Wenger hopeful on Nasri and Clichy deals

Arsène Wenger is “hopeful” that Arsenal can agree new deals for Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.
 
The French duo are key members of the first-team squad at Emirates Stadium: Clichy is the Club’s longest-serving outfield player while Nasri has been a revelation in his third season in north London.
 
Both players have entered the final two years of their current contracts but Wenger is confident they will agree extensions.

"We are working on it at the moment,” said the manager. 
 
“I'm hopeful [of agreeing deals], yes, because the players want to stay."

Theo hoping to establish himself as a striker in 'next couple of years'

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott is targeting a role as a striker in the future after recently making his return from an ankle injury.

The pacey forward scored an outstanding individual breakaway goal in the 2-1 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday night and he aims to stay on the on the goal trail and help make sure Arsenal's promising season continues.

The England star damaged his ankle while on international duty in September but has already had an impact since his return, scoring twice in the League Cup win against Newcastle United.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has tipped Walcott to eventually finish up in a central role like former Gunners favourite Thierry Henry.

And Walcott said: "I will play anywhere for the Arsenal, but it is nice to know the manager has got different hopes for me playing up front because for me personally I am a striker.

"It is nice to get within the goals because I have tended to miss out at times - I am trying to catch up a bit of time.

"But hopefully in the next couple of years you will see me be up front and I am looking forward to that.

"I have been practising in training and that seems to be paying off, so hopefully I can continue doing that."

Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger Believes His Side Were 'Punished' For Losing Concentration In Loss To Shakhtar Donetsk

Wenger.. frustated

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his side were "punished" for their poor concentration as they were beaten in the Champions League 2-1 by Shakhtar Donetsk.

Theo Walcott had given the Gunners the lead, but an own goal from Craig Eastmond and a strike from former frontman Eduardo saw them miss the chance to qualify from the group stages, and Wenger admitted that his side lost concentration after they took the lead.

“We had a good start and after we became too easy, and then we were punished, against a good team you are punished,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“It’s a good lesson for us tonight because we thought we’d get through without putting 100 per cent focus on every defensive situation and then in the second half we gave a lot to come back into the game but we were a bit unlucky in the finishing and they were intelligent as well and that explains after that it was difficult to come back.

“We had the chances but we couldn’t take them. Overall, I believe we have learned that even if you give a lot, if you are not focussed for 90 minutes  you don’t win at that level.

“We were 1-0 up and comfortable and slowly we dropped our urgency and we were punished because they have good players, and you see that especially on the crosses, nobody attacks the ball and they created chances from that.”

Wenger was questioned about whether Gael Clichy was to blame for Shakhtar’s second goal, but the Frenchman didn’t give much away.

“I don’t know if it was a lack of focus but he was first on the ball, it’s difficult to explain. I haven’t talked to him about it yet.”

The Gunners boss also said that he thought his side were unlucky in the run up to Shakhtar’s first goal, but still criticised his team for failing to deal with the free-kick.

“Yes, but that’s a decision for the referee. We still have to deal better with the free-kick.”

Theo Walcott’s first half goal was one of the few positives for the Gunners, but Wenger seemed unimpressed by the move, instead insisting that none of his players played well tonight.

“Well I don’t want to speak about any individual performance because nobody was individually outstanding tonight.”

Even when he was pushed about the quality of the goal, the Frenchman remained downbeat.

“It was a good goal, but we play to win the games, you know.”

Wenger also emphasised that the loss represented a missed chance to qualify for the next stage and criticised his side’s lack of maturity for surrendering their first half lead.

“It is a missed opportunity of course. Especially if we get away with a draw we are there nearly. So the most difficult thing in a game is to score the first goal, what we did, and then I believe it’s a lack of maturity not to focus 100% to make sure. We are caught just before half-time and then you give a lot, but it’s just the story of the game. It’s just, it’s football.”

When questioned as to whether previous poor results in the Ukraine had led to his side going into the clash with a mental disadvantage, the Frenchman dismissed the idea, instead insisting that it was a lack of concentration that saw them come up short.

“No you don’t play with memory, you play with the performance of the day and we had 20 minutes today where we were not completely sharp and we were punished.”

Theo walcott is faster than me: Bale

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale believes Arsenalwide man Theo Walcott is faster than him.

