Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of the Manchester City game.
on Emmanuel Frimpong …
He is a bit in front of Jack [Wilshere] on match fitness. He has worked a very, very long time and he is ready.
on Rosicky and Sagna…
Sagna is one week away from full training, and Rosicky two.
SOURCE: arsenal.com
Saturday, September 22, 2012
SUNDAYS GAME WOULD REVEAL THE STRENGTH OF OUR SQUARD- WENGER
Arsène Wenger believes Sunday's trip to Manchester City will reveal more about the strength of his squad.
Arsenal have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the Premier League season and got off to a winning start against Montpellier in the Champions League on Tuesday.
But Wenger believes this weekend's game in particular is the ultimate test for Arsenal's championship credentials.
"I am very ambitious and I know that before the game starts," said the Frenchman. "It will tell us a lot about our quality. How we handle the big games will decide how well we do in the championship. That is why it is an interesting weekend for us.
"I have no doubt about the desire and hunger of my squad. It will just tell you how strong we areat the moment.
"I believe we are quite strong but we have some room for improvement. All is not perfect but the signs we are giving are very good and very strong.
"The hunger is massive in this squad. They want to do well. They are focused. They want to win. We want to continue to improve because we have many new players. It is a big test to see how strong we are."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
Arsenal have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the Premier League season and got off to a winning start against Montpellier in the Champions League on Tuesday.
But Wenger believes this weekend's game in particular is the ultimate test for Arsenal's championship credentials.
"I am very ambitious and I know that before the game starts," said the Frenchman. "It will tell us a lot about our quality. How we handle the big games will decide how well we do in the championship. That is why it is an interesting weekend for us.
"I have no doubt about the desire and hunger of my squad. It will just tell you how strong we areat the moment.
"I believe we are quite strong but we have some room for improvement. All is not perfect but the signs we are giving are very good and very strong.
"The hunger is massive in this squad. They want to do well. They are focused. They want to win. We want to continue to improve because we have many new players. It is a big test to see how strong we are."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
WILSHERE WOULD GET STRONGER- WENGER
Jack Wilshere has resumed full training with the Arsenal first-team squad.
The 20-year-old England international missed the whole of last season with a foot injury, but returned to full training on Thursday for the first time in more than a year.
Arsène Wenger was asked about Wilshere at Friday's pre-match press conference. This is what the manager said:
The 20-year-old England international missed the whole of last season with a foot injury, but returned to full training on Thursday for the first time in more than a year.
Arsène Wenger was asked about Wilshere at Friday's pre-match press conference. This is what the manager said:
on Wilshere's attitude…
He had ups and downs and many downs because he had a few setbacks. He dealt with it very well, especially in the last three months. He was highly focused every day, he was in every day very early and worked all day through. He is rewarded now with a good condition. We have to be a bit cautious, because when a guy has been out for 14 months it takes a while to get back to match fitness. He is fit to practice and play, but to put high-level performances in takes time.
on his commitment…
I have never had any doubts about that, but when you are so young and out for 14 months that isa good test for your mental strength. On that front he has been absolutely brilliant because he had not only ankle surgery, but when he thought that was over he had knee surgery. He handledthat very well, I must say.
on a possible comeback date…
I cannot tell you anything about that. It will take a few weeks. We will see how well he responds in the first two games. He has to play games in the reserve [Under-21] team and see how well he comes out of that. I have to look at the schedule, I first want to give him 10 days training before he plays his first game.
on Wilshere's first training session…
It went well, and we will see how he responds to the training now. We will have to be a bit patient and monitor him well. He needs a few games, he has not played for 14 months and needs games in the reserves.
on whether he was concerned over Wilshere's recovery…
I refuse to give up, because he's a 19-year-old boy, so I always thought he would come back. I'm not medically expert enough to know how big the damage was in his ankle. [Wilshere not coming back] never crossed my mind. Has it crossed his mind? Only he can answer that – I thinkyes. He's mentally a strong boy, he's always had a good level of confidence. I believe what he has gone through will make him even stronger.
on Wilshere's fight for a first-team place...
The biggest battle for him is just to enjoy every day now. For the rest I don't worry too much for him.
SOURCE: Arsenal.com
WE WILL KEEP UP PICKING THE POINTS- RAMSEY
Mikel Arteta believes a victory at Manchester City on Sunday would prove that Arsenal are as good as any team in the Premier League.
Arsène Wenger's side are unbeaten after a strong start to the new season, and have won three successive matches in all competitions.
They head to the Etihad Stadium in buoyant mood, and Arteta says it is the perfect time for the Gunners to underline their title credentials.
"It's still too early, whatever happens on Sunday, and I don't think it's going to change anything," he told Arsenal Player. "But if you get points there, and you win then you make a bit of a statement.
