Partizan Belgrade 1-3 Arsenal - UEFA Champions Leagu

Arsenal took a giant stride towards the Knockout Stages of the Champions League with a 3-1 win at Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday night.

After a sticky start, Arsène Wenger’s side seemed to have taken control when Jack Wilshere provided a wonderful assist for Andrey Arshavin to score in the 15th minute. However they were pegged back just after the half-hour when Denilson handled in the area and Cleo slotted home from the spot.

Arsenal should have regained the lead 10 minutes after the restart when Marouane Chamakh was hauled down by Marko Jovanovic. The defender was dismissed but Arshavin saw his penalty saved by Vladimir Stojkovic.

However, 19 minutes from time, Chamakh pounced to nod home after his own header had come back off the bar. And in the 83rd minute, Sebastien Squillaci grabbed his first Arsenal goal by steering a home a header from Samir Nasri’s cross.


The finale may have been much more nervy had Lukasz Fabianski not turned aside Cleo’s late penalty.

However, in truth, this was an Arsenal victory with something to spare.

A game of three penalties leaves Arsenal with six points out of six in Group H. They are tied with Shakhtar at the top. Braga and Partizan have yet to get off the mark

With Chelsea in mind, Wenger shuffled his side this evening. As a result the Gunners were not 100 per cent fluent or watertight but, in a difficult atmosphere, they did more than enough to deserve the victory.

If they do the same in similar circumstances at Stamford Bridge, then Arsenal’s season will be right back on track.

Before kick-off, Wenger made a whopping six changes from the side that had lost to West Brom on Saturday. 



The headline alteration saw Fabianski take the gloves from the injured Manuel Almunia (elbow). Elsewhere, Kieran Gibbs replaced Gael Clichy on the left of the defence and Johan Djourou came in for Laurent Koscielny in the middle. It was the Swiss defender’s first Champions League appearance since he started against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium in the Semi-Final second leg on May 10, 2009.

Wilshere and Denilson were brought into central midfield while captain Tomas Rosicky was on the right. Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue dropped to the bench but Abou Diaby was out with a recurrence of the ankle injury he first collected against Bolton on September 11 but had tweaked against West Brom at the weekend.

The Stadion FK Partizan was the expected pot-boiler pre-game. The home fans took their seats early and sang very, very loudly. 
A number of partial power failures gave the prelude a sense of unease. But the game started in dim light then it gradually got much brighter.

The same could be said of Arsenal’s first half-hour. 
The visitors were under the cosh in the opening stages. In the eighth minute, Cleo broke clear on the left with Squillaci in pursuit. The Brazilian-born striker reached the corner of the six-yard area but dallied enough for the Frenchman to catch-up. Cleo tried to feed a ball back into the path of Nemanja Tomic but Denilson scuffed it away from his feet at the vital moment.

A minute later Pierre Boya stretched a toe onto the ball as Squillaci tried to shepherd a header back to Fabianski. Fortunately the keeper recovered.

In the 12th minute Cleo profited on a slip by Djourou and fired wastefully over the bar.

The Arsenal goal was receiving much more attention so Arshavin’s opener was somewhat of a surprise. But its quality was exquisite. 


The Russian collected the ball in midfield and found Wilshere before racing into the area. The Englishman was surrounded and seemed to have lost control. However he backheeled the ball back into the path of Arshavin, who drilled it low past Vladimir Stojkovic.

The goal quelled Partizan’s early appetite for attack and suddenly Arsenal were on top.

Wilshere and Arshavin nearly combined for a second in the 24th minute but the Russian was denied by a fine save from Stojkovic.


In fact only the former Wigan keeper stopped Arsenal killing the game by the half-hour. Two minutes later he rushed out to deny Rosicky after Arshavin had prodded him through.


The Russian then clipped a shot over Stojkovic only for defender Jovanovic to hook the ball to safety.
Having been caught cold in the opening minutes, Arsenal suddenly seemed to be strolling.

And then they tripped up.

