THEO WALCOTT wants to send out another chilling warning to Arsenal’s title rivals by beating Manchester City on Wednesday.


Arsenal’s rampaging victory over Birmingham made a mockery of Manchester United’s struggle for a point at St Andrew’s last week.

Now Walcott and Co have their sights set on delivering a hammer blow to the blue half of the Manchester challenge at the Emirates.

Anyone who doubted Arsenal’s bottle for the battle will have been blown away by their impressive demolition job on Alex McLeish’s relegation scrappers.

But Walcott wants to sound an even more emphatic warning by sending Roberto Mancini’s men packing – after their morale-boosting victory over Chelsea at the start of the Christmas period.

He said: “Our target is to beat them especially with home support behind us. We played well against Chelsea. Now we have a couple of days to relax. We don’t want to think about it on our days off.

“We have had a busy few days. Everyone is looking forward to the game when it comes but at the same time everyone is looking forward to a little relax.”

Sir Alex Ferguson’s psychological warfare was thrown back in his face in the way Arsenal romped to victory.

The United boss tried to rev up Birmingham in the aftermath of last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw, claiming that no side gets an easy ride there.

But after their disappointing 2-2 draw with Wigan, Arsenal made it look child’s play.

Walcott said: “It was a fantastic result. We have found it quite diffi cult in previous years but, no disrespect, we made them look quite average.

“The lads were brilliant. It is a tough place and they showed that against United. A lot of teams would have been happy with a draw here. But we were all on the ball.”

Wenger made eight changes from the side that drew with Wigan, but has yet to decide whether there will be more rotation.

But Walcott insists every player has totalbelief in his methods and insists the return of seven points from three matches in six days is all the proof needed.

He said: “Making the changes worked again. If someone had said we’d get seven points in these three games I think we’d take that.

“It shows how important the squad is and how you have to rotate, especially in this busy period.”

Samir Nasri’s form also shows what a crazy decision it was for France to omit him from their World Cup squad.

Nasri has struck 13 goals and is a leading contender for Player of the Season.

Walcott said: “He is brilliant. I love playing with him and he is a great guy as well.”

Coyle signed Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere on loan last January and has been linked with a similar move for Vela, who the Scot described as an "outstanding" player.

"It's fair to say I would like to help the group that we have," Coyle said. "We had only 15 players at the weekend at Anfield, so we'd like to get one or two in to help the team. Time will tell who becomes available and who wants to come.

"Carlos Vela is an outstanding player. I think what happened was that (Arsenal manager) Arsene Wenger said he might consider letting him go out on loan and then people have looked and put two and two together.

"Bolton have a very good relationship with Arsenal, obviously with Jack Wilshere last year - hopefully we played a small part in his continuing development.

"But there is no doubt that Carlos Vela is a wonderful player."

Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski confessed he is finally enjoying himself with the Gunners after having to sit on the bench for almost three consecutive years.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the Polish International explained how at the age of 25 he is now more mature in the way of understanding the game and approaching games as he revealed how when at Legia Warszawa he used to get carried away as soon as positive comments were made on his performances.

On all the criticism he received in the past two seasons, the goalkeeper added that he knows people questioned and will keep questioning his qualities but added how he is only focused on working hard and doing well in training and on the pitch.

The Gunners will face Manchester City on Wednesday in a top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates with the 25-year old set to keep his place in goal after keeping a clean sheet, on Saturday, against Birmingham City away from home.

On his maturity and qualities, Fabianski said:

Quote:

When I was 20 I was different in the way of thinking. The first year when I was playing for Legia [Warszawa] was amazing, a lot of things happened to me and my world changed completely. Maybe I was getting too excited when people were saying positive things about me but I’ve always been working with good coaches and [they] always worked with me not only on the goalkeeping side but also the mental preparation. The most frustrating time for me [was when I was injured] because after I came back I was sitting on the bench. Three years almost always sitting on the bench was not enjoyable but now it’s ok. I know people have questioned me and maybe some still do, but to be honest I was only focused on working hard and doing my job on the pitch. I always knew I had the ability to play at the top level. The players see me every day in training and know what I am able to do. I had the believe as well and [was always waiting] to get that chance, to play longer and at the moment it’s alright. I don’t want to get overexcited about it but I’m enjoying it.

Arsenal are worried about Nicklas Bendtner being the subject of tapping-up by Champions League finalists Bayern Munich.

It is believed that Bayern, who have admitted their interest in Bendtner on record publicly recently, made contact with Nicklas Bendtner’s representatives (including his father) to make their interest known and gave details as to the terms that would be offered by the Germans.

The first suggestions that tapping-up took place were first mentioned to me a few months ago, and after talking to a few well informed people about this happening, the broad consensus seems to be that is did take place and Arsenal are less than happy about it, especially considering the issues with Barcelona and Cesc Fabregas over the summer. It is important to say that at no point is there any suggestion that the player even knew about Bayern’s attempt to persuade his father and agent to engineer a move to Germany. That said, the comments made by Nicklas about possibly seeking a move elsewhere if he didn’t find his way into the starting eleven on a regular basis just heeded to fuel the fears of people at the club.

