If anyone saw Wenger’s press conference – the talk about new emergency player (s) in truth was ‘a bit fabricated’ and induced by the questions.
However it doesn’t stop the speculation. The Sun says Wenger’s attempts to sign emergency loan cover have hit the wall. He is desperate for a left-sided winger and has been tracking Seville’s Antonio Puerta. Puerta is a Spain Under-21 international with only 18 months left on his contract.
Meanwhile, the Express says Arsenal were last night considering a move for £5m French striker Frederic Piquionne.
“The Gunners yesterday contacted his club St Etienne to ask how much the 28-year-old would cost. Newcastle were trying to negotiate a loan deal for Piquionne, who has also been a target for West Ham, Tottenham and French side Monaco.”
Piquionne has scored six goals in France so far this season, and can also play on the wing. St Etienne were last night waiting to hear back from Arsenal about a firm offer.
Newcastle had wanted to take Piquionne on loan, with an option in the summer for a permanent transfer.
Charlton, meanwhile have secured the loan signing of Arsenal’ 19 year old midfielder, Alexandre Song until the end of the season according to the Irish Examiner
The 19-year-old Cameroon midfielder has featured for Arsenal twice this season,in the Barclays Premiership and also in the Carling Cup as well as being involved in the Champions League.
Wenger said:”The only one who may go out on loan is Song, because I want him to play somewhere. In central midfield we are a bit congested, and he is ready to play.”
There was competition from Blackburn and Manchester City.
Fabrice Muamba, has revealed Arsene Wenger has left it up to him to decide where his long-term future lies, says the Journal. Muamba, 18, a summer target of then Sunderland manager Niall Quinn, has played an important role for Birmingham. Muamba has 17 months left on his deal with Arsenal.
Muamba, 18, said in another paper: “In an ideal world I would like to play for Arsenal but you can’t always get into the Arsenal team. I have loved every single second of my time at Birmingham.”
All Africa says Aleksandr Hleb could miss both legs of Arsenal FC’s UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie against PSV Eindhoven.
Jeremie Aliadiere and right-back Emmanuel Eboue also collected knocks at Spurs yet should be back within a week, while Wenger admitted that forward Robin van Persie could be absent for longer than the predicted six weeks with his toe injury.
On van Persie, Wenger said: “Ideally you would say six to eight weeks but it could be 10. That means April and you are close to the end of the season and you’ll need to get back to your best level. I hope it will be six weeks but that is really optimistic.” Arsenal travel to PSV on February 20, before hosting the return match on March 7.
Arsene Wenger will not include Thierry Henry in his squad to face Spurs tomorrow and put Cesc Fabregas and Rosicky on the bench. Julio Baptista is reported in one paper to be out for up to three weeks. While another says he could play tomorrow.
The untried partnership of Jeremie Aliadiere and Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to start at The Emirates. Gilberto Silva has completed a three-match suspension and will return.
Wenger said:”It is difficult to cope with the number of games and the number of injuries we have. We have the Champions League coming up and this week we have Tottenham and then we go to Middlesbrough.
“It is very important to not lose players with injuries, because if you lose them in January for a long period the season is over.”
Arsenal face the Bolton replay on February 14, when they should have been facing Manchester City in a rearranged Premiership game.
According to Asian News Agencies, Arsenal will help Vietnam set up a soccer academy in a $4m project Doan Nguyen Duc, chairman of V-League
club Hoang Anh Gia Lai said.
The under-12 students at the academy will undergo football training and regular schooling under the program that aims to create top international players.
The construction will start in March and located in Pleiku in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.
“This will be the first football academy in Vietnam. The first course will have 20 trainees with two trainers from France,” Duc said. “Arsenal will also send four boys from Ivory Coast for the first course, which will last seven years.”
Last weekend, officials from the two clubs signed a long-term agreement for training, players’ transfers and souvenir sales.
Man U may copy Arsenal and offer bonds backed by ticket revenue. This is in order to cut interest charges.
According to Bloomberg, Deutsche Bank AG and Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC are looking at ways of raising the money for United.
And finally: The Guardian wants lower-division underdogs always to be granted home advantage when pitted against the Premiership elite in the FA Cup.
And Arsenal have come from behind to get a result 12 times this season – with 10 of those being at the Emirates.