In the 33rd minute, the visitors half-cleared their lines and the ball fell to Radosav Petrovic on the left. His tossed a cross to the edge of the area and Denilson was adjudged to have handled. Cleo sent Fabianski the wrong way from the spot and, quite unexpectedly, a game that Arsenal seemed to be killing off was alive again.

Having got back on level terms, Partizan tried to press home their advantage. The visitors had been knocked off their stride by the equaliser but were happy enough to see off the half so they could regroup.

To be honest, Arsenal were still working their way back into the game when they were given the perfect opportunity to regain the lead in the 55th minute. Arshavin sent Chamakh clear through the middle and he was hauled down by Jovanovic just inside the area.
The referee pointed to the spot and then gave a red card to the Partizan centre back.

Having seen Rosicky miss at Sunderland and with Nasri, who had converted twice at Tottenham, on the bench, Arshavin stepped up.

His effort had power but was straight at Stojkovic. The keeper saved with his legs.
It was another blow to Arsenal but they still had that numerical advantage and set about making it pay.

In the 67th minute, Wilshere wriggled clear from his marker and darted into the area. Only a perfectly-timed challenge from Mladan Krstajic stopped him going through on the keeper.
A couple of minutes later, Arshavin’s bobbling shot was plucked out of the air.

It seemed that Arsenal had found some fluency again – and they proved it in the 71st minute. Rosicky sent over a hanging cross from the right to Chamakh at the far post. The Moroccan planted his first header against the bar and reacted first to nod home the rebound.

It was a traditional English centre-forward’s goal. Albeit from a player of African descent who was raised in France.

With seven minutes left, Squillaci popped up at the near post to nod in a corner from substitute Samir Nasri. That seemed to be that.

However seconds later, Gibbs clipped Ivan Stevanovic on the right of the area and referee Wolfgang Stark awarded another spot-kick.

Cleo stepped up once more but this time Fabianski flung himself to his right to turn the ball around the post.

In injury time, the Pole made an even better stop from Ivica Iliev.

Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal Barclays Premier League

Arsenal were seconds from topping the Premier League table on Saturday night before they were wrenched from the summit by a stoppage-time equaliser.

The visitors led through a freakish goal from Cesc Fabregas, who stuck his boot out in the 12th minute and was as surprised as everyone else when Anton Ferdinand’s clearance hit it and ballooned over the keeper and into the net.

Alex Song received his marching orders 11 minutes after the break for two bookable offences and Tomas Rosicky squandered a great chance to seal the points when he skied a penalty with 17 minutes left.

Arsenal looked like resisting Sunderland’s frenzied efforts to score an equaliser but Gael Clichy’s attempted clearance in the fourth minute of stoppage time hit Laurent Koscielny and bounced kindly for Darren Bent, who smashed in gleefully.

Sunderland will feel they deserved a draw but the clearer chances throughout fell to Arsenal - even when they were down to 10 men. This might look like a decent point before long but, at the final whistle, it felt like a defeat.

It was a case of ‘as you were’ when Arsène Wenger picked his team for this match. He stuck with the same XI – and the same subs – who lined up against Braga on Wednesday night. Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner and Aaron Ramsey are all still injured.

The Stadium of Light has been an unhappy hunting ground in recent years for Arsenal – they needed a last-gasp Fabregas header to snatch a point in 2009 and lost to Darren Bent’s scrambled strike last time out.

But having beaten Bolton and Blackburn already – a double Arsène Wenger admitted would have been improbable two years ago – this was another chance for Arsenal to show they have changed.

Sunderland have been consistently inconsistent so far but they have beaten Manchester City at home and they set about disrupting Arsenal’s rhythm from the start, something Braga had patently failed to do in midweek.

The early sparring produced no more than a couple of half-chances: Song’s burst and Marouane Chamakh’s lay-off set up Andrey Arshavin for a first-time curler but the Russian was leaning back as he struck the ball and his effort flew over.

At the other end Jordan Henderson volleyed over from edge of box but the game didn’t really spark into life until a freakish Fabregas strike broke the deadlock in the 12th minute.

