to have signed this new contract that will keep me at the club for years to come,\" Fabregas told the club's official website. \"I wanted to pay back the club, especially Arsene Wenger for the support and faith he has shown in me. \"What is important now is for the team to realise its potential and win trophies. That is our main aim, that is my aim as well.\"

Reading 0-4 Arsenal
Arsenal moved up to fourth in the Premiership after a sparkling display. Thierry Henry needed only 58 seconds to score Arsenal's first goal at the Madejski Stadium, the striker stroking home Cesc Fabregas' precise pull-back. Alexander Hleb doubled the lead after exchanging passes with Tomas Rosicky and Robin van Persie finished another fast-flowing move after half-time. Thierry Henry converted a penalty after Marcus Hahnemann's foul on Fabregas as Arsenal completely outclassed Reading. With title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both wrapping up victories before Arsenal had kicked off, the Gunners were under pressure to secure the three points to keep them in touch. They wasted little time in stamping their authority on the game, the first league meeting between the two sides. Fabregas received the ball on the right, nonchalantly brushed aside James Harper's challenge and cut the ball back for Henry to score his 168th Premiership goal. The sublime goal set the tone for a sumptuous attacking display from the Gunners. Henry and Fabregas combined again after five minutes but Reading keeper Ivar Ingimarsson was alert to the danger and smothered the teenager's shot. Reading threatened an unlikely equaliser through Seol Ki-Hyeon but Jens Lehmann tipped over the South Korean's fierce volley - and Arsenal were soon 2-0 ahead. Hleb collected Tomas Rosicky's return pass and blasted the ball off Marcus Hahnemann's arm and into the roof of the net. Had Van Persie been less selfish, Arsenal might even have been further ahead at the interval. The Dutch striker twice went for goal with his team-mates screaming for the ball, while he also blazed a free-kick over the bar. Steve Coppell opted for a change at half-time, Brynjar Gunnarsson replacing Ulises de la Cruz at right-back but within four minutes of the restart, the Reading boss watched in horror as the hosts' defence was sliced open again. Hleb collected Henry's through ball and cut it back for Van Persie to slot home. Reading, for whom striker Shane Long made a first Premiership start, were in danger of being overrun but, to their credit, they kept their heads up. Coppell's side even came close to a goal when Stephen Hunt shot over but Arsenal hit back immediately. Fabregas was clearly caught by Hahnemann as he bore down on goal and Henry coolly converted the penalty to make it 4-0. With 20 minutes still left to play, the Gunners relaxed, allowing Reading some long spells of possession, but the visitors could not find a consolation as an in-form Arsenal posted their fifth successive league win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reading: Hahnemann, De la Cruz (Gunnarsson 46), Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon (Oster 77), Sidwell, Harper, Hunt, Long (Little 73), Doyle. Subs Not Used: Stack, Lita. Arsenal: Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Gallas, Rosicky (Song Billong 77), Fabregas, Silva, Hleb (Adebayor 73), Van Persie (Walcott 73), Henry. Subs Not Used: Almunia, Clichy. Goals: Henry 1, Hleb 39, Van Persie 50, Henry 70 pen. Att: 24,004. Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

West Brom v Arsenal
Kevin Phillips misses out again for West Brom with a calf injury but Darren Carter returns after a ban. But Neil Clement and centre-half Thomas Gaardsoe are both still absent. Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos will make his first appearance since dislocating his shoulder playing for Switzerland at the World Cup. Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor will also start as Gunners boss Arsene Wenger gives run-outs to fringe players and others recently back from injury. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal (from): Almunia, Poom, Hoyte, Djourou, Senderos, Clichy, Flamini, Song, Denilson, Walcott, Aliadiere, Adebayor, Toure, Fabregas, Rosicky, Hleb, Van Persie.

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