"It grows the confidence of the team and everyone around it who believes we are as good as anyone in this league. These are good places to show that.
"It's a huge test for us. We've been playing well. We played really good when we went to Liverpool - that's a tough place to get three points but we did it.
"[This is] another test. Man City haven't lost at home for a while. We know it's going to be difficult but I'm sure they will be thinking the same thing."
A late goal from Cristiano Ronaldo condemned City to a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, but Arteta does not believe it will adversely affect them against Arsenal.
"It can be like, 'Oh now we need a win to put that on the side'," he said. "To be honest, they created a lot of problems for Real Madrid and they went into the last 10 or 15 minutes of the game ahead of them at the Bernabeu, which is not easy at all.
"We know how good they are, how good players their players are and how tough they're going to make it for us. At the same time, they will be a bit scared as well."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
Arsène Wenger's side are unbeaten after a strong start to the new season, and have won three successive matches in all competitions.
They head to the Etihad Stadium in buoyant mood, and Arteta says it is the perfect time for the Gunners to underline their title credentials.
"It's still too early, whatever happens on Sunday, and I don't think it's going to change anything," he told Arsenal Player. "But if you get points there, and you win then you make a bit of a statement.
"It grows the confidence of the team and everyone around it who believes we are as good as anyone in this league. These are good places to show that.
"It's a huge test for us. We've been playing well. We played really good when we went to Liverpool - that's a tough place to get three points but we did it.
"[This is] another test. Man City haven't lost at home for a while. We know it's going to be difficult but I'm sure they will be thinking the same thing."
A late goal from Cristiano Ronaldo condemned City to a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, but Arteta does not believe it will adversely affect them against Arsenal.
"It can be like, 'Oh now we need a win to put that on the side'," he said. "To be honest, they created a lot of problems for Real Madrid and they went into the last 10 or 15 minutes of the game ahead of them at the Bernabeu, which is not easy at all.
"We know how good they are, how good players their players are and how tough they're going to make it for us. At the same time, they will be a bit scared as well."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
VICTORY AT MANCHESTER WOULD PROVE OUR POINT- ARTETA
Mikel Arteta believes a victory at Manchester City on Sunday would prove that Arsenal are as good as any team in the Premier League.
Arsène Wenger's side are unbeaten after a strong start to the new season, and have won three successive matches in all competitions.
They head to the Etihad Stadium in buoyant mood, and Arteta says it is the perfect time for the Gunners to underline their title credentials.
"It's still too early, whatever happens on Sunday, and I don't think it's going to change anything," he told Arsenal Player. "But if you get points there, and you win then you make a bit of a statement.
"It grows the confidence of the team and everyone around it who believes we are as good as anyone in this league. These are good places to show that.
"It's a huge test for us. We've been playing well. We played really good when we went to Liverpool - that's a tough place to get three points but we did it.
"[This is] another test. Man City haven't lost at home for a while. We know it's going to be difficult but I'm sure they will be thinking the same thing."
A late goal from Cristiano Ronaldo condemned City to a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, but Arteta does not believe it will adversely affect them against Arsenal.
"It can be like, 'Oh now we need a win to put that on the side'," he said. "To be honest, they created a lot of problems for Real Madrid and they went into the last 10 or 15 minutes of the game ahead of them at the Bernabeu, which is not easy at all.
"We know how good they are, how good players their players are and how tough they're going to make it for us. At the same time, they will be a bit scared as well."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
Arsène Wenger's side are unbeaten after a strong start to the new season, and have won three successive matches in all competitions.
They head to the Etihad Stadium in buoyant mood, and Arteta says it is the perfect time for the Gunners to underline their title credentials.
"It's still too early, whatever happens on Sunday, and I don't think it's going to change anything," he told Arsenal Player. "But if you get points there, and you win then you make a bit of a statement.
"It grows the confidence of the team and everyone around it who believes we are as good as anyone in this league. These are good places to show that.
"It's a huge test for us. We've been playing well. We played really good when we went to Liverpool - that's a tough place to get three points but we did it.
"[This is] another test. Man City haven't lost at home for a while. We know it's going to be difficult but I'm sure they will be thinking the same thing."
A late goal from Cristiano Ronaldo condemned City to a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday, but Arteta does not believe it will adversely affect them against Arsenal.
"It can be like, 'Oh now we need a win to put that on the side'," he said. "To be honest, they created a lot of problems for Real Madrid and they went into the last 10 or 15 minutes of the game ahead of them at the Bernabeu, which is not easy at all.
"We know how good they are, how good players their players are and how tough they're going to make it for us. At the same time, they will be a bit scared as well."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
LUKAS PODOLSKI IS A DIFFERENT PLAYER- ARSENE WENGER
Arsène Wenger believes Lukas Podolski is a completely different player than he was during his three-year spell at Bayern Munich.