There seemed no imminent danger to Sunderland as Ferdinand went to launch a long diagonal but his clearance struck Fabregas on the leg as the Arsenal captain closed down and the ball looped up and over the helpless Simon Mignolet and into the net.

You won’t see a more bizarre goal all season.

Arsenal had clearly enjoyed a huge slice of luck but there was a twist in the tail. Fabregas pulled a hamstring not long after and was replaced before the half-hour by Rosicky.

By then, Arsenal were defending for their lives.

Sunderland had responded impressively to falling behind and squandered a string of half-chances to get back on terms before the break.

Steed Malbranque sliced a shot over from the edge of the box, Nedum Onuoha powered a free header off target while Cristian Riveros arrived too quickly to meet a devilish cross from Ahmed Elmohamady and could only nod the ball into the ground.

Arsenal wobbled but they did not fall with Laurent Koscielny outstanding at the back, winning header after header and distributing the ball with admirable calm.

Song’s downward header from Arshavin’s deep cross alleviated the pressure but Arsenal were perhaps fortuitous to take their narrow lead into half-time.

That said, they should have been out of sight just after the restart.

Nasri raced to the byline within seconds of the whistle and crossed for Arshavin to scoop a sharp chance over the bar from no more than five yards.

Within two minutes a dancing run from Rosicky and Song’s deft touch set up another opening for Arshavin 12 yards out but the Russian sliced his left-foot shot wide.

The game could have been sewn up there and then. Instead, Arsenal’s task was made considerably harder by a red card awarded to Song after 56 minutes. His first booking was deserved; his second seemed harsh.

Sunderland sensed their opportunity and Bent span to fire a shot wide within a minute of the sending off.

But Arsenal regrouped. And after drawing Sunderland’s sting, they pressed forward in search of the goal that would settle the issue.

Nasri clipped a free-kick over the bar on the hour-mark and, with 17 minutes left, the same man was brought down inside the box. Up stepped Rosicky, only to thump his penalty against the top of the bar.

The away fans held their heads in their hands and no wonder – that miss set up a grandstand finish and ultimately cost their team victory.

Manuel Almunia was alert to deny Asamoah Gyan after Denilson’s slip and the keeper made a flying save to deny the Ghana international late on.

Arsenal 6 - 0 Braga - UEFA Champions League

Arsenal blitzed Braga 6-0 on the opening night of Champions League Group H on Wednesday.

Cesc Fabregas opened the Emirates Stadium floodgates in the ninth minute when he stroked home from the penalty spot after Marouane Chamakh had been felled.

The Spaniard then provided an artistic assist for Andrey Arshavin to net the second on the half-hour. Four minutes later Chamakh combined with Jack Wilshere to make it 3-0.

Fabregas headed home the fourth – his second – just after the interval and only a goal-line clearance prevented the skipper completing the first hat-trick of his Arsenal career a few minutes later.

Arshavin set up substitute Carlos Vela for a cute finish midway through the second half. Six minutes from time the Mexican netted again from an unselfish assist by Fabregas.

If that reads like a procession of Fabregas-inspired Arsenal goals then that is just what it was.

Braga looked like the Champions League debutants they were. Arsenal had complete and utter control yet they barely broke out into a meaningful sweat.

Wenger’s men have reached the last 16 of this competition for the last 10 years and, though there is a long way to go, they just might make it 11 with something to spare this time.

The manager made three changes from the side that had beaten Bolton at the weekend.

His first-choice full backs, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy returned at the expense of Emmanuel Eboue and Kieran Gibbs.

Sandwiched between them were Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny, the nascent all-French partnership that had performed so admirably at centre back on Saturday.

The final change saw their compatriot, Samir Nasri, come into the side so Tomas Rosicky dropped to the bench.

This was a voyage into the unknown for Braga and coach Domingos Paciencia sprang a surprise by leaving Lima on the bench. The Brazilian striker had scored a crucial hat-trick in the qualifying round against Sevilla.

At his pre-match press conference, Wenger had vowed to exploit Braga’s Champions League inexperience this evening and, in the opening stages, the visitors were clearly nervous.

