I've never seen Arsene Wenger look as frustrated as I did on Sunday during the defeat against Aston Villa.

He looked like a man who was told he could spend the night with Nicole Scherzinger but, unfortunately for him, he suffers from impotence.

His demeanour and the angry looks tell me a thousand words. He is pissed off.

I know people will say that Wenger is a stubborn man and that he won't change his policies but I honestly think he will this summer.

Wenger put a lot of faith into this squad and a lot of them have let him down. Massively.

The five-year-project has failed, like my car failed it's MOT, so it will be ripped up and Arsene Wenger will start again.

I'm sure some of the players have been playing for their futures recently and I expect some will be out the door quicker than you can fart.

Arsene has received a lot of criticism lately, some justified, some not. He hasn't become a bad manager over night but he does need to make changes. And he will.

The summer of 2011 will be the start of a new era for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Mark my words.

Players with better attitudes are needed. I'm sure players with the desire of Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere will be brought in.

A few tweaks and Arsenal will be champions next season.

Things seem like a load of bollocks at the moment. I know that as much as anyone. These are frustrating times.

But don't listen to people like Ian Wright saying Arsenal will struggle to get into the top five next season.

Things aren't that bad!

Wright said that last summer. And the summer before. And the summer before that. He was wrong. Like many others.

With the right departures and acquisitions we will be in the mix next season. I'm very confident of that.

Wenger knows that too. He knows how close we were this season. And no matter how bad things appear to be at the moment we are were close whether you like it or not.

And no before you ask, not the fat one. I'm talking Cristiano, one of the most decorated players in world football; and that is exactly what Arsenal could have in Ryo Miyaichi.

After joining the London based club in January, Arsène Wenger highlighted to the frightening potential of this sprightly Japanese wonderkid possessed.

Ryo Miyaichi had previously trained with the Gunners last summer and Wenger acted quickly to sign the player, keeping the likes of Real Madrid’s prying eyes away from the youngster. Whilst the signing of Miyaichi is definitely one with the next few years in mind, he is already making steps to justify these daunting comparisons.

As soon as Arsenal announced the signing of Miyaichi, he was almost immediately loaned back out to Rotterdam based side, Feyenoord, where he has been earning glowing reports after his early performances for De Kameraden. The striker, who has been mainly deployed as winger whilst in Holland, was named Man of the Match in his debut against Vitesse.

He went on to score his first goal for Feyenoord against Heracles Almelo, before later adding a brace in the 6-1 thumping of Willem II. However, it isn't just his goal scoring exploits that are catching the eye of many plaudits. His mazy runs, quick feet, startling turn of pace and unrivalled stamina are the very attributes that have led to his comparison with the likes of Ronaldo. His performances in Holland have even earned him the nickname of "Ryodinho" in the Dutch press.

All of this is from a teenager whose only previous footballing experience came from his High School football team, Chūkyōdai Chūykō. So it’s evident that Miyaichi has the ability to adapt to new surroundings and playing styles in no time at all, a trait that will be vital for his step up to the Premier League.

The fact that he is an Asian player will have monumental benefits for Arsenal as well. The arrival of Park Ji-Sung from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United sparked a massive rise in the Red Devils’ followers across in Asia. A huge marketing influx will reap untold profits as the Asian communities tend to go wild for European based compatriots.

Miyaichi will have the majority of pre-season to regroup with Arsenal’s squad, play and develop with his team-mates, and who knows, before long Arsenal could have the first Asian player to win the prestigious FIFA Ballon D'Or within their ranks.

WHEN Henri Lansbury signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal in 2009, Arsene Wenger tipped the young midfielder to become a ‘big player’ for the Gunners. Two years and three loan spells later, Lansbury is set to prove his manager right.

Lansbury has had to show plenty of patience at Arsenal. The 20-year-old’s latest loan, where his four goals in 23 appearances helped Norwich City earn promotion to the Premier League, was his third away from the Emirates following succesful stints at Watford and Scunthorpe United.

Lansbury’s sole start in the Arsenal first team produced a goal, against Tottenham in the Carling Cup in September, and with the praise of Norwich boss Paul Lambert ringing in his ears he has returned to the Emirates with one target only – to become a regular in the Arsenal midfield.

“I just want to try and force my way into the Arsenal side next season,” said Lansbury, who feels he is back to his best after a debilitating bout of glandular fever. “I have to come back raring to go, to be strong and try and take my place. I’m ready to prove myself here, and show the boss that I’m ready to be in the first-team.

