Arsenal FC The Pride Of London

On being in control before the late equaliser…
That’s what football is about. I believe we have played the game with the right attitude and I cannot fault our fighting spirit. You have to give credit to Leyton Orient. They never gave up and, as long as you don’t score the second goal, these kind of things can happen. It is a disappointment of course but we are still in the competition and the most important thing is that we go through, that’s what the Cup is all about. Today you had fighting spirit against a team who were technically superior, but in a Cup game fighting spirit has a chance.
 
On Andrey Arshavin’s performance…
He is coming back into form. What is missing is a goal to get completely back to full confidence. But he is lively and dangerous.
 
On having a large squad to cope with a replay…
We [even] left a few players at home [today]. It’s just sometimes, mentally, a breather would not be bad. Since the beginning of December we have played every three days. Sometimes, to give a week where we can give a breather to the players would not be bad. You have to give credit to Leyton Orient today. You could feel that it was about scoring the second goal or not making a defensive mistake and they took advantage of it.
 
On knowing about drawing Manchester United before the game…
Somebody told me just before the game started. It’s an exciting and an interesting draw. Today we have [had] a good warning that against Leyton Orient at home it will be a difficult game. They didn’t drop physically, they kept their shape, fought very hard and it was a difficult game for us.

On playing after the Sixth Round draw was made…
It’s the television who dictates the rules. That would not be an excuse for us to draw today, I just think Leyton Orient played a great game. We had quite a good game but we couldn’t finish them off.
 
On Jonathan Tehoue…
No, I don’t know him. I saw him when he came on, I have never heard of him before! If they did not start him maybe they had a plan to defend up front with Revell. But when he came on they went to a more 4-4-2 shape. Of course they had the chance before when Squillaci was hit on the head and they looked dangerous whenever we lost the ball in the final 20 minutes.

On the result…
I am highly delighted because it was a special football match. The game promised a lot and absolutely fulfilled the promises between two exceptional football teams who always try to play. We were not only strong on the physical side but on the mental side, we kept resilient. We took advantage of one special piece of skill from Van Persie and the goal for the second was after some good build-up play. It was a special night. When we suffered, the fans were still very positive.

On the second leg at the Nou Camp...
Tonight's result gives us a chance to go to Barcelona with belief. We know it will be a very difficult game but we will prepare well. We will be highly focused and we go to win our game. It is a special lift for my team. Our players have shown exceptional strength tonight and togetherness. This will enforce that.

On taking off Alex Song…
It was a mixture of the yellow card [he received] and because I wanted to go for it. We finished with Wilshere, Fabregas, Nasri, Bendtner and Van Persie - we needed to score two goals. We took a gamble and it could have backfired and we could have lost 2-0 or 3-0 to them. It worked.

On Jack Wilshere…
He was outstanding tonight. He was not fazed by the occasion in difficult periods. He took the ball and got out of the pressure.

On whether Arsenal are favourites…
We are not favourites. We believe we have a chance. Barcelona are still favourites and we know tonight that we can beat them - which we did not know last year. From now on, it is important we put the game out of our mind. We have an FA Cup match on Sunday. We have to be focused.

On Barcelona's possession…
The problem with their possession if that if you are a fraction late, you can be in trouble. We were prepared mentally to live with that. We normally have the ball more than the opponent but we knew tonight that they would have the ball for 60 per cent.

On what it means to the Club…
I am proud for Arsenal Football Club. Everyone urged us to play differently to our nature so it is good. I believe that it can strengthen the belief in our philosophy. We are 23 years old - our average - the average age is very, very young. It is very promising for the future. Our target is to keep these players together.

On Samir Nasri's return…
He became stronger and stronger. He did not look like a player who has not played for such a long time. He started hesitantly and became more confident.

On good results for England in the Champions League…
It is difficult to know that and difficult to compare. Tonight, we played against the best team in the world in my opinion and we beat them. But that does not take away any quality. They are still an exceptional side. Last night was a different game [between Tottenham and Milan]. But the English Premier League is strong.