Fabregas appeared to be felled by Paulo Cesar’s panicky challenge on the edge of the area in the fourth minute but referee Alain Hamer waved play on. Shortly afterwards Wilshere clipped a shot just wide not knowing he been flagged offside.

Up to this point, Arsenal had not been at their best but third gear was good enough to pin back Braga.

And in the ninth minute, the visitors finally fell behind.

Fabregas quickly computed that Chamakh had escaped in the left-hand channel and found him with and a penetrative pass. The Moroccan shaped to swoop inside the keeper Felipe but then went the other way. The Arsenal striker was swept off his feet and Fabregas converted the penalty.

Shortly afterwards, the captain chested the ball down and Wilshere’s point-blank shot cannoned back off Felipe.

It seemed a little too easy for Arsenal and, perhaps as a result, they failed to capitalise on their superiority immediately.

Cesar’s deflected shot was well-held by Almunia and, with a little more composure, Braga may have been more of a threat.

However Arsenal were still much the more likely side to score – all they had to do was prove it.

Then, in the 30th minute, they did.

Again the architect was Fabregas. Displaying effortless balance and guile, he weaved past a couple of Braga defenders before cushioning a pass to Arshavin on the left of the area.

The Russian rifled home a low shot just inside the near post. It was his third goal of the season.

Five minutes later it was 3-0.

Wilshere collected the ball on the right and tapped a short cross-field pass to Arshavin before racing to the edge of the area for the return.

The Russian’s chip was chested down by Chamakh to Wilshere, who then backheeled the Moroccan into a crevice of space in a crowded area. He tucked away a trickling shot beyond Felipe and into the corner.

Barring some sort of calamity, this game was won.

Eight minutes after the break even that proviso was pretty much extinguished. Arshavin clipped a cross to the far post and Fabregas, entirely unmarked, guided home a header.

It was simple, simple football.

Three minutes later, the Spaniard should have registered the first treble of his Arsenal career when he went clear. However the captain’s shot was touched into the air by Felipe and Moises raced in to hack the ball away.

No matter. At this point, Arsenal were as troublesome to the Braga defence as they wanted to be. Stepping on the gas when they felt the pace dropping too low.

Just past the hour, Wenger withdrew Song and Chamakh for Denilson and Carlos Vela. It was the act of a satisfied man.

Seconds later, Arshavin drilled a low cross-shot against the far post. In the 67th minute, the Russian cleverly fed Vela, who clipped the ball over Felipe in typical fashion.

Six minutes from time, the 21-year completed the scoring by tucking home a shot after Fabregas eschewed a half-chance of a hat-trick to set him up.

Arsenal 4-1 Bolton Wanderers

Arsenal beat 10-man Bolton Wanderers 4-1 at Emirates Stadium to keep up the pressure on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Laurent Koscielny bundled home his first Arsenal goal after 24 minutes, only for the French defender's poor back header to allow Bolton to equalise just before half-time through Johan Elmander.

Marouane Chamakh headed the hosts back in front, with Gary Cahill then sent off for a tackle from behind on the Moroccan.

Alex Song netted Arsenal's 1,000th Premier League goal under manager Arsene Wenger and substitute Carlos Vela stroked in number four with seven minutes left.

As expected, the home side made all the early running, with captain Cesc Fabregas, who has a fine personal record against Bolton, having a shot blocked after cutting into the right side of the area.

Andrey Arshavin should have made it 1-0 after latching onto a brilliant through ball by Tomas Rosicky, but Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan - making his first Premier League start in place of the suspended Jussi Jaaskelainen - was out quickly to close the Russian down at the edge of the penalty area.

The Czech midfielder then had a go himself, driving an angled shot just over as Arsenal continued to press.

Bolton - who now play a much-changed style under Owen Coyle - found an opening on 12 minutes when a knockdown by former Gunner Fabrice Muamba fell to Kevin Davies, but the striker's shot on the turn was held by Manuel Almunia.

The Gunners were ahead after 24 minutes.

Jack Wilshere's angled chip across the penalty area picked out Fabregas' run at the far post, and his cutback was bundled in by Koscielny following a rebound from Bogdan.

