The Arsenal winger Theo Walcott could not have got a higher praise than he got today from the world’s best player, Lionel Messi. The Argentina striker reckons that Fabio Capello was crazy not to take Walcott to South Africa, and thinks that he could have made a real difference in the group stages, and he would frighten any defender that he came up against!

“I must say that at the time I thought it was a bad decision to leave Theo Walcott at home,” Messi said.

“And I think that has been proved right. I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.

“Barcelona players are not scared easily but I can tell you that when we played Arsenal last season he truly worried us.

“When we were playing Arsenal at the Emirates we were so in control of the game at 2-0, with all respect Arsenal were not even in the game.

“Then Theo came on and changed the game. He pretty much single-handedly salvaged a draw against Barcelona that night.

“Even in the return leg our manager Pep Guardiola was telling us he was the player to watch out for.

“And the best players in the world like Xavi and Gerard Pique were telling us to watch out for him. The truth is that he really rattled him.

“If he could do that against Barcelona, think what he could have done against Germany and Algeria. Even if he didn’t start, he would still have been very important for England.

“Along with Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero he would have been the best impact player at the World Cup.”

“Even at the top level, pace scares the world’s best defenders. And, take it from me, he would scare any defender.

“When England brought on players, I don’t think they were at the level to make any impact. But Walcott would have been and I still can’t understand why he wasn’t taken.

“He is a big-game player as well who rises to the occasion. He scored a hat-trick in Croatia, which nobody ever does and was the star against Barcelona.”

Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas Is Dreaming Of Barcelona Move - Gerard Pique
'World Cup has not been a good thing for Arsenal' claims defender...

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique says Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas wants to join him at the Nou Camp next season.

The 23-year-old was speaking after Spain beat Paraguay 1-0 to reach the World Cup semi-finals yesterday.

Pique has been an integral part of his country's campaign in South Africa but Arsenal midfielder Fabregas has yet to start a game.

According to the Telegraph, the former Manchester United defender revealed Fabregas has told him that he wants to quit the Premier League in favour of a move to his boyhood club.

"I have known that Cesc wanted to join Barcelona for many years – but now it is more than about wanting to do it," Barcelona defender Pique said.

"Now it is something he feels he must do. The World Cup has not been a good thing for Arsenal.

"It has meant that he has been spending every day with myself, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Victor Valdes – and he has made his feelings very clear to us.

"He is keeping his mind focused on Spain but his heart is in Barcelona. I think already in his heart he is wearing a Barcelona shirt next season."

Something is definitely afoot here, as the price of Joe Cole to join Liverpool has plunged from 8/1 to 4/5 this morning!

Skybet are usually ahead of the curve with transfers and they were the first of the major bookies to react today.

New Liverpool boss, Roy Hodgson, has stated openly he wants experienced British players to form his new Liverpool team, and at almost 3o years of age, and plenty of Champions League, Premiership and International experience in the locker for Cole, he would seem an ideal fit for Hodgson.

The new man at the helm in Merseyside also likes to play an expansive, pass and move game, which would again suit Cole down to the ground.

I never fancied our chances of landing Cole, and to be honest, I would not be disappointed to miss out on him, he was useless at the World Cup, he gave the ball away 99% of the time he had it.

Chelski are getting rid for a reason, and money is not the reason.  Those injuries have maybe ravaged him of his very best form, the odd flash of brilliance may be the best one can hope from him.

I think he’s finished at the top-level.

The Scousers are free to have him.

Olympique Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has admitted that he would like to see Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri return to the club, but has conceded that the move is unlikely.

The 23-year-old has made 55 league appearances for the Gunners since joining the Emirates Stadium outfit in 2008, and was left out of France's World Cup squad this summer after making 34 appearances for Arsene Wenger's side last season.

Deschamps, 41, has claimed that Nasri didn't want to leave Marseille in 2008 after enjoying a successful season at Stade Velodrome, but the club's economic frailties forced his departure.

And when questioned on whether he'd like to see Nasri return, Deschamps told L'Equipe: "Why not? But I think he is doing well exactly where he is.

"He did not want to move to Arsenal. He had just had a very good season.

"When he left, there was an economic need. And when these players go to clubs like Arsenal, we can no longer fight."

Deschamps also revealed that he is keen to retain the services of highly rated Nigerian defender Taye Taiwo.

"I do not want him to leave. He is in demand because he has quality, but for the moment, I do not intend to seek a replacement because I do not want him to go.

"But we'll be sure to find the best solution for the player and the club."

As the media, pundits and the average football fan assesses, dissects and examines the latest statements from Cesc Fabregas about moving to Barcelona (or staying at Arsenal as some would like to put it) the thing is still, to all intents and purposes, very much in the balance. Will he or will he not will take some more time to be answered. However, as an Arsenal fan, I feel Captain Fab could be committing a mistake that could have a severe impact on his career if he moves from Arsenal. It is not, I hope, a bigoted Arsenal fan’s rant but a reality Fabregas might have to face if he moves to Spain.

Face it, Cesc. You are not going to get much pitch time in the current Barca squad. The Barcelona midfield is packed with stars such as Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Keita and the world’s best player, Messi on the right. Breaking into that midfield would be like a camel going through the proverbial eye of the needle. Fabregas would have got some taste of how life would be at the Catalonian club during his time with the Spain national team at the World Cup, where he has found a good friend in the Spanish bench. Fabregas seemed to be on a no-shave policy unless he got a start and looked to be in contention for the role of Dumbledore in the latest Harry Potter movie until Del Bosque brought him on a sub for Torres  in the 56th minute against Paraguay in the quarter-finals. The Spanish team is well stocked with Barca talent and Fabregas would face the same or even tougher competition at Barcelona. It will be back to the bench again for the 23 year old.

