Every Friday night, subscribers can watch a brand-new 'Spotlight' interview live on Arsenal TV Online. These wide-ranging interviews give Arsenal's fans a chance to get to know the players they cheer on week-in, week-out. Andrey Arshavin was the player who went under the 'Spotlight' ahead of the Blackburn game last week. If you missed the live programme, you can catch up now. The midfielder discusses: - his childhood in Russia during the breakdown of the USSR
- his football experiences growing up in St Petersburg
- the culture change of moving to London and the British weather
- pre-match nerves before his Arsenal debut
- adapting to life in the Premier League
- the meaning behind his famous goal celebration
- his perfect goal
- his favourite moment so far in an Arsenal shirt
- seeing people wearing Arshavin shirts
- which players are his closest friends in the Arsenal squad
Armand Traore has joined Juventus on loan for the 2010/2011 season. Traore (20), who joined Arsenal as a scholar in the summer of 2006, made 12 first team appearances last season, including nine in the Premier League, and has made a total of 30 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners. The athletic France Under-21 international came into the back four last season following injuries to Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs, and starred in wins over Stoke City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers. The strong and pacy defender, who has also often played on the left side of midfield, made an instant impression in his first season with the Club, helping the team reach the final of the Carling Cup in 2007. Traore has represented Arsenal in all four major competitions and also spent a fruitful season on loan in the Premier League with Portsmouth in 2008/2009. We wish Armand the best of luck during his time in Italy with Juventus.
Young forward Nacer Barazite has joined Dutch Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem on loan for the entire 2010/2011 season. 20 year-old Barazite, who was born in Arnhem, has made three Arsenal first team appearances, all in the Carling Cup, since joining the Club as a Scholar in Summer 2006. Last season, Barazite appeared as a substitute in the Carling Cup victory over West Brom, but a shoulder injury then kept the Dutch forward out of action for four months, denying him further first team opportunities. The Dutch youth international marked his return to the Reserve team in February with a fine goal against Stoke City and added to his tally against Aston Villa, Birmingham City and Portsmouth. Barazite also gained valuable experience at Derby County, where he spent the entire 2008/2009 season with the Championship side. Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Nacer the best of luck during his time in the Netherlands with Vitesse Arnhem .
Henri Lansbury has pulled out of the England Under-21 squad through injury, according to TheFA.com. They report that the midfielder has 'a slight groin injury' and will therefore miss the Euro 2011 qualifiers against Portugal and Lithuania. Jack Wilshere remains in Stuart Pearce's squad.
By Richard Clarke Arsène Wenger is sure that Cesc Fabregas will resume his role as Arsenal's leader this season. The Spanish midfielder has held the armband since November 2008 but he's been the heartbeat of the side for much longer than that. His talents drew the attention of Barcelona over the summer and the story rumbled on until early August when Fabregas confirmed he would stay in North London. The 23-year-old is still working his way back to full fitness after a successful but gruelling World Cup. Fabregas started his first game of the season on Saturday when he featured for an hour in the 2-1 win at Blackburn. Afterwards Wenger confirmed that his captain would very soon assume every aspect of the role. "He will be the player he was before without any problem and he will be stronger," said the Frenchman. "And of course I think he will, once he is fit again, be involved mentally in the team. "He is our leader, he is the leader of our team and he has a massive responsibility. I am convinced he will stand up for it." The manager added that Fabregas was unaware his game would only last 68 minutes on Saturday. However he expected the reigning Arsenal.com Player of the Season to take a greater role when Premier League football returns after the international break. "Cesc loves to play and that is why I did not tell him he could come off before the game," said Wenger. "He did not know he would come off. "He had not played since the World Cup Final. That was on July 11 and we are now the end of August. It is difficult and he should be ready for the next game."
By Richard Clarke Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal's retention of Cesc Fabregas over the summer demonstrates the power clubs still hold in the transfer market. The Spaniard started his first Premier League game of the season on Saturday in the 2-1 win at Blackburn. Fabregas had been wanted at Barcelona throughout the close season but Arsenal stated their position in May and the 23-year-old ended the story in August by confirming he would stay. "I believe Cesc has given a lot to the Club and the Club has given a lot to Cesc as well," said Wenger. "I believe personally he loves Arsenal and that is why he accepted our decision. There is a trust and confidence [between us]. "Every case is individual but to have players happy you need the club and the player to be happy. Of course when a player wants to go somewhere else for a while he is not happy but it is very difficult to legislate on that. "And, when you transfer a player, you need the agreement of the three parties. That is why player power exists and is legitimate. But the club has its word to say as well. "It was vital for us to keep Cesc because we build a team around him. But I believe as well the players we have brought in have shown that they can adapt very quickly - Koscielny, Chamakh and now Squillaci. So overall I believe we have done very well."
On Saturday afternoon Theo Walcott scored his fourth goal in two games as Arsenal beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Ewood Park. After the match the striker spoke exclusively to Arsenal TV Online and subscribers can watch the interview in full now. Walcott discussed: - his scoring spree
- how he has changed since last season
- the form of the side
- the importance of the win at Blackburn
- Manuel Almunia's showing
- drawing Spurs in the Carling Cup
By Nick Teale
Arsène Wenger says that Arsenal's summer transfer dealings might not be over yet.
However, speaking directly after the win at Blackpool on Saturday, the manager admitted that things were 'dead'. And the Arsenal manager has only a couple of days to revive any deal.
Sebastien Squillaci became the Gunners' third signing of the summer last Friday, adding to the arrivals of Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny.
The current transfer window closes on Tuesday and Wenger has admitted that he is not close to making any further captures before the end of August.
But he isn't ruling anything out.
"It is dead at the moment," he said. "But maybe not finished.
"At the moment I would say, as it is today, it is finished."
By Nick Teale
Arsène Wenger believes Theo Walcott is now well equipped to be an England regular.
The striker was left out of Fabio Capello's final 23-man squad for the summer's World Cup, but returned to the international fold in a recent friendly match against Hungary.
Since then the 21-year-old has scored four goals in two impressive back-to-back displays for Arsenal, against Blackpool and Blackburn.
Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 win at Ewood Park, Wenger was asked if Walcott is now ready to be a regular in the England set-up.
"He had a good pre-season, he is sharp and I am certain he will get a chance now with England," replied the manager. "So let's hope he will be ready.
"He is equipped, he is stronger and I think he is calmer in front of goal."
Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning following a "fracas", according to a spokesman for the player. Wilshere, who came on as an 84th-minute substitute in the 2-1 win over Blackburn, was arrested but released on bail. The statement, issued by the Wasserman Media Group on behalf of the 18-year-old, went on to assert Wilshere was "unlikely" to face charges. The statement read: "Jack Wilshere was arrested by police in the early hours following a fracas but was released on bail later. The police have made it very clear that he is an important witness to the incident and played the role of peacemaker and is unlikely to face any charges as a result. Jack has made it very clear he will co-operate fully with the police investigation." Wilshere made his England debut in the friendly against Hungary earlier this month but was named in the U21 squad for the upcoming matches against Portugal on September 3 and Lithuania four days later. With the senior side also facing Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland many had tipped him to retain his place in the full squad instead.
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