Tapping-up is highly tricky to prove and the only way it can be dealt with is that the club with whom the player is registered make a complaint to FIFA, the highly useful and rule abiding governing body of football. Chelsea have fallen foul of FIFA transfer ruling, in other words been punished for tapping-up, on a couple of occasions. The most recently they were let off during the Gael Kakuta saga.

It seems as if the dark shadow of Bayern Munich has been staved off for now with Bendtner committing his future to the club and explaining that he will fight for his place:

I want to get back to 100 per cent, get back into the squad and take my chances when I get them to prove I should be there. At the end of the season we can see where I am, see where the team is and how well we have done.

Whilst it is hardly a statement long-term commitment, we can’t doubt that he will fight for his position at the club and like him or not (I do), he does score goals. He has started 70 games and has a return of 40 goals – he has appeared as a substitute 65 times. Say what you like, but it is a very good return for a young striker who nearly had a tally of a goal a game last season after dragging us through many games towards the tail end when we still had slight hopes of winning the title.

For what it is worth, I reckon he is turning into a class forward, I have been saying it for the last few years and really do believe that he will be a world class striker, he has all the attributes and a knack for scoring big goals. Spurs, Chelsea Barcelona – not bad opposition to notch goals against by the age of 22.

Bayern’s interest is believed to have ignited in the summer after his form at the tail end of last season when he has half-fit – and has continued until this autumn. Milan are also said to be keeping tabs on him.

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon has revealed that the foreign players who joined Arsenal could not understand the distinct 'British' tradition of the Boxing Day fixture.

Whilst the rest of Europe get a break during the Christmas period, the Premier League piles up the matches with teams commonly playing 3 games in 10 days.

The British players loved the intensity and frequency of the matches, and Dixon for one hopes that a winter break is never enforced in the English and Scottish leagues.

Dixon said: "I think Christmas is a great time of year for footballers. You can't beat the special atmosphere of a Boxing Day fixture, there's simply nothing like it.

"People talk about having a winter break but what if you get some terrible weather just before it, like we had this year? We'd be having four weeks off instead of two.

"Christmas is a headache for managers, who have to juggle their squads and try to strike a balance between making changes but also putting out a strong enough team to get a result.

"Some foreign players, when they arrive in English football, find it hard to adjust. When Patrick Vieira and the other French lads came to Arsenal we told them: "You know the amount of games we play normally? Well, double that over Christmas." They couldn't quite understand it.

"There's something very British about playing football over Christmas. Most people get the time off so working makes you feel special. It's nothing important like nurses, doctors, emergency services, or the armed forces, but you do feel different.

"It's brilliant. And although I can now eat and drink as much as I like over the festive period, I do miss playing. I hope they never change it."

Киран Гиббс вот-вот вновь приступит к занятиям в общей группе и в скором времени может сыграть свой первый матч в новом году.


Фулл-бэк отсутствует с тех пор, как травмировал свою лодыжку в матче против "Партизана" 8 декабря. Однако сегодня Арсен Венгер сообщил в интервью TV Online, что 21-летний футболист во вторник вернётся к полным тренировкам. По словам француза, Гиббс может сыграть в матче третьего раунда Кубка Англии против "Лидса" на выходных.


Перед этим, в среду, "Арсенал" встречается с "Манчестер Сити" в рамках важнейшей игры чемпионата Англии. К счастью, француз не испытывает волнений касательно состояния своих подопечных.


"Если не считать пару ушибов после игры с "Бирмингемом", все игроки находятся в порядке", - сказал Венгер.

"Киран Гиббс очень близок к возвращению в строй. Завтра он сможет вновь провести полноценную тренировку. Есть небольшой шанс, что Киран сыграет в субботу".


Таким образом, в лазарете теперь находятся только Мануэль Альмуния (лодыжка), Абу Диаби (икроножная мышца) и Томас Вермален (ахилл). Примерный срок возвращения бельгийца - конец месяца, в то время как остальные двое, по словам тренера, "в двух или трёх неделях".

Одарённый молодой футболист из Японии Ре Мияити уверен, что у него есть качества, требуемые для достижения успехов в "Арсенале" и прохождения сквозь защиту соперников в Англии.


Тренер "канониров" Арсен Венгер подписал полузащитника после того, как 18-летний игрок впечатлил во время контрольных сборов прошедшим летом.

В отличие от предыдущего подписания француза, Дзюнъити Инамото, не сумевшего провести ни одного матча за северо лондонский клуб, Мияити намерен преуспеть там, где его соотечественник потерпел полный провал 9 лет назад.