The Germany international moved to the Allianz Arena from Cologne in 2006, and scored 26 times in 106 appearances before returning to his former club, where he flourished once more.
The 27-year-old has made an instant impact at Arsenal though, and Wenger says his experiencemeant this was always likely.
"I think sometimes when a player goes to a big club early, there are other players there that they cannot take their place from," he said. "Maybe he was not ready and completely mature, I don't know.
"Now he is ready. He is 27, between that period [at Bayern] and now he has 50 or 60 more caps for Germany and a World Cup and a European Championship behind him.
"He has experience, he has 100 caps for Germany. You see that in a game, he is calm and whenhe gets a chance you think it will be a goal."
Wenger is confident Podolski will continue his hot goalscoring form after netting in three successive matches.
"We have signed a player who was in a club that was not doing well. Last year he scored 18 goals in a club that went down [Cologne]," he said.
"For me that is worth 30 goals in a club that is dominating a championship. It doesn't mean that he will score 30, though, because he played central striker last year and for us he plays more onthe right side, left side. He can finish, that is for sure."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
The Germany international moved to the Allianz Arena from Cologne in 2006, and scored 26 times in 106 appearances before returning to his former club, where he flourished once more.
The 27-year-old has made an instant impact at Arsenal though, and Wenger says his experiencemeant this was always likely.
"I think sometimes when a player goes to a big club early, there are other players there that they cannot take their place from," he said. "Maybe he was not ready and completely mature, I don't know.
"Now he is ready. He is 27, between that period [at Bayern] and now he has 50 or 60 more caps for Germany and a World Cup and a European Championship behind him.
"He has experience, he has 100 caps for Germany. You see that in a game, he is calm and whenhe gets a chance you think it will be a goal."
Wenger is confident Podolski will continue his hot goalscoring form after netting in three successive matches.
"We have signed a player who was in a club that was not doing well. Last year he scored 18 goals in a club that went down [Cologne]," he said.
"For me that is worth 30 goals in a club that is dominating a championship. It doesn't mean that he will score 30, though, because he played central striker last year and for us he plays more onthe right side, left side. He can finish, that is for sure."
SOURCE: arsenal.com
WILSHERE WILL BE BETTER- ARSENE WENGER
Arsène Wenger is convinced that Jack Wilshere will eventually be better than ever - but he will need time to rediscover his "burst".
The England international returned to first-team training on Thursday after missing the whole of last season through injury. Wilshere enjoyed a meteoric rise before his lay-off and Wenger believes his youth will help him get back to the top.
The manager was asked during his pre-match press conference whether Wilshere will be as good as he was during his breakthrough 2010/11 campaign. "It is not possible, it is certain," replied Wenger.
"He will be a better player because if you have this kind of injury at the age of 20 you will take off again and move forward normally. If you have the injury after the age of 25 it is different. At his age it is no problem.
"[For example] Eduardo had limitation of his ankle. Jack has no limitation of his ankle it was just a fracture. Eduardo had a rupture of his ligaments and in construction they had to tie his ankle upso once you lose your flexibility of your ankle you are, of course, not the same player. That is not the case for Jack.
"It's difficult to predict [how long he needs to find his best form]. You want people to be patient. After three months of competition for sure he would be back. It takes some while to find the little burst again."
"He will be an international player and he will have to cope. He is a very strong guy, he had a stress fracture and that happens many times to young players. Between the ages of 18 to 20, around 60 per cent of them have stress fractures."
SOURCE: Arsenal.com
The England international returned to first-team training on Thursday after missing the whole of last season through injury. Wilshere enjoyed a meteoric rise before his lay-off and Wenger believes his youth will help him get back to the top.
The manager was asked during his pre-match press conference whether Wilshere will be as good as he was during his breakthrough 2010/11 campaign. "It is not possible, it is certain," replied Wenger.
"He will be a better player because if you have this kind of injury at the age of 20 you will take off again and move forward normally. If you have the injury after the age of 25 it is different. At his age it is no problem.
"[For example] Eduardo had limitation of his ankle. Jack has no limitation of his ankle it was just a fracture. Eduardo had a rupture of his ligaments and in construction they had to tie his ankle upso once you lose your flexibility of your ankle you are, of course, not the same player. That is not the case for Jack.
"It's difficult to predict [how long he needs to find his best form]. You want people to be patient. After three months of competition for sure he would be back. It takes some while to find the little burst again."
"He will be an international player and he will have to cope. He is a very strong guy, he had a stress fracture and that happens many times to young players. Between the ages of 18 to 20, around 60 per cent of them have stress fractures."
SOURCE: Arsenal.com
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