Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn believes the Gunners should add English blood if they are to be successful next season.

Speaking to Sky Sports News HD, the Englishman explained that a change in policy is required and players who already know that it means to play in the English Premier League should be given priority over players with no domestic league experience.

Asked about the possible signing of Lille’s Gervinho, the former left-back believes that the 24-year old will be an important element in the offensive department adding that focus should however be put on the defensive department.

Winterburn believes that Laurent Koscielny, signed last summer, is a decent player but still has room for improvement in respect to the physical and mental aspect of the game.

On what the fans should expect next season, the Englishman concluded by saying that with the increase in the prices of the tickets Arsenal have to be really strong and show that they are in a position to compete with Manchester United and Chelsea.

Ahead of next season, Winterburn said:

Quote:

I think Arsenal need players who have played in the Premier League, they may even need to bring some English players back in to give them that mental strength they had in years gone by. It looks like Gervinho will come in and fill that centre-forward role which will make them stronger from a forward perspective, but then you look at the back four, it has to be strengthened. Laurent Koscielny, who I still think will be decent player, is very raw and was very rash with some of challenges; Arsenal need players who can compete physically and mentally with the Premier League. When Arsenal signed Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, there was no suggestion of £30million. It’s about getting the right player for the right money. Arsenal have to be really strong next season because some of the supporters have been voicing their concerns. And with the increase in the prices of the tickets, they want to see their team really strengthened and push the likes of Man United, Chelsea and, to a certain degree, Man City.”

Капитан лондонского "Арсенала" Сеск Фабрегас не вышел на тренировку команды, которая готовится к азиатскому турне, сообщает diariosur.es. Он отказался от группового занятия, но занимался индивидуально в тренажерном зале. Таким образом, испанец выразил тренеру команды Арсену Венгеру свое нежелание оставаться в "Арсенале".

Ранее Фабрегас переговорил с наставником об уходе в "Барселону", но результаты этой беседы неизвестны.

Помимо тренировок чемпион мира планирует проигнорировать и азиатское турне, которое стартует 10 июля. Примечательно, что Фабрегас был задействован в рекламной кампании, посвященной поездке "Арсенала" в Азию.

The following job placement is rated 'FM' (fictional material). Player recruitment exercise is currently going on at Arsenal Fc. Believe me the salary is attractive, and there are additional mouth-watering incentives to ensure you never entertain thoughts of leaving your employer in the lurch when your services are needed the most.

Candidates must be plying their trade for a club amongst the Top Ten in the following Leagues: English Premiership, Spanish La Liga, Italian Seria A, French Ligue1, German Bundesliga and Dutch Eredivisie. Interested candidates that possess the qualities listed for the following positions are advised to come forward for immediate assessment and possibly outright employment.

Goalkeeper: Applicant must be fully conversant with our defensive frailties -especially the lack of a commanding presence between the sticks. He must fall under the age bracket of 22-32, and at least be 6ft5in tall. Ability to deny the likes of Lionel Messi, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres, Darren Bent, Osaze Odemwingie, Van Der Vaart and most importantly own goals will be an added advantage. Furthermore, the candidate for this hallowed department must possess the agility second only to a monkey, reflexes that are sharper than that of a raptor, and an aura of confidence befitting a true champion.

Centre Half and Left Back: Applicant must be big and inexpensive, economical (salary-wise) and swift, well-built and well equiped with a fore knowledge of the Premier League's hard men. They must have an iconic personality coupled with a legendary reputation for toughness and a proven track record to perform in the most severe environments from the Brittania Stadium to the Camp Nou. The candidate must fall between the age bracket of 24-28 years, and be at least 6ft4in tall.

Attacker: Any forward who can match the form of La Liga's most impressive hitmen (Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi), should indicate his willingness to face the challenge. Even though there is no height restriction and age limit, this marksman must be an established house-hold name desperately in need of trophies. He must possess the flair and intelligence that is characteristic of our beautiful but ineffective style of play, plus a conversion rate of at least 75% -ability to play/score with both legs and a tendency to occasionally devise ingenious ways of scoring in crunch time like Manchester United's Paul Scholes against Zenit St. Petersburg two years ago during their SuperCup encounter will be an added bonus to your already laden Curriculum Vitae.

Applicants that meet the above criteria for the afore-mentioned positions should report immediately with their training kits and recommendations from their previous bosses to #75 Drayton Park Highbury House, London N5 1BU weekdays from 8.00am-5.00pm daily.

Neil Warnock reckons Adel Taarabt could quit QPR to join his "friends" at Arsenal, claims the Metro.

The paper says Paris Saint Germain have made a £13million offer for the 22-year-old, while Atletico Madrid are also said to be in the market.