"Я уверен, что имею способности с легкостью проходить сквозь оборонительные редуты команд Премьер Лиги. Надеюсь, буду получать именно те отзывы, которых жду", - сказал Ре в интервью японской телекомпании.

"Мне просто нужно поехать туда, сделать обязательное фото, а после - обязательно бороться. Однажды, дай Бог, я сыграю на поле "Эмирейтс".


Будучи изобретательным вингером с устрашающей скоростью (недавний рекорд японца в беге на 100 метров - 10,84 секунды), Мияити уже сравнивают с легендой "Арсенала" Тьерри Анри и Криштиану Роналду, однако бывший капитан школьной команды "Чукеодай Чуйко" сразу же отмёл все сравнения на сей счёт.


"Я не чувствую давления (по поводу подобных сравнений). Знаю, что у меня и близко нет того таланта, что имеется у таких великих футболистов, как Криштиану Роналду и Тьерри Анри", - заявил он. "Я должен буду очень постараться, чтобы однажды хоть как-то приблизиться к их уровню".


Ожидается, что Ре будет официально представлен в качестве игрока "Арсенала" уже на этой неделе. В последнем своём матче за школу "Чукеодай Чуйко" Мияити забил гол и отдал результативную передачу, но не сумел спасти свою команду от поражения со счётом 2:4.

Прошла очередная футбольная неделя, и Arsamania.com знакомит вас с прогрессом молодых футболистов "Арсенала", которые выступают на правах аренды в других клубах.

Аарон Рэмзи
"Ноттингем Форест" 2:2 " Барнсли"
Суббота, 1 января

Аарон Рэмзи вышел на замену на пятьдесят четвёртой минуте в матче, где "Ноттингем Форест" сыграли в результативную ничью с "Барнсли" (2:2) в субботу. Рэмзи поучаствовал в двух голах своей команды и спас для "лесников" одно очко, тем самым сохранив за командой Билли Дэвиса десятое место в чемпионате. Полузащитник Уэльса сыграет ещё в одном матче "лесников" против "Ипсвича" сегодня, прежде чем он вернется в "Арсенал".

Марк Рэндалл
"Ротерхэм" 5:0 "Порт Вейл"
Суббота, 1 января

Марк Рэндалл впервые вышел на поле с 30 октября и забил свой первый гол за "Ротерхэм", который камня на камне не оставил от "Порт Вейла" (5:0). Молодой полузащитник пропустил два месяца из-за перелома ключицы, но вернулся в строй и вышел на замену на шестьдесят четвёртой минуте в субботнем матче. Рэндалл, не теряя времени, запустил мяч прямо в ворота с 25 ярдов, забив уже пятый мяч в этой игре. "Ротерхэм" поднялся на второе место в Лиге Два. Рэндалл останется в аренде до 25 января.

Санчес Уотт
"Лидс Юнайтед" 1:1 "Мидлсбро"
Суббота, 1 января

Санчес Уотт вышел на поле на семьдесят шестой минуте в матче, где его "Лидс"сыграл вничью с "Мидлсбро" (1:1) в субботу. Нападающий "Арсенала" принял непосредственное участие во взятии ворот соперника на 89-ой минуте. Через несколько минут юный "канонир" выполнил отличный проход по флангу и точно навесил на голову Россу Маккормаку, который каким-то образом умудрился промахнуться по воротам с шести метров. "Лидс" занимает четвёртое место в чемпионате.

Гэвин Хойт
"Линкольн Сити" 1:2 "Брэдфорд"
Суббота, 1 января

Гэвин Хойт играл все 90 минут за "Линкольн Сити" в домашнем матче, в котором  они потерпели поражение от "Брэдфорда" (1:2) в субботу. Гэвин не играл на протяжении пяти недель, и был обыгран уже через две минуты после начала матча, когда Джеймс Хэнсон точным ударом вывел "Брэдфорд" вперед. Эшли Граймс сровнял счёт через 25 минут, но Гарет Эванс сделал результат за три минуты до перерыва. "Линкольн Сити" идёт на 22-ой позиции в Лиге Два.

Беник Афоб
"Карлайл Юнайтед" 2:2 "Хаддерсфилд"
Суббота, 1 января

Беник Афоб вышел на семьдесят третьей минуте и принял участие в матче, в котором "Хаддерсфилд" сыграл вничью с "Карлайл Юнайтед" (2:2) в субботу. "Хаддерсфилд" взобрался на шестое место в Лиге Один. Томас Круз остался на скамейке запасных "Карлайла".

Седрик Эвина
"Хартлпул" 4:2 "Олдхэм"
Суббота, 1 января

Седрик Эвина вышел на 65-минуте в матче, где его "Олдхэм" уступил "Хартлпулу" (4:2) в субботу. Защитник вышел на поле при счёте 3:1 и был не в состоянии помочь переломить ход игры. "Олдхэм" скатывается на 12-ую позицию в Лиге Один.