On Laurent Koscielny's performance…
For me, he was outstanding. He is improving.

On the prospect of facing Lionel Messi again…
Who doesn't worry about Messi? That will be a task to keep him quiet but we take some encouragement from tonight. The team has a great togetherness and a great mental belief. We have to be faithful in what we try to do and that is score goals.

On whether the sending off changed the game…
Certainly, more psychologically than on the footballing side. We were worried too much on protecting our lead after that because we were down to ten men. Instead of continuing to play, we invited pressure. Afterwards we were very unlucky with some decisions as well. I cannot do anything about that.

On letting slip a four-goal lead…
It’s very frustrating because we played a good game and we had an opportunity to take three points in the title race. Newcastle kept fighting, I knew at 4-0 the game was not over because it was important to keep our nerves and continue to play. A team that has already lost the game, when they get back into the game you are always under threat. That was very important for us, not to allow them to get back into the game. Therefore, we are certainly guilty tonight by going down to ten men.

On whether it was an unnecessary sending off…
[It was a] completely unnecessary sending off and I believe Barton was very lucky to stay on the pitch [because of] his tackle on Diaby.

On whether Diaby has said anything to him about the incident…
He is very disappointed at the moment, it’s better not to talk to him. He has to try to get over that. It’s a shame because he had a great first half. He had an outstanding game. [His reaction could be] explain[ed] by the fact that he has been injured so many times [from] bad tackles that he lost a little bit quickly his nerves. This boy has been out for a long time and many times. Certainly the tackler provoked his reaction.

On the two penalties…
I was surprised by both decisions. But I am not the referee and I don’t think my opinion is very important now because we cannot come back and change it.

On what this does to Arsenal's title aspirations…
Mathematically two points, psychologically the damage is bigger tonight because everyone is very disappointed in the dressing room. Only the future will tell.

On coming from behind to win…
I’m very happy today because we won against a good Everton side. We had problems in the first half getting started. I feel we had chances but our game lacked a bit of cohesion in the passing and we lost some balls down to good closing-down from Everton and as well to some technical mistakes. And today I would say it was more a victory of a team with fantastic spirit and a never-say-die attitude than our usual game. But that of course is needed in a competition like that.

On Everton’s goal…
For me the first goal was offside. If someone can demonstrate mathematically to me that it was not, I am ready to accept it. But it was offside because the pass was destined to Saha at the start. He was three-yards offside. I think Koscielny touched the ball and they interpreted it as a pass. I interpreted it as a deflection. But clearly the intention was to give the ball to Saha was offside and he took advantage of his offside position. After, he finished fantastically well. But we were 1-0 down and had it all to do in the second half.

On the character of the team…
I am very happy because this is maybe the aspect of the team which has been questioned the most, and recently that’s where we have been the most convincing. In smaller games at Leeds, against Ipswich, against Huddersfield. We played our tenth game today in one month and every time we have shown, even when football-wise our level dropped a little bit, we have always shown fantastic attitude.

On whether the goal spurred the team on…
As well, because you could see straight away that we had a good response. I must say we were not sharp until Everton scored.

On why the team started slowly…
I don’t know, but we [have] played game-after-game. Sometimes it can take you a while to get into the game. In the second half I think it was all us, and you could feel that any moment we could score. We kept going and Everton dropped in the second half.

On Alex Song’s injury…
He cannot walk. I don’t know what he has got. He was kicked, I think it was by Koscielny, he knocks out everybody in our team. So we have to see how he responds to that in the next days, but he cannot walk at the moment.

On a tough Cup tie...
It was tough, tough, tough, because it had all the ingredients of a typical cup game. We played a little bit below par and Huddersfield is a good team, they have shown that today. They were efficient, they are always dangerous on set-pieces and crosses, they scored on a set-piece. It had the ingredients of a cup game as well because we were down to ten men so it became very difficult. In the end we had the quality just to make the difference and in the final 25 minutes I felt we had room to score goals. But we play so many games at the moment that sometimes we are not as sharp as we would want to be. That is what happened today.