But Warnock hasn’t ruled out the possibility of the Moroccan heading to us this summer. "PSG have made an enquiry and they obviously offer him the chance to be nearer to home, although there is a Spanish club being mentioned as well. As far as his talk of wanting to go to Chelsea or Arsenal, I know he has a lot of friends at Arsenal."

Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger will tell Samir Nasri he is not for sale even if his suitors make a bid of £25million for the midfielder. The Mirror says  Nasri, who is a wanted by Manchester United, Manchester City and Inter Milan, now faces a to see if a bigger bid is made. Or he may face a season at the Emirates before he can leave on a free transfer. Or, of course, he could sign a new, improved long-term deal.

The Mail suggests City believe they have captured Nasri for £19million. The paper says the deal is close to completion and claims it is a "significant victory for City", beating off United and the Chavs.

Elsewhere, reports suggest AW is considering a move for Everton left back Leighton Baines in an effort to boost the team after the loss of Gael Clichy. Other paper talk today sees claims that Armand Traore is being looked at by German clubs Hamburg and Werder Bremen. Both sides are considering making an official approach for the Frenchman.

Manchester City's new signing Gael Clichy has paid tribute to his former boss at Arsenal Arsene Wenger, who he says "taught him everything".

Clichy completed a £7million move to Eastlands on Monday, ending an eight-year spell with Arsenal.

The French international, who joined Arsenal as a 17-year-old, has credited Wenger for teaching him everything he knows about football, and said it was with sadness that he bade farewell to him mentor.

"Leaving Arsenal was a really big thing for me," Clichy said, according to The Sun. "Arsene Wenger helped me grow up as a person and player.

"Saying goodbye was very emotional, very difficult because I have been there so long.

"I was seventeen when I joined Arsenal and had eight happy years there."

Despite claiming he was happy at the club, Clichy felt he had reached a stage in his career when the time was ripe for a change in scenery.

"I had a lot of friends there in London but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

"And I felt the need to make a change and in the end, that was the key.

Clichy's exit is tipped to be the start of a mass exodus at the Emirates Stadium, with captain Cesc Fabregas and playmaker Samir Nasri but expected to follow suit.

However, Clichy does not believe the departure of their senior players is going to weaken the side, and has tipped Wenger to unearth even more talented youngsters to take their places.

"Whoever leaves, Arsenal will still be Arsenal.

"Great players have left before - Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure - but they've still competed and coped well.

"And I know they will be up there in the table whatever happens and whoever leaves.

"They are a huge club with a great manager and great players so, for me, they will always be a big threat to anyone.

"I'm sure Arsene will find a solution for whatever happens."

Already, there are many suggesting ready-made replacements are waiting in the wings at Arsenal.

England U-21 international Kieran Gibbs is likely to step up as Wenger's first-choice left-back, while the emergence of Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey's return from injury is likely to lessen the blow should Fabregas and Nasri leave as well.

The Russian striker says dropped points towards the end of the season was the reason behind their failure to qualify for the Champions League, but is now setting his sights high

Roman Pavlyuchenko believes Tottenham are capable of finishing above rivals Arsenal and making the top three in the Premier League this season.

The Russian striker has admitted that Spurs' fifth-placed finish last term was not good enough, but believes this season will be different.

"Last season we took a step back, We didn't complete the task of finishing in the top four," he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

"If we hadn't lost so many points at the end we could have fought for a place in the top three.

"Next year I think we really will be in the top three. Tottenham are a very strong team with excellent players.

"It's too early to fight for first or second - Chelsea and Manchester United are a level above - but for the past two seasons we've fought as equals with Man City and Arsenal."

Pavlyuchenko says he knows the importance of beating their north London rivals, and believes clashes between the two are more like battles than football matches.

He added: "From the moment I came to Tottenham it was immediately made clear by the fans and the club that the most important games are against Arsenal.

"Both teams go on the pitch not to play football, but to break their backs and battle. It's a fact - no-one is spared. I felt it."
The 29-year-old is happy at White Hart Lane, but his future has been clouded with doubt after manager Harry Redknapp stated he was in the market for a new striker, with a host of Russian clubs chasing the Spurs forward.

24-летний нападающий «Лилля» и сборной Кот-д’Ивуара Жервиньо в настоящее время проходит медосмотр в «Арсенале».
Ивуариец прибыл на базу «канониров» с тем, чтобы пройти обследование и поставить свою подпись под контрактом. Чемпионы Франции получат за игрока 10,6 миллиона фунтов, передает Goal.com.
Напомним, Жервиньо также интересовался «Тоттенхэм».