The Hungarian was being kept busy, as a fine passing move ended with Rosicky drilling in a low, angled shot which produced another fine reaction block from the Bolton shot stopper.

Arshavin clipped the side-netting after he just got ahead of Zat Knight before he was again denied on the breakaway, as this time Gretar Steinsson did just enough to put the Russian off balance.

Bolton snatched an equaliser just before half-time following a terrible mix up in the Arsenal defence.

Koscielny's backward header was far too soft, leaving Almunia exposed as Lee Chung-yong darted onto the loose ball.

The Korean rounded the goalkeeper, before chipping back across goal, where Elmander headed in at the far post.

The tempo was lacklustre during the opening exchanges of the second half, as both sides knew the next goal would be crucial.

Song hacked away a loose ball in the Arsenal six-yard box before Chamakh burst clear and on to the edge of the Bolton box, but again Bogdan produced a superb save.

However, there was little the Bolton goalkeeper could do moments later when, as the danger was not cleared after the resulting corner, Morocco international striker Chamakh headed in Fabregas' cross at the far post to restore Arsenal's lead after 58 minutes.

Koscielny and Davis, jumping in at full pelt, both needed treatment after a nasty clash of heads as they challenged for a ball on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area.

Moments later Stuart Attwell reached for his back pocket to show Cahill a straight red card after the England international went through the back of Chamakh right in front of the dugout.

The match suddenly developed an edge, as a few hefty challenges went in from both sides. Arsenal substitute Abou Diaby eventually had to be replaced after suffering an injury in a clash with Paul Robinson.

Song made it 3-1 when he collected a cutback from Arshavin to cleverly chip the goalkeeper from a tight angle, before substitute Vela stroked in number four with seven minutes left.

Mixed injury news ahead of Bolton game

Arsène Wenger has received some mixed injury news as he prepares his team to face Bolton at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

On the plus side, Samir Nasri is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery.

The Frenchman sustained a meniscal injury against Liverpool on the opening day of the season and was expected to be sidelined for a month. But Nasri will return to full training in the next few days.

However, Robin van Persie will have to wait a little longer before he is back in the first-team frame.

The Dutchman injured his ankle against Blackburn Rovers on August 28 and will be sidelined for longer than first anticipated. Van Persie is likely to be out of action until mid-October.

Look out for a full injury update from Arsène Wenger on Arsenal.com this Thursday.

Walcott is EA SPORTS Player of the Month

Theo Walcott has won the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for August by a landslide.

The England international has made a flying start to the season and he received a staggering 87.6 per cent of the votes in our official poll.

And no wonder. Theo hinted at what was to come with a sparkling cameo as a substitute at Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign and then struck a superb hat-trick against Blackpool a week later.

The 21-year-old's finishing was impeccable at Emirates Stadium and he continued his rich vein of form with a venomous strike at Blackburn at the end of August.

That goal earned Theo the Goal of the Month award and he now has the Player of the Month prize too.

Tomas Rosicky was a distant second in our poll after his own impressive start to the season and new signing Marouane Chamakh came third.

Van Persie sidelined until October

Arsenal's Robin van Persie is out for around six weeks with an ankle injury sustained at Ewood Park.


The Dutchman injured his ankle against Blackburn Rovers on 28th August and is set to be ruled out until the middle of next month.

The news on Van Persie will compound manager Arsene Wenger's frustration with Nicklas Bendtner also out with a groin injury.

The club's official website confirmed: "Van Persie is likely to be out of action until mid-October."

But Wenger has received some good news with Samir Nasri recovering well from knee surgery.

Nasri is ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery after the Frenchman sustained a meniscal injury against Liverpool on the opening day of the season.

The 23-year-old was expected to be sidelined for a month but Nasri will return to full training in the next few days.