On Squillaci's red card...
I found it harsh but you can give it or not give it. It was a foul, it didn't look to me like an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Is he the last man? I am not sure as well. But I feared the red card and unfortunately he gave what I feared.

On the fatigue factor...
We looked a little bit tired today but hopefully before Tuesday we can recover and the good thing is that when you win you recover quicker. I had as well some players who did not play at all today who will be fresh but of course we have only 48 hours.

On how Squillaci's suspension affects his transfer plans...
Not more, not less, because it's three games. For us it's good because we play three games in a week so it is only one week [that he will be out]. No [I am not likely to sign anyone before the deadline], I leave these headlines to all the other clubs, but at the moment no. I cannot tell you definitely because someone might knock at my door in the morning and says 'I would like to play for you' and he is a good player because I would sign him!

On the punishment for McCombe's foul in the box...
We had a player sent off so we thought the same punishment should occur. In the box I am a little bit more lenient than outside the box, personally. I think Fabregas thought it was a red card. Ideally it is for the referee to make the decision, I think he made the right one.

On never losing to lower league opposition in the FA Cup...
Never. It shows you how seriously we take the competition. Despite that, my commitment to the FA Cup is always questioned. I feel that in my whole career we did well against lower divisions but today at 1-1 I must say that record was really under threat because on set-pieces Huddersfield looked always like they could score. They had a few chances on crosses.

By Chris Harris

Arsène Wenger wants Andrey Arshavin to stay with Arsenal.

The Russian playmaker was an instant hit in the Premier League after joining the Gunners in January 2009 but has struggled to find his best form in recent months after a solid start to the campaign.

Arshavin is still contributing to Arsenal's quest for honours - he set up two goals in the Carling Cup Semi-Final against Ipswich on Tuesday - but some have questioned whether he his future lies at Emirates Stadium.

Wenger is not one of those people. "There is no question I want to keep him at the Club," said the Frenchman.

"I like him and I think he is a special player. He is going through a period which is a bit more difficult for him.
 
"But if you want to be successful you need players in your squad who can turn games around and he has played many games since the start of the season and is one of the top passers.
 
"I want to keep him until the end of his contract. Do we extend it after that? He will be 32 at the end of that - we will see that in a year."

By Giuseppe Muro
 
Arsène Wenger says Jack Wilshere has the attributes to play anywhere across the midfield.
 
England manager Fabio Capello has described Wilshere as “the future" and declared his intention to give him the ‘holding role’ for England after watching the 19-year-old hold down a midfield place for his club this season.

Wilshere is expected to win his second cap in a friendly against Denmark in February and Wenger sees no reason why the teenager shouldn’t be given the job. However he insists his qualities don’t stop there.

“Why not? He can play in any position in midfield,” said Wenger at his pre-match media briefing on Friday. “In our midfield he plays everywhere.
 
“We have no deep-lying midfielders in our midfield, but he can play in any position because he is tactically intelligent.

“He can defend [and] he can attack, he's a midfielder. For me a midfielder is not exclusively one position. He is a guy who defends when the team does not have the ball and attacks when we have the ball.

“I never had a midfielder who does just one thing, because that is what I hate most in midfield.”

On how much the win means to his players...
"Of course, the players were really up for it and focused. At the end we needed to be patient. You have to give credit to Ipswich over the two games, they defended with great attitude and great spirit and we needed tonight to be mature, calm, patient and of course not concede a goal. The fact we have stabilised our defensive record helped us to qualify.

"It meant a lot for the squad, for the team, and I must say they deserved to be rewarded because they have an outstanding attitude and spirit. They are on a natural development process and overall I think that in the last four games we scored three goals in every single game and conceded one so we are efficient on both sides. It was important to continue to believe, not to rush our game and not become nervous. We did that very well."

On the desire his team showed...
"This team is hungry for success, I said that many times. You could see that. We kept going, we refused to show any weakness and overall I think an average team against Ipswich being 1-0 down would not have qualified."

