Latest Arsenal Rumours

Started this thread since the old thread is STILL LOCKED.The purpose of this thread is to segregate the rumours/BS{as many here prefer to call it} into a separate thread.

Arsene Wenger insists he has no plans to sell Andrey Arshavin in February and still feels he can play a big role for Arsenal.

Arshavin has been strongly linked with a move back to Russia, with Anzhi and Zenit St Petersburg leading the chase to sign him.

The Russian skipper has failed to produce his best form this season and was booed by his own fans when his name was read out before the FA Cup tie against Aston Villa last weekend.

But, despite his lack of first-team opportunities, Wenger admits he wants to keep him at the north London club and will not let him leave before the Russian transfer window closes on February 24.

When asked if Arshavin would be sold, Wenger said: "For me, no."

Lazio have convinced youth team prodigy Antonio Rozzi to sign a professional deal - staving off interest from Arsenal.

The Premier League club landed German youngster Thomas Eisfeld in January and reports in Italy have claimed that they were hoping to snap up striker Rozzi.

But the Rome-born 17-year-old has decided against leaving the Italian capital by signing his first professional deal with boyhood club Lazio.

Rozzi, who made his senior debut earlier this month, has scored nine goals in the club's youth team this season - attracting the attention of Arsenal and Italian clubs Roma and Juventus.

But, according to La Gazzette Dello Sport, he has now committed his future to the club which he joined as a five-year-old by penning a three-year deal.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is increasing scouting missions on the 17-year-old Frenchman dubbed "the new Patrice Evra".

Youth international Benjamin Mendy has been a revelation for Le Havre and is being monitored by a number of clubs, including Valencia and Bayern Munich.

Mendy is under contract until 2016 - but a release clause can be activated at around £3.5m.

Suarez will probably be against this signing

Arsenal are tracking Crewe Alexandra attacker Nick Powell.The People says Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger heads the queue to sign Crewe superkid Nick Powell - in a £1.25million deal for next season.

Wenger's chief scout Steve Rowley watched attacking midfielder Powell, 17, at Barnet just before the window shut.

The Gunners are keen to win the race, especially with Tottenham and Liverpool also on the trail of the teenager.

According to the Sunday Mirror,Benfica star Rodrigo Moreno is being tracked by Arsenal.Rodrigo,who had a loan spell at Bolton,is also being tracked by his former club Real Madrid.

This is going to be another fun thread.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted his interest in Lille attacker Eden Hazard.

The 21-year-old has caught the eye with his performances in Ligue 1 for the French champions, for whom he has scored 38 times in 174 appearances.

And Wenger confessed he is a keen observer of the Belgian, who has been linked with several of Europe’s top clubs recently.

He told Belgian publication DH: “I really like him [Hazard] and, for several reasons: it's his creative power, his ability to mis-align the opponent, his vision of the game and his consummate skill to address the last pass which make him a very interesting player.”

Hazard has already amassed 25 caps for the Belgian national team and has scored 1 goal for Georges Leekens' side.

Nottingham Forest’s promising teenage defender Jamaal Lascelles is a target for Arsenal and Tottenham.

The Daily Mail says the struggling Championship club sold striker Patrick Bamford to Chelsea on deadline day, and Spurs do not want to miss out on the next big talent to come out of the club.

Arsenal failed with a £2million bid plus £3m in add-ons for Lascelles a year ago and are still closely monitoring the youngster.

Manchester United and Arsenal are ready to go head-to-head for Benfica's midfield enforcer Javi Garcia, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

It has been reported that the Premier League pair have both been keeping tabs on Garcia's progress since leaving Real Madrid for Portugal in 2009.

The former Spain under-21 international was deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu but has flourished since his £5m move to Benfica.

Now United and Arsenal have reportedly stepped up their interest in Garcia as they look to bolster their midfield options.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been so bereft of players in central midfield that he was forced to tempt Paul Scholes to come out retirement.

Arsene Wenger could also be tempted to move for Garcia as he seeks more long-term replacements for Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, who left in the summer.

It has been suggested that both sides would be willing to pay around £12m for the 24-year-old in the summer but Benfica will hold out for at least £15m.

Ernie is at it again

Iceman wrote:Ernie is at it again

Thanks Fady.Just doing what I can,just like you were fiercely supporting AW in every possible thread for the last few weeks

MJGunner wrote:Props Ernie, workhorse as usual

But we'll probably end up signing Ljungberg/Pires/'Insert aging Arsenal legend here' back on loan and a 17 year old Bolivian wonderkid around which to build the club if we're following the same pattern as before.

The Bolivian wonder kid will be awesome though. Except he wont be able to get a work permit so we will send him on loan until we sell him.

Chelsea face a battle to keep Daniel Sturridge after Arsenal took significant steps towards a shock summer swoop.
Sturridge, 22, is the Blues’ top-scoring forward this season with 10 goals, but sources close to the player claim he is not happy with his role as a right winger under Andre Villas-Boas.
And Arsenal’s influential chief scout Steve Rowley has put the wheels in motion to effect a surprise switch.

Sturridge wants to negotiate an improved contract, yet Chelsea are unwilling to do so as he still has two-and-a-half years left on his current deal.
And with the likes of Hulk and Edinson Cavani on Villas-Boas’ shopping list, Sturridge’s current wide role is likely to continue.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2097966/Arsenal-want-Chelseas-Daniel-Sturridge.html

The Mexico international has struggled to make an impact during his Arsenal career and has scored 11 goals in 64 appearances, the majority of which have been as a substitute.

The striker has previously been out on loan at Salamanca, Osasuna and West Brom and is enjoying the current campaign with Sociedad.

Vela is happy to be back in La Liga and the 22-year-old is keen for a deal to be agreed between the two clubs to allow him to stay with Sociedad.

"I would stay at Real," Vela told El Diario Vasco. "I am happy and the people support me.

"I owe Arsenal affection and gratitude for the opportunity that they gave me, but I was not happy there and this affected my work.

"It was hard day to day and, when it came to training, I was thinking about going home. Here, however, I am happy and have made good friends."

Regarding staying at Sociedad, Vela added: "It is too early to talk about these issues, but I do not close the door to Real. But, if you cannot reach an agreement with Arsenal, you cannot do anything.

"As I said, I'm happy here and would like to help the team stay up. Then we'll see what happens in the summer. Right now, we cannot do anything even if we wanted to."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says Fulham attacker Mousa Dembele will be something special once he improves his finishing.

Dembele has attracted an offer from Tottenham in the last year.

“Dembele is a good dribbler. The final act? It will come with time,” said Wenger.

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