Arsenal fans wanted for exciting new book

Arsenal in the Community together with the help of Arsenal supporters are publishing a unique book entitled Arsenal 'Til I Die - a book written by the fans, for the fans as part of an innovative literacy project co-ordinated by the National Literacy Trust in partnership with Legends Publishing and Arsenal in the Community, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The project will give football fans the opportunity to write about the highs and lows of life as a passionate Arsenal supporter. Arsenal ‘Til I Die hopes to reveal the fun, absurd, emotional, peculiar and unbelievable tales that are part and parcel of following the Gunners and supporters' involvement in Arsenal in the Community's numerous social inclusion, charity, sport, education and international projects.

The book, due to be published later on in the year will be compiled by fans, so the search is on to find the most avid Arsenal followers to contribute their exciting and perhaps funny stories; Supporters from far and wide who watch their beloved team, fans who have seen hundreds of Arsenal matches home and away. There will be opportunities to attend story-writing sessions, which will be held at Arsenal Football Club and at libraries and schools in the local community over the next few months. These sessions will help spark the memory-gathering process and will provide a chance for fans to perfect their stories.

Alan Sefton Head of Arsenal in the Community said: "This book will be another wonderful way to mark 25 years of Arsenal in the Community. It will provide a legacy for fans who have great stories and memories of supporting Arsenal and being involved in Arsenal. The story-writing sessions are perfect for extending some of our existing education projects which have traditionally involved young people. This gives all supporters - no matter their age - an opportunity to get involved in another exciting project."

Dave Lane of Legends Publishing, the publishers of the book says: "The Arsenal ‘Til I Die project is an excellent opportunity for Arsenal supporters to record their memories in writing, and share their tales of trial and tribulation with the world. We want to encourage everyone who loves the team to get involved in the project. Not only will it be a great experience, but the proceeds of the book will go towards funding reading and writing projects in local schools."

Jim Sells, Project Manager at the National Literacy Trust says: "We are delighted to announce the launch of the Arsenal ‘Til I Die fan book. Arsenal ‘Til I Die is one of 16 books we are producing nationally in 2010. We have discovered that tapping into football fans' undying passion for their team is an excellent way to encourage them to enjoy writing and improve their skills. By empowering people to engage with literacy in meaningful ways, the aim of the National Literacy Trust is to create change that will last a lifetime."

If you have a story or set of experiences about yourself, a family member, a neighbour or friend which you feel deserves to go into the book, email your stories or request to take part in the storywriting sessions by emailing David Lane at Legends Publishing david@legendspublishing.net or www.tilidie.co.uk. You can also send your stories to 18 Darby Crescent, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 5LA. The deadline is July 2nd, 2010.

International Watch: Woe for French trio

Twelve Arsenal players have been selected to represent their nations in international matches over the following week.

A further three members of the Arsenal first team have been selected for youth internationals. Armand Traore, on loan at Juventus, has also been selected to represent his country at Under-21 level.

Arsenal.com will bring you news on all 16 players' progress after their fixtures.

Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna
France 0-1 Belarus, September 3
Bosnia & Herzegovina v France, September 7
Abou Diaby, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna all played 90 minutes as France started Group D with a highly-disappointing 1-0 defeat against Belarus in Paris. Sergei Kislak grabbed the only goal four minutes from time. Les Bleus travel to Sarajevo to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.

Andrey Arshavin
Andorra 0-2 Russia, September 3
Russia v Slovakia, September 7
Andrey Arshavin laid on the first goal for Pavel Pogrebnyak as Russia beat Andorra 2-0. Dick Advocaat’s men have a home match against Slovakia in Moscow on Tuesday.

Cesc Fabregas
Liechtenstein 0-4 Spain, September 3
Argentina v Spain, September 7
Cesc Fabregas played 45 minutes as Spain won 4-0 in Liechtenstein. The Arsenal captain replaced Xavi at the break with the holders 2-0 up. They doubled that advantage in the second half. Spain go to Buenos Aires for a friendly on Tuesday night against Argentina..

Thomas Vermaelen
Belgium 0-1 Germany, September 3
Turkey v Belgium, September 7
Thomas Vermaelen captained Belgium in their 1-0 defeat at home to Germany. Miroslav Klose grabbed the all-important goal just after the break. George Leekens’ side have another tough-looking trip to Turkey on Tuesday.

Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs
England 4-0 Bulgaria, September 3
Switzerland v England, September 7
Theo Walcott was involved for 74 minutes as England responded to their World Cup disappointment by beating Bulgaria 4-0 at Wembley thanks to three goals from Jermain Defoe. Kieran Gibbs was an unused substitute. Both players will travel to Switzerland next week for Tuesday’s friendly in Basle.

Jack Wilshere
Portugal Under-21s 0-1 England Under-21s, September 3
England Under-21s v Lituania Under-21s, September 7
Jack Wilshere was an unused substitute as England Under-21s won 1-0 in Portugal on Friday night. Stuart Pearce’s side welcome Lithuania to the Weston Homes Community Stadium in Colchester on Tuesday

Vito Mannone
Bosnia and Herzegovina Under-21s 0-1 Italy Under-21s, September 3
Italy Under-21s v Wales Under-21s, September 7
Vito Mannone kept a clean-sheet as Italy Under-21s won 1-0 in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Pierluigi Casiraghi's side now face a potential group-decider in their final game against leaders Wales in Pescara on Tuesday.

Armand Traore
Ukraine Under-21s 2-2 France Under-21s, September 3
France Under-21s v Malta Under-21s, September 7
Armand Traore did not make the starting squad as the French Under-21s drew 2-2 in the Ukraine. They play Malta in Amiens on Tuesday.

Wojciech Szczesny
Finland Under-21s 2-0 Poland Under-21s, September 3
Poland Under-21s v Spain Under-21s, September 7
Wojciech Szczesny did not make the starting squad as Poland Under-21s lost 2-0 to Finland in Pori. They have a second European Championship qualfier in Spain on Tuesday.

Emmanuel Eboue
Ivory Coast v Rwanda, September 4
Emmanuel Eboue has been selected in the Ivory Coast squad to face Rwanda in Abidjan on Saturday. The game is an African Cup of Nations qualifier.

Marouane Chamakh
Morocco v Central African Republic, September 4
Marouane Chamakh has been called up for Morocco’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Central African Republic. The game will take place in Rabat on Saturday.

Tomas Rosicky
Czech Republic v Lithuania, September 7
Tomas Rosicky has been called up for Czech Republic’s opening Euro 2012 Group I game against Lithuania. Michal Bílek’s men open with a home game in Olomouc on Tuesday night.

Carlos Vela
Mexico v Ecuador, September 4
Carlos Vela has been called up to the Mexico squad to face Ecuador in a friendly in Guadalajara on Saturday.

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Premier League clubs submit squad lists - Arsenal - 25 squad players

Premier League Clubs agreed, from season 2010/11, to introduce the following rules governing squad numbers and Home Grown Players.

• Each Club must submit a squad by 5pm on 1st September containing no more than 17 players who do not fulfill the Home Grown Player criteria. The remainder of the squad, up to a total of 25 players, must be Home Grown.


• A Home Grown Player means a player who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the Season during which he turns 21).

• Changes to the squad list of 25 may be made during the period of a Transfer Window.

• U21 players are eligible over and above the limit of 25 players/squad.

• For the 2010/11 campaign Under 21 players will have been born on or after 1st January 1989.

Each Club Squad List is attached below as well as an additional list of each Club's registered Under 21 players who are eligible over and above the squad limit of 25 players.


Arsenal - 25 squad players

Player Home Grown

1 Almunia, Manuel No
2 Arshavin, Andrey No
3 Bendtner, Nicklas Yes
4 Chamakh, Maroune No
5 Clichy, Gael Yes
6 Denilson, Pereka Neves Yes
7 Diaby, Vassiriki Abou No
8 Djourou-Gbadjere, Johan Danon Yes
9 Eboue, Emmanuel No
10 Fabianski, Lukasz No
11 Fabregas Soler, Francesc Yes
12 Koscielny, Laurent No
13 Mannone, Vito Yes
14 Nasri, Samir No
15 Rosicky, Tomas No
16 Sagna, Bacary No
17 Song Bilong, Alexandre Dimitri Yes
18 Van Persie, Robin No
19 Vermaelen, Thomas No
20 Squillaci, Sebastien No

