Arsenal

Lauren remains out until new year
Arsenal right-back Lauren has been ruled out for a further two months as he continues his comeback from injury. The Cameroonian, 29, has been sidelined since undergoing surgery last January to correct a long-term knee problem. \"I don't think you will see Lauren in the team before January,\" manager Arsene Wenger told the club website. \"He's making good progress but he has four or five weeks before he comes back to normal training and then it'll take a month to come back into the team.\" Lauren last played for Arsenal on 21 January when the Gunners beat Wigan 2-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg. \"He played up to the limit of his pain and then maybe he played a little too long,\" added Wenger. \"That created some damage in his knee, which had to be repaired, but he is a tough, tough boy. He works hard and he will come back.\"

Arsenal v Everton
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor will miss out after suffering a thigh injury during the Carling Cup win over West Brom on Tuesday. Freddie Ljungberg, Emmanuel Eboue, Julio Baptista, Lauren and Abou Diaby are all still out. Everton will make a late decision on Phil Neville (hamstring), Joseph Yobo (groin) and Nuno Valente (groin). Andy van der Meyde and Simon Davies have ankle injuries but Tim Howard has recovered from a virus and may return. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Almunia, Djourou, Gallas, Clichy, Toure, Senderos, Hoyte, Hleb, Fabregas, Gilberto, Rosicky, Flamini, Song, Van Persie, Walcott, Henry. Everton (from): Howard, Davies, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Cahill, Carsley, Osman, Arteta, McFadden, Beattie, Johnson, Turner, Anichebe, Boyle, Hughes, Valente, Neville. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: \"Certainly Everton are the toughest side to have come to the Emirates Stadium. \"I could feel in our training sessions that our players are conscious that we are playing against a good side. \"Everton have made a solid start to the season and are only one point behind us in the table.\" Everton assistant manager Alan Irvine: \"The Carling Cup victory over Luton was just a good performance we wanted to take with us to Arsenal. \"We could have been more clinical and scored more, but the overall display was excellent and showed we also have some strength in depth. \"We saw good displays by youngsters Mark Hughes at the back and Victor Anichebe up front. But whether they're involved at Arsenal, I'm not sure.\"

Arsenal 1-1 Everton
Robin van Persie's curling free-kick claimed a point for Arsenal as Everton hung on to frustrate the hosts. Tim Cahill blasted the Toffees in front after 11 minutes when some woeful Arsenal marking allowed the Australian to volley home Mikel Arteta's corner. Everton looked set to become the first team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates after a resolute defensive display. But the defenders could only watch as van Persie bent in his curling set-piece, despite Tim Howard's touch. Arsenal were looking for their six successive victory and quickly pegged back the visitors when Johann Djourou burst from defence and was bundled over inside the box by Phil Neville. Referee Mike Riley waved away appeals for a penalty after the Swiss defender had exchanged a neat one-two with Thierry Henry. But after 11 minutes the hosts fell behind after some appalling Arsenal defending from a corner. Arteta's whipped set-piece found the unmarked Cahill who strolled through a cluster of red shirts and rifled his close-range shot into the roof of the net. The goal forced Arsenal to increase the tempo and Everton spent the majority of the first period camped inside their own half. But for all the Gunners' neat build-up and intricacy around the Everton box, a tame Fabregas effort and Henry's drilled shot from 25 yards were the only occasions in which Howard was forced into action. And shortly before the break Arsene Wenger's side suffered another defensive setback as Justin Hoyte hobbled off injured. Despite showing precious little going forward, the Toffees disrupted Arsenal's rhythm and stubbornly contained the Gunners midfield by packing five into the middle of the park. Arsenal flew out of the blocks after the break as Henry's cushioned header brought a fine full-stretch save from Howard while Tomas Rosicky curled an effort on to the roof of the net. Desperately seeking an equaliser, Wenger threw on Theo Walcott in place of Djourou. But it was from a set-piece that Arsenal responded as Howard failed to keep out Van Persie's fierce free-kick from 25 yards. The American got a firm palm to the ball but could only tip the effort into his own net. Arsenal bombarded the Everton goal in the last 15 minutes but Everton's defence held firm under the intense pressure. David Moyes was sent to the stands for contesting the amount of added time at the end of the match, but seconds later referee Riley blew for time to give the Scot's side a hard-fought point.