The only reason Barcelona could want Fabregas now is as a back up to Xavi or Iniesta. Xavi is thirty and has probably some two or three years of football for Barca left in him. Iniesta is just 26 and looks like he will be around for a long time. Is Fabregas willing to take such massive risks and move to Barca? On an estimate, Fabregas is as good as Xavi when it comes to talent. Xavi, with more experience and trophies might look the better player if you consider the figures but numbers do not make up everything. As a back up, Fabregas would get very limited time on the pitch and would have to hope Xavi gets injured frequently. Otherwise, his time will come only when Xavi gets too old for Barca and is shipped away.

What then? Fabregas, owing to a prolonged tenure on the sidelines, will have no recognisable form. Lacking match practice, he will be rusty and low-spirited. The Fabregas we would see for Barca will be a mere pale shadow of his Arsenal self. Thus, after a string of poor performances, will the Barca board decide they have had enough of the boy wonder who was not to be? It is definitely debatable.

Now, even if Fabregas is confident that he can work hard, do the impossible and break in to that Barca midfield would Cesc be able to fulfill his ambition of filling up his trophy cabinet? I doubt it. Reason: Jose Mourinho. Two Champions League triumphs, one UEFA Cup win with Porto, six domestic league titles in eight years and eight other trophies in the same period are credentials that would impress even the most dyed-in-the wool pessimists. Jose Mourinho has proven himself to be a winner. There is every possibility that the ‘Special One’ will help himself and Real Madrid to a few titles next season. Cesc, already on the bench, is not even assured of the tremendous success Barca has achieved in recent years. For all he knows, Barcelona could finish trophy less this time, thanks to Jose.

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen harbours high hopes that the club can finally end their five-year trophy drought this season.

Belgium centre-back Vermaelen proved to be a massive success at Emirates Stadium last season as the former Ajax man settled in quickly following his summer move.

With veteran trio William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre and Sol Campbell with their contracts having expired, manager Arsene Wenger is eager to bolster his defence this summer, having already captured striker Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux.

Wenger has reportedly finalised personal terms on a four-year deal worth around £10million for defender Laurent Koscielny, from Ligue 1 outfit Lorient and the 24-year-old is set to team up with Vermaelen at the heart of Arsenal's defence.

Vermaelen believes that the Gunners can mount a sustained challenge for honours and is looking ahead to the new season.

"It is not easy when you come from another country because the Premier League is the hardest league in the world," he told Arsenal TV Online.

"I learned a lot from playing at a higher level, I have learned from different situations in the games, so I hope that I can improve next year.

"This year it did not work out, but we have a lot of good players and a good team with a lot of quality.

"We have to continue what we have been doing, we are working hard.

"I am convinced that next year we can win trophies with this team.

"We had a lot of injuries, and if we can all be fit for a long time next season, it will be a good year for us," added Vermaelen.

The squad are set to begin returning to Arsenal's Hertfordshire training complex later this week ahead of the traditional pre-season friendly at Barnet on 17th July.

The Gunners' Premier League campaign opens with a game against Liverpool at Anfield.

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas is prepared to have a pain-killing injection in his sore shoulder to be available for the European champions' World Cup semi-final against Germany.

Fabregas sustained the injury in the quarter-final victory against Paraguay after coming on as a substitute shortly after halftime to replace Fernando Torres.

The midfielder spent most of the most recent training session in the gym as a precautionary measure.

"It's painful but when you are up for it it's fine," Fabregas told Sport newspaper.

"I am ready to get an injection in order to play," he added.

"If (coach Vicente) Del Bosque needs me I'll be there."

Fabregas and defender Carles Puyol have both been given the all-clear, despite the Arsenal midfielder perhaps needing the pain-killers.

Barcelona centre-half Puyol, who suffered blurred vision after being hit in the face by the ball, is certain to start alongside Gerard Pique in a rematch of the Euro 2008 final.

Fabregas has yet to start a match in the tournament, but Spain looked a much better side in the quarter-final after he came on to replace Fernando Torres.

Arsenal fans know the deal when it comes to transfer deals: it's only official when it's announced on Arsenal.com.

That won't change this summer. But we know that transfer speculation will be rife in the build-up to the 2010/11 campaign and we intend to keep you abreast of the gossip between now and the Big Kick-Off.

The extracts on our Transfer Linked page are taken from selected national newspapers. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of Arsenal Football Club.

Eduardo(Sporting Braga)
Goalkeeper - 27 years old
The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal have been approached over a deal for Sporting Braga keeper Eduardo. It claims the 27-year-old has a £3.4million buy-out clause in his contract. The Portuguese international had an impressive World Cup and conceded just one goal in four games in South Africa.

Laurent Koscielny enjoyed his first training session with Arsenal this afternoon, according to French newspaper Ouest France. The centre back joined in with Arsenal’s Reserves and Youth players, who returned to training last week.

The defender joins the Gunners after a fee of around €12 million euros plus potential add on’s was agreed two weeks ago. The agreement also includes a youth link up with FC Lorient, with training methods and young players set to be exchanged between the two clubs.

Koscielny is said to have trained alongside fellow new signings Kyle Ebecilio and Philip Roberts, with the first-team players not yet back for training. Confirmation of Laurent’s transfer is expected shortly, with Lorient announcing his replacement this morning. However, the Gunners are also yet to confirm Francis Coquelin’s loan move to the Les Merlus.