On the improvement of Championship teams...
"We played Leeds and Ipswich and in fairness the Championship has improved a lot in the last five, six years. Physically they do not weaken at all, they keep going and when we analyse the physical performance of Ipswich they are at the level of the Premier League, no problem."

On his half-time message...
"I told them to keep our priorities right, that is continue to defend well and not expose ourselves too much by rushing our game. We needed to be calm, patient, even if we had to go into the last 20 minutes. We had to continue to believe in our game."

On putting the Carling Cup on ice for now...
"We want to go for all the competitions, I have said that for a long time. That is one of the big targets. We have learned something from Leeds and Ipswich, and that is you have to be 100 per cent focused because we play Huddersfield on Sunday at the Emirates, so to be capable to focus on that game will be vital for us."

On Nicklas Bendtner's performance...
"We rotate, I rotate from game to game because we play nine games in January and we played eight or nine in December as well. I show them as well that I have confidence in every player, no matter how big the game is. Of course sometimes when a player has not played for a few weeks, when he comes in he is not 100 per cent, but after a few games Bendtner is getting sharper and sharper."

On Bendtner's goal...
"It was a great goal, yes, with a great ball from Wilshere as well. He had an outstanding game tonight. I must say I enjoyed the corner as well because we score so few goals from corners, for me it is fantastic."

On Koscielny's goal celebration...
"Maybe [it means] his girlfriend is pregnant? I don't know. Something like that."

On being aware of Man Utd's win at Blackpool...
"Not really. I thought before the game that they would get three points tonight. I have heard that at 2-0 Blackpool had a penalty turned down. But I see from your smiles that you are not surprised. But for us it was a perfect night. I am convinced that our season depends on our performances, on our results and our consistency, so overall we do not have to focus on Man United or anyone else. We are a team that has taken off a while ago and is consistent now. It is important for us to go from strength to strength. If we are capable of doing that we have a chance. Man United will be a very tough opponent but we have a good chance if we continue going from strength to strength."

On the importance of winning a trophy...
I don't know. You could see in Cesc's attitude that he's hungry for it and overall I still believe that Cesc is a winner, a born winner who wants to win every day on the training pitch. It has a lot of meaning for him."

On the transfer window...
"Transfer-wise there is no news and I would be surprised if there is any."

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that young defender Martin Angha has signed his first professional contract with the Club.
 
The Switzerland Youth International, who turned 17 only three days ago, is currently a regular with the Under-18s. He has made 14 appearances for Steve Bould’s side, including one in the FA Youth Cup, and has one goal to his name so far this season.
 
Martin has also featured for the Reserves, appearing once this season. In addition, Angha was the only player of Schoolboy age to play for the Reserves last season, when he was called upon three times by Neil Banfield.
 
Everyone at the Club is looking forward to the continued contribution and development of Martin with Arsenal in the years to come.This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

By Chris Harris

Arsène Wenger is convinced that Cesc Fabregas will one day captain his country.

The issue of 'leadership' cropped up last week after Denilson suggested that Fabregas was not a leader in the traditional sense. That misunderstanding was soon patched up by both players and Fabregas underlined his captaincy credentials with another inspirational display against Wigan at the weekend.

Wenger handed Fabregas the armband in November 2008 but he spotted the Spaniard's capacity to lead much earlier than that. After Saturday's 3-0 win the manager was asked to identify Fabregas’ attributes.

"His character. [He is] strong, strong mentally. And his intelligence," replied Wenger.

"He understands very quickly and he has a huge desire to win. He is ready to die to win. When a guy turns up at 16 or 17 and everybody gives him the ball, he has some natural charisma. I believe he will be an outstanding leader and he will lead the national team in Spain without any problem.

"At 16, he was shy. I do not believe in being a born leader but you can see that the qualities are there or someone can develop into a leader. You learn that. Overall, one of the leaderships he has is on the football pitch - that strengthens your belief he can lead the team.
 
"What people forget he is 23 years old. I have been 23. What he does on the football pitch at that age, as a leader, is absolutely fantastic."