Arsenal's Djourou signs new deal
Arsenal defender Johan Djourou has revealed he signed a new six-year contract with the club in the summer. The 19-year-old Swiss centre-back becomes the third young Gunners player, after Kolo Toure and Cesc Fabregas, to have agreed a new deal in recent weeks. \\"I signed for six years in the summer,\\" Djourou told the club website. \\"It shows the boss and the club see the future with me, which is a great thing. I'm happy to be part of a team like Arsenal. I'll do all I can for them.\\"

Aliadiere ponders Arsenal future
Striker Jeremie Aliadiere is thinking of leaving Arsenal in January. Aliadiere, whose contract runs out in 2009, is frustrated by his failure to break into Arsenal's team after returning from a loan spell at Wolves. \"I'm just going to do my best until January and then I'll see,\" Aliadiere told SSB. \"I'm 23 and I'm still young and I want play every week. \"I'm back at Arsenal, which is what I always wanted, but I thought I'd have played more and I'm disappointed.\" The Frenchman added: \"I understand there is a lot of competition at Arsenal and I love the club. I don't want to leave but my career is more important.\" Aliadiere's Arsenal career has been hampered by injury and he missed most of the 2004-2005 campaign with a knee ligament injury and a double hernia. In a bid to play regularly last season he moved to Celtic but played only two games as a substitute for the Bhoys before switching to West Ham. However, he was unable to break into the first team at Upton Park and finished the season at Glenn Hoddle's Wolves. \"I worked really hard in the pre-season and in the games I've played this season I've scored in the reserves as well as the Carling Cup,\" added Aliadiere. \"I'm ready to play, but the manager hasn't given me the opportunity.\" Aliadiere, who joined Arsenal in 1999 and made his first-team debut in 2002, does not want to return to France. \"I want to stay in England and I want to stay in the Premiership.\"

Wenger proud after draw with CSKA
Arsene Wenger said Arsenal's performance against CSKA Moscow might have been their best in the Champions League in his time as manager. Arsenal missed a multitude of chances as the match finished goalless. But afterwards Wenger said: \"The team played exceptionally well - maybe the best Champions League game since I have been here. \"The team played very well but we did not take our chances early on and then there is big pressure on the next one.\" Tomas Rosicky was guilty of the most glaring miss - failing to put the ball into an empty net from three yards. But numerous team-mates also spurned good chances as Arsenal missed the opportunity to move to the top of Group G. \"We should have won by five, six or even seven,\" said Wenger. \"People will feel frustrated by the result but for me it is the best in the Champions League we have played since I've been here. \"Normally, you win this sort of game 7-0 - or maybe 7-1 because CSKA had a chance as well but I still feel there is a lot of positives for the team. \"We were not guilty of trying to score the perfect goal this time. \"We dominated this Moscow team by miles and created clear-cut chances. There was a division of difference between the two teams but we have to take the result. \"Yet, I still feel that this team has great potential and it is how we mature in the coming months that will decide whether we win a trophy.\" Arsenal now have a home game at the end of November against bottom-of-the-table Hamburg, who are without a point after losing 3-1 at home to Porto, Arsenal's final opponents in Group G. \"It will be difficult but there are still so many positives for us to take from this performance. I am convinced one day we will play far less well than that and score four, five, six goals,\" said Wenger. \"We need to keep the belief. It is nothing to do with the new pitch. It is much more simple than that. We need to put the ball in the net. \"But our crowd were great tonight. It was a great crowd, a great performance and a bad result.\"

Reyes will not return to Arsenal
On-loan winger Jose Antonio Reyes insists he does not ever want to return to Arsenal from Real Madrid. The Spain international moved to Real on transfer deadline day with Julio Baptista going the other way, and both deals are expected to become permanent. He told FourFourTwo magazine: \"I do not think I failed in the Premiership but English football is very hard. \"I struggled to adapt to England and so did my family. I do not even want to think about going back.\" The 23-year-old added: \"Everything in England is shut at 5pm, there is nothing to do, nowhere to go. I just got bored. \"I would not say it is a relief to be back in Spain, but I am happy here. \"I always wanted to come to Real Madrid and would love to end my career here. \"Hopefully we will win something this season to prove we are a new Madrid and it will go from there. I am convinced we can.\"