“I feel that I’m back to my best now. Playing regularly helped me – obviously I got through being ill and now I feel that my power’s back, my running is there again. I didn’t feel as strong as before my illness for quite a while, but now I’m hoping to carry this into next season.”

While some of Arsenal’s younger players are expected to make way this summer for experienced names which can finally end the Gunners’ six-year trophy drought, Lansbury is unlikely to be one of the players leaving.

His prospects next season may well be limited to cup appearances, but that in itself would constitute progress, and was the route taken to regular first team football by both Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey.

Lansbury provides Wenger with an interesting extra midfield option after a season in which more senior figures such as Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky have all too often been found wanting. With plenty of experience already under his belt, Lansbury has plenty to offer.

“Hopefully next season we’ll push strongly for the title again,” added Lansbury. “You can see the positives in the young guys’ performances – Jack Wilshere has come a long way this season and I think going out on loan helped him improve massively. Aaron Ramsey is fit and strong again too, as you saw when he scored against United. Hopefully we can all push on again come August.”

Lansbury’s chances will be further bolstered should he enjoy international success this summer, where he will be hoping to join Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs in the final England Under-21 squad which travels to Denmark for the European Championship.

Lansbury already has five caps to his name at that level, and believes England head to the tournament with a real chance of success. “It’s a massive [competition], as it always is when you put on your country’s shirt,” he said. “It would be an honour to be selected and hopefully I can go out there and make an impact. It would be great to go out there with Kieran and Jack, and we’d be confident of doing well.

The boss has told me I can go on holiday now so I’m off away to Las Vegas with the Norwich lads. They’re a great bunch and really deserve the trip. But I’ll be keeping fit in the meantime and aiming to make my mark in Denmark.”

Lansbury’s next chance in an Arsenal shirt should come at the Emirates Cup at the end of July, where the Gunners face Boca Juniors, Paris St Germain and New York Red Bulls, and where Lansbury can offer further evidence that he is fast becoming the player Wenger predicted he would.

The Japanese genius Ryo Miyaichi joined Arsenal in January, but because of work permit problems he had to spend the rest of the season on loan at Feyenoord in Holland. He immediately became a first-team regular and scored on his debut.

Wenger received weekly updates on his progress and they were all extremely positive. Hee has now decided that he wants Miyaichi to be fast-tracked into the Arsenal first team and will have him playing with the squad in pre-season before having another crack at getting a work permit for the 18 year-old.

Wenger said: “Ryo Miyaichi will be with us in pre-season. We will see if he is ready for us and ask for a work permit. We are hugely impressed.”

The Japanese starlet is obviously a huge talent but it remains to be seen whether he is ready for the faster pace and harder defenders in the Premier League, but if he’s as good as they think he is, then he will certainly be giving Premiership defenders something to think about next season. If he gets his work permit of course…..

Alex Song says he enjoys playing alongside Jack Wilshere, and believes the two have struck up a good understanding this season.

Wilshere has been a revelation for Arsenal this season, establishing himself firmly as first choice in the Gunners' midfield.

Song believes his team-mate has shown great maturity, and has the determination to keep improving.

He said: "Jack is a big character. He's still young but as I said he's very clever. When you're on the pitch, you need to talk to help your partners and he's done very well.

"Sometimes when I push forward, he says, 'no Alex, try to drop back a little bit'. We just try to talk to help each other - which works very good. I think this guy is very clever, quick, good on the ball and is just 19."

Song added that Wilshere shows a great attitude in training, and has tipped him as a future star for England as well as Arsenal.

He added: "He doesn't want to say 'today everyone talks about me, so I won't work harder'. Every day in training it's like a new day for him.

"I've never seen him walk in training. I think that's very good because when you have the mentality like that it's the winning mentality. England have a good future with him."

Birmingham star Christopher Samba has become a target for Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger looks to shore up problems in the Gunners’ defence, according to the Daily Mail.

After going six seasons without a trophy, Wenger is reportedly ready to abandon his youth policy and sign some players who are able to contribute experience to the Arsenal side. Samba would reportedly go for a modest sum of £12 million, which has tempted Wenger into considering the centre half.

Aston Villa are also interested in Samba, according to reports, and were keen on doing a swap deal in the transfer period for James Collins.


 

Samba might well favour a move to Arsenal though, after the star hinted to reporters that he was interested in playing for a side that could challenge for trophies, and possibly play Champions League football.

“I am at an age where I want to try to do something,” Samba said.

“You have only one career and it would be a shame not to make the best of it.”