Arsenal - Under 21 players (Contract and Scholars)

Afobe, Benik
Aneke, Chukwuemeka Ademola Amachi
Angha, Martin Yves
Ansah, Zak Andy
Barazite, Nacer
Bartley, Kyle
Bihmoutine, Samir
Boateng, Daniel
Botelho, Pedro Roberto Silva
Brislen-Hall, George
Bunjaku, Alban
Campbell, James Andrew
Charles-Cook, Reice Jordan
Coquelin, Francis
Cruise, Thomas Daniel
Deacon, Roarie
Eastmond, Craig Leon
Ebecilio, Kyle Stephen Joel
Edge, James Michael
Emmanuel-Thomas, Jay-Aston
Evina, Cedric David
Freeman, Luke Anthony
Frimpong, Emmanuel Yan
Galindo, Samuel
Gibbs, Kieran James Ricardo
Glasgow, Benjamin Luke
Hajrovic, Sead
Henderson, Conor Alan
Hoyte, Gavin Andrew
Lansbury, Henri George
Martinez, Damain Emiliano
McDermott, Sean
Meade, Jernade Ronnel
Miquel-Pons, Ignasi
Monakana, Jeffrey
Monteiro, Elton Almada
Murphy, Rhys Philip Elliot
Nordtveit, Havard
Oldfield Spence-Neita, Nigel Paul
Ozyakup, Oguzhan
Ramsey, Aaron James
Randall, Mark
Rees, Joshua David
Roberts, Philip James
Shea, James
Smith, Steven Robert
Sunu, Gilles
Szczesny, Wojciech Tomasz
Traore, Armand
Vela Garrido, Carlos Alberto
Walcott, Theo James
Watt, Herschel Oulio Sanchez
Webb, Callum Taylor
Wilshere, Jack Andrew
Wynter, Jordan James Cecil
Yennaris, Nicholas

Arsenal confirm signing of Sebastien Squillaci

Arsenal have completed the signing of the French defender Sebastien Squillaci from Sevilla.

The Gunners manager, Arsène Wenger, has confirmed that the deal for the 30-year-old centre-back has been sealed after the Spanish club accepted an offer last week.

"We needed a centre-back of quality and experience if possible, and at the right price – he was all of that," said Wenger. "He is a real defender and is good in the one against one, good in the air, and can score goals on set-pieces as well. I believe he will be suited to the English game."

Squillaci will not play in Saturday's Premier League game at Blackburn but will be eligible for the Champions League campaign.

The former Lyon centre-half, who joined Sevilla two years ago, asked to be left out of the side for the Champions League play-off against Braga last week so he would not be cup-tied for European competition.

Squillaci will strengthen an Arsenal rearguard weakened by the departures of William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Sol Campbell and Philippe Senderos.

Arsenal are also keen on the Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, with the Cottagers turning down two bids for the 37-year-old. Wenger refused to rule out bringing in any more players ahead of the transfer deadline, but insisted no deals were imminent.

"We are where we are – we have four great keepers and it is important we give confidence to them for the next game," Wenger said. "I do not rule it out, but at the moment I say I am not in a position to sign anybody. At the moment, it is all dead."

Wenger, though, indicated players could still move overseas, with full-back Armand Traoré looking set to leave for Benfica.

"I believe the transfer window should have been over already for a long time, because it should stop when the championship starts for domestic transfers, internationally it should go on until 31 August because not everybody starts at the same time," he said.

Nacer Barazite joins Vitesse Arnhem on loan

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.

News in Brief - Weds 1st Sep

Juventus have signed Armand Traore on a season-loan deal from Arsenal, the Serie A club confirmed. The French left-back joins Juve hours before the end of the transfer window. A statement from the club read: "Juventus have strengthened their left flank with the arrival of Armand Traore. The player arrives on loan for the 2010-11 campaign." The 20-year-old made nine league appearances for the Gunners last term.