The Welshman has had the spotlight shine on him after two mesmerising performances against current European champions Inter, as he scored a hat-trick at the San Siro and followed it up with two important assists at White Hart Lane.

And in both games the 21-year-old used his pace and skill to make a mockery of Brazilian full-back Maicon.

However, Bale has his feet firmly on the ground — as he insists that his former Southampton team-mate Walcott would have the beating of him in a race.

"I've never worked with a sprint coach, I just put my foot down and run as hard as I can," Bale told The Sun.

"I've never worked with a skills coach either, I've always liked dribbling with a ball and now I'm showing it in games.

"Maybe I owe some thanks to my PE teacher at school, who at one time banned me from using my left foot in practice games. He'd only let me use my right - and that definitely helped improve it.

"As for how quickly I can cover ground, as I have grown older I have become more powerful and that is all I can honestly put the speed down to. Of course I work hard on the training ground, but I don't do anything special.

"Back when I was a schoolkid I'd do distance running and the sprints as well. I could run 100 metres in a little over 11 seconds but I have never been timed by anyone at Tottenham.

"Is there anyone faster than me in football? Well, Theo Walcott at Arsenal for one. I used to room with him when we were both teenagers at Southampton and he is definitely quicker than me.

"We're good mates and I keep in contact with Theo regularly. But yes, he'd beat me in a race."

Now Bale hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow Welshman and Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs.

"He's shown, ever since he made his debut, what a good player and what a good person he is for football," he said, according to the Press Association.

"He's an amazing person to follow and hopefully I can come a little bit near him."

And with comparisons with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi cropping up, he added: "It's obviously nice to get people talking about you, saying nice things.

"But I know I have to keep working hard and keep improving and that's all I want to do."

NO Fabregas!

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that skipper Cesc Fabregas is sidelined for the trip to playShakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

The Gunners travel to play the Ukrainian side on Wednesday night, but the manager is unwilling to risk the 23-year-old in the fixture.

The Spaniard had to be taken off during the recent game against West Ham United after feeling his hamstring, but the Frenchman insists that it is not a strain.

"He has a good chance to play on Sunday but Wednesday night is too risky," Wenger said in a press conference.

"He has no real strain, just a bit of pain. I don't know what it's down to but we cannot take a gamble as he has had injuries before. There's still a bit of reluctance to push it 100 per cent."

In the meantime, the manager also revealed that he has fitness concerns regarding Andrey Arshavin, Denilson and Alex Song.

Arsenal To Tie Down Samir Nasri With A Five-Year Deal - Report

Arsenal are reportedly set to hand midfielder Samir Nasria long-term deal, following the Frenchman's rich vein of form.

The 23-year-old has been one of the best players for the north London club this season, and has already scored six goals in all competitions.

And with his current deal set to expire in 2012, The Mirror reports that the Gunners are set to hand the former Olympique Marseille man a new five-year contract.

Arsene Wenger has in the past admitted that he is not fond of letting the contracts of his key players run down, making them a potential transfer target for other clubs.

Nasri joined Arsenal in 2008, for a fee believed to be in the region of £10 million.

Arsene Wenger Believes Manchester City Victory Was A Pivotal Moment In Arsenal's Season

We could not have afforded defeat, insists boss

Arsene Wenger believes Sunday's crushing victory overManchester City could be a key point in Arsenal's season.

The Gunners went into the match five points behind league leaders Chelsea and needed victory at Eastlands to stay in touch with their London rivals.

And Wenger's side succeeded, securing a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner after City had Dedryck Boyata sent off in the fourth minute.

And now the Emirates chief believes his side have received a mental boost from a victory that keeps the Gunners within striking distance of the top of the table.

"It was certainly a pivotal moment of our season because we could not afford a defeat," Wenger told the club's official website.

"To keep in touch with the top teams and to go out and have a victory was mentally very important for the team. Overall I believe it is a consequence of intelligent attitude and good team and collective spirit - that’s why we got the result.

"Even though it was under special circumstances I still believe it was difficult to beat Manchester City, even though they played with ten men. Because we as well played many times with ten men and we still have not lost the game."

Arsenal were boosted during the match with Theo Walcott and Bendtner receiving game time after returning from injury, and Wenger believes this shows his squad is packed with quality.

"I always spent a lot of time to convince everybody [about that]," he said. "Now I think people realise when everybody is fit.

"Remember we still have Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey out and all these players will come back. I am convinced we have a very strong squad."