With possible exits from Arsenal this summer including Cesc Fabregas, Barcary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, and Alex Song, Wenger would be looking to balance the books and Samba would easily come under under budget if even just two players chose to leave the London club.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Twitter is an invaluable way for players to be closer to fans, but has warned there can be 'negative repercussions' if not used properly.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney maintains his heated exchange on the social networking site, where he has more than 570,000 followers, during which he wrote "I'll put u asleep within 10 seconds" after being provoked by an abusive post, was nothing more than banter.

A host of players have accounts on social networking website Twitter, including Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, striker Robin van Persie and their England midfielder Jack Wilshere.

Wenger feels such media can be good for relations, provided they are not abused.

"At the moment we allow it. We are thinking about how to use it the best way," said Wenger.

"It can be very positive because it can be a good communication for the players with the fans which doesn't exist anymore.
Negative repercussions

"It can as well have negative repercussions for the clubs if it is not well used so we are thinking about it.

"We will see what kind of direction we will go."

Earlier this season, West Ham striker Carlton Cole was charged by the Football Association with improper conduct for remarks posted during England's 1-1 draw with Ghana at Wembley in March, while Liverpool striker Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 after he posted a link to a mock-up picture of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt after an FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford.

The Gunners manager admits he expects his captain, as well as Andrey Arshavin, to still be at the club next season and confirms Ryo Miyaichi will join the squad for pre-season

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted that he will do his utmost to keep skipper Cesc Fabregas at the club beyond the summer.

The Spain international has been continually linked with a move to Barcelona and although the La Liga champions are expected to step up their attempts to lure the 24-year-old back to Camp Nou, Wenger is adamant he will "fight very hard" to ensure his star man stays put.

"That's a question [regarding Fabregas' future] I've heard already a few times in a press conference and I expect him to be here [next season]," the Frenchman told reporters.

"I will fight very hard to keep him here. You have always to fight when you have a player of that quality, you must always fight to keep your players, of course."

It has been suggested that Fabregas could be keen to leave the Emirates Stadium in pursuit of trophies, with the Gunners without silverware since 2005, although Wenger feels the midfielder would not necessarily be certain of success if he departed.

"What guarantees you that if you go somewhere else you will win trophies?" he said.

"The biggest pride for a captain is to be committed to his club and deliver trophies with his team. A player who changes his club every time he is frustrated or when he doesn’t win a trophy, goes nowhere. I believe the quality of sports life is to be committed to your club and not just to move out when it does not go as well as you expected.

"Cesc Fabregas played 22 games this season out of 38 and we expect him to play between 30 and 38. That will make a huge difference to our efficiency [next season] as well."

Regarding the future of Andrey Arshavin, who has also been linked with a summer sale, Wenger said: "Yes, I expect him to be at Arsenal next season."

Wenger also commented on the future of youngster Ryo Miyaichi, who signed a long-term contract with the Gunners in January before being sent out on loan to Feyenoord for the remainder of the current campaign, and confirmed he will be returning to England for pre-season with Arsenal.

"I have only [heard] positive reports about him," Wenger added. "He will be with us in pre-season.

"I think he is good enough but if he is ready enough to have a place in our team, we will ask for a work permit and try to get him in.

"What I like about Ryo is that he has good timing with his runs and understands when to go and where to go. That is something very important. He knows how to use his pace and he is an intelligent player. 

"He is a boy who went straight from school football to professional football and straight away was the best player in Feyenoord."

The Japanese starlet's work permit application could receive a boost if he is selected for his country's Under-23 side as they aim to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, although Wenger is hoping the forward will be fast-tracked to the senior side sooner rather than later.

"That is a good help," he continued. "An even better help is putting him straight in the [Japan] first team, then we do not need a work permit any more.

"He looks a very promising boy and everybody who went to watch him has been hugely impressed by him. He is a character and a great football player."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident Andrey Arshavin will see out the summer at Emirates Stadium.

The Russian playmaker has struggled to produce his best this season, sparking speculation regarding his future.

A return to Zenit St Petersburg has been touted, with his former employers admitting that they would welcome him back with open arms.

It has also been suggested that Wenger is ready to offload a number of players this summer as he endeavours to piece together a squad capable of landing major honours.

Arshavin was understood to be one of those the Frenchman was willing to let go, allowing him to bring in funds which could be put to better use elsewhere.

Wenger, though, is adamant that he has no plans to part with a player he spent around £15million on in January 2009.

He told Arsenal TV: "Yes, I expect him to be at Arsenal next season."