West Ham v Arsenal
West Ham boss Alan Pardew has no new injury worries as he looks to build on the success of beating Blackburn. Argentina international Carlos Tevez is in the squad having resumed training after a spell out with a knee injury. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor looks set to be incluced in the Arsenal squad after shaking off a thigh problem. The Gunners did not pick up any fresh injuries against CSKA Moscow, but Julio Baptista, Freddie Ljungberg, Emmanuel Eboue, Lauren and Abou Diaby are out. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Ham (from): Carroll, Green, Walker, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Konchesky, Spector, Dailly, Pantsil, Mears, McCartney, Benayoun, Mullins, Mascherano, Reo-Coker, Sheringham, Cole, Harewood, Zamora, Tevez. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, Rosicky, Henry, Van Persie, Almunia, Djourou, Senderos, Song, Flamini, Walcott, Aliadiere, Adebayor. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Ham manager Alan Pardew: \"Knowing Arsenal, that will only fuel them towards getting a better response this time but the most important thing for us is remembering last year how we approached those two games. \"We have to have the same approach because whatever set up you have you have to have a 'no fear' approach.\" Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: \"We should get a lot of encouragement from the last two games and turn it our way by just insisting and trying to do better. \"Teddy Sheringham in the Blackburn game has showed how much experience can make a difference. \"I also like Nigel Reo-Coker. He has a good workrate, technique and power. He has physical power. In the middle of the park he uses that very well, he is very incisive and wins the ball. \"He did that against us last year.\"

Everton v Arsenal
David Weir has been given the all-clear to return to the Everton squad following a head injury. Nuno Valente could be in contention after recovering from a groin injury, but Gary Naysmith is still out. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expected to give his young players another chance to impress. Philippe Senderos is set to start in defence as he looks to regain match fitness, while Denilson and Jeremie Aliadiere should also feature. Everton (from): Howard, Neville, Stubbs, Lescott, Weir, Valente, Davies, Beattie, Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Arteta, Johnson, Anichebe, Turner, McFadden, Hughes. Arsenal (from): Almunia, Connolly, Senderos, Djourou, Clichy, Flamini, Song, Denilson, Randall, Walcott, Adebayor, Traore, Aliadiere, Poom, O'Cearuill, Simpson, Hoyte, Eboue.

Hill-Wood plays down Wenger row
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood feels Arsene Wenger's touchline row with West Ham boss Alan Pardew during Sunday's match was \"a very minor incident\". The FA are reviewing TV footage of the incident, which occurred when Wenger was angered by the way Pardew celebrated his side's winning goal. However, Hill-Wood told the Daily Star: \"It should be passed over. It was a brief little piece of passion. \"I really do not think it is a serious thing at all.\" He added: \"It was a little flurry and, quite honestly, it is a game played with great passion and people are passionate about it, so I am very relaxed. \"I have not said anything to Arsene about it and I do not intend to say anything to him about it.\" League Managers Association chief executive John Barnwell agrees that the issue is in danger of being blown out of proportion, but says the incident was \"unacceptable\". \"It is something that is unacceptable from two decent guys but I do not think it is a major issue personally,\" he said. \"Too many people are trying to make a major issue out of it because they are looking for a story. All it does is show you the emotions of the game.\" Barnwell thinks moving the rival dugouts further apart on the touchline may prevent similar incidents. \"I feel the technical area has always been a problem and the two dugouts should be moved 20 metres apart. We flagged it up ages ago but it is really another issue in this instance.\" Hill-Wood, who watched the game at home, admitted Wenger had lost his cool at Upton Park. \"I think Arsene was pretty upset but I am sure he will talk next time there is a press conference,\" said Hill-Wood.

Arsenal v Liverpool
Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky could be out for two weeks after suffering a hamstring injury. Keeper Manuel Almunia has recovered from concussion to take his place on the bench, but Freddie Ljungberg and Julio Baptista are still not match fit. Mohamed Sissoko's injury lay-off leaves Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez with a dilemma in central midfield. Steven Gerrard could move infield, allowing Jermaine Pennant to step in on the right wing against his former club. Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Hoyte, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, Henry, van Persie, Almunia, Djourou, Senderos, Eboue, Song, Flamini, Walcott, Aliadiere, Adebayor. Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Luis Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Zenden, Kuyt, Crouch, Dudek, Warnock, Bellamy, Agger, Pennant, Gonzalez, Fowler, Paletta. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas on how teams play at the Emirates: \"Teams defend and defend and try to waste time, which I worry referees do not do enough about. \"I call it 'anti-football', but we must accept it happens and break teams down. \"I could never play like that as I am only happy if we're winning and playing good football, not being so happy to draw and play in such a negative way.\" Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt on his friendship with Arsenal's Robin van Persie: \"I played for a season with Robin in the Dutch league. He is growing as a player and a human being. \"I'll talk to him before the game because he's a good friend, but it will be nice to see him and then beat him. \"After four home wins and the cup we have lots more confidence, but it is very important that we beat Arsenal.\"

Arsenal moved into the top three after a 3-0 win over Liverpool at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners claimed what turned out to be a comfortable victory with goal from the recalled Mathieu Flamini and central defenders Kolo Toure and William Gallas. The opening Arsenal goals came from stunning moves, which was in stark contrast to Liverpool - who failed to really test Manuel Almunia in the home goal, who was starting in place of Jens Lehmann who had a throat infection, during the entire 90 minutes. The first period was evenly contested throughout, although it was Arsenal who were quicker out of the blocks. After two minutes Robin van Persie had the ball in the net, but his effort was rightly ruled out and he was booked as he actually punched the ball past the advancing Pepe Reina before finishing. Dirk Kuyt has Liverpool's first chance came just over ten minutes in when a long ball over the top saw the Dutchman get the better of Kolo Toure, and his instinctive lob only just dropped over the bar. The Reds then had a goal of their own disallowed as Peter Crouch scrambled home Kuyt's cross into the six-yard box - but he was yards offside before he connected. Kuyt and Thierry Henry then tested the respective Spanish shot-stoppers with Reina and Almunia both equal to the efforts. Liverpool looked to be finishing the half the brighter with Bolo Zenden and then Mark Gonzalez both failing to find the target when well placed. Then, a wonderful flowing move from Arsenal unlocked the Liverpool defence to give them the lead. Alexander Hleb advanced inside from the right flank and waited for a run, which duly came from Cesc Fabregas - the Belarus ace found the Spaniard's run with a sublime ball and he in-turn fired across the box where Flamini was on hand to hold off a Jamie Carragher challenge and scramble the ball home. The second half saw Liverpool looking for an immediate response to going behind. They almost capitalised on a rare error from Fabregas as Alonso disposed him on the edge of the box before finding Steven Gerrard - but he fired well over without testing Almunia. Hleb and Fabregas combined again to try and send Henry clear, but thankfully for Liverpool Reina was off his line quickly to deny Arsenal a second - although with minutes they did extend their advantage. Another stunning move saw Fabregas exchange passes with Henry, he then found van Persie - whose attempted flick somewhat fortuitously fell at his own feet. He then produced a slide-rule pass into the run of a rampaging Toure and he defied his billing as a central defender to fire home underneath Reina. Liverpool had a great chance to get themselves back into the game almost immediately as Zenden met a Gerrard free kick, but the Dutchman could not find the target. On the hour and the visitors were more than fortunate to remain with 11 players on the pitch Jamie Carragher - already on a booked - launched himself into a tackle and caught van Persie, but referee Mark Clattenburg deemed a ticking off sufficient punishment. Van Persie was soon back in his stride and he stung the palms of Reina after a terrific run from Gael Clichy down the left. Gerrard, now in central midfield with Jermaine Pennant coming on for the ineffectual Gonzalez, saw a deflected effort on just drop over Almunia's bar. With time running out Craig Bellamy was introduced by Rafa Benitez as he looked for a route back into the game - but it was Arsenal who continued to push on looking for a third and the home fans did not have long to wait. The goal was the simplest of the three as van Persie fizzed a corner into the box and with Gerrard and John Arne Riise both decided to mark Henry - that left an unmarked Gallas with the simple task of heading low past Reina. Yet another disallowed goal for the visitors followed as Bellamy headed home from close range from Gerrard's cross - but it was just not to be for Liverpool as their run of five consecutive wins came to an abrupt and deserved end. Arsenal could and should have made it four in the final minutes as substitute Emmanuel Adebayor broke clear, but he seemed to have too much time and fired at Reina.

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