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He's done well, I don't think I could play in midfield like he's played at left back so he's done well, adapting centre midfield to left back has gone really well. The team as a unit has done well, the back four's done well, so I can't really complain to the manager that I want to come into the team because I don't have the right.

On Bergkamp’s first day at training his teammates had bowed before him and chanted, “We are not worthy!” They were right. Arsenal had never had a footballer like Bergkamp. In a decade he transformed the club. “Boring, boring, Arsenal” became, briefly, the most beautiful football team in English history.

"For me, and the club, it is the start of a newera because we have such a young team. It's tremendous for players like Fabregas, Senderos, Flamini, Reyes, Van Persie and Eboue to experience a Champions League Final at their age and the really exciting thing is that it's just the start for them."

We haven't got a clue want he wants to do. He's slightly moody, too. Some days he's up, some days he's down. We hope he decides to stay with us, but I haven't got any more idea than you have.

The injury looks very serious. It is frustrating and unacceptable because the player had no intention of going for the ball in my opinion. I'm sorry for Diaby who worked so hard to come back and to get such a bad injury when he wants to be a part of the team. I'm not even thinking of the victory, I'm just very, very down.

The only thing, the Sunderland players wanted to do was kick people. We can play football or we can play something else but some of the tackles I saw in the second half, one on Cesc was clearly not for the ball.

It wasn't an accident. He just came in to try to hurt the player, which is really, really bad. They wanted to show desire because they were 3-0 down at half time, but to show desire is not to kick or to hurt the player.

I am disappointed with them about this. The game was almost over and we were winning 3-0 and it was an unnecessary tackle.

If I did catch him it wasn't meant. I sincerely went to win the ball.

I'm very upset and very disappointed with the tackle, so I will not leave this case there. I feel the only intention in the tackle was to hurt the player and I will take legal advice on how far I can go.

I don't accept a desire to harm people. The challenge was wicked stupidity and the guy that harms somebody else must be punished. I want justice.

It will be very emotional because he is part of that history at Highbury. Nobody will ever forget him. As much as Thierry Henry is a top target striker, Dennis Bergkamp, as a provider, was unique.

If they go into the FA Cup final next Saturday having lost against Tottenham they will not win the cup final, I tell you.

When I first came we had a capacity in excess of 65,000 with only about 8,000 seats. There were no screens and no advertising, because there was no television coverage. We had no sponsors. It’s changed a bit.

One runs out of superlatives in describing him as a player: he has great vision, awareness, touch, finish, not to mention selflessness, which for a striker almost sounds like a contradiction in terms.

All the time, the crowd stayed with me. All through the time when I was having to suffer all those 'ee-aw' chants. Whenever they heard it, they would just support me more. Great crowd, the Highbury crowd.

That was the perfect send-off. We are fourth in the league and the table does not lie after 38 games, so we deserve to be in this position. It's not normally what we do, finish fourth, but we will take that this season. No one now can say we didn’t deserve it. Now we are going to play in the final of the Champions League.

He has given us no encouragement so far but we must respect that until he wants to make a decision, I believe we have something special happening here and I'll encourage Thierry to stay.

For the history of the club and for this building here, to finish on a high I am very proud. We would all have felt guilty to have walked out of here on a low after what has happened here for years. There was fantastic excitement, strength of character and quality as well.

I heard they had people with food poisoning, but the only thing I can say is: did anyone bother when we had nine players out? No. They were saying 'Arsenal are not playing well', 'Arsenal are not the team they used to be'. But that is how it is in the game - sometimes you do have people are ill, or turn up with a headache and are not on the team sheet. That is the way it is.

He has left out my son because he says he has not played enough games for Chelsea this season and then he has called up Theo Walcott, a 17-year-old boy who has never played a single Premiership game.

I have told a few of the guys over the past weeks that this could be the only Champions League final they ever play in - there are no guarantees. I am sure all the players will realise that this could be a one-time in your career. So you have to focus - first of all enjoy it but as well you have to try to give everything to win it.

The young players who came in did really well like (Cesc) Fabregas, (Phillippe) Senderos and (Mathieu) Flamini. I think they have great potential to become even better and I don't think the Arsenal team has peaked yet.

I keep hearing all the talk and reading the stories here and in Spain but I am not someone who gets distracted by rumours. The facts are that I am in London and I feel very happy here. I owe a lot to Arsenal and I never think about leaving.

Some youngsters do not love the game any more. They love what is around the game, but not the game itself. But you always have to have respect for the game and the game will give you something back, as it has given me back something today.

Henry’s a fantastic player, one of the best in the world. The door’s always open here for the greatest players. He is a player who has a lot of quality and he could go to any team in the world and make it better. I haven’t spoken to him this week but we have swapped a few text messages.

We’ve got the Final coming up and we’re going to focus on that and then afterwards I’ll decide whether I’m going to stay or leave. Arsenal's offer was a one-year contract - the same thing they offered Dennis Bergkamp. But I'd like a firm offer of two years. It is said that I'd signed for Villarreal, but I can't guarantee this is true.

Maybe in the past we've been favourites and this year people have seen us as underdogs because we haven't done as well in the League.

Barcelona are the super-favourites and we are a dangerous outsider.

I fear Arsenal’s team as a whole.

I don't like the word fear. You are scared to die, that is all you are scared of.

I wasn't happy winning 20-0 or 30-0 every week as we did. I don't think you work hard for this. I wasn't asking to train with the first team but everyone was saying nice things about me but they never pushed me up a year or two to help me mature. Now I only think about Arsenal.

"I hope to stay for as long as I can keep running. I could not face leaving the fans. They are like my family. My team showed me I didn't have to leave. They showed me they had heart. I hope to finalise all the details today.”

I always refer to Arsenal as my home. I have been welcomed with open arms, the love I receive here - sometimes from non-Arsenal fans - is something I can't forget about. I've never played in Spain and never will. This is my last contract. - Thierry Henry 19.05.06

I believe this season has created a special bond inside the team and there is much more to come. Wednesday night reinforced that feeling among the players and if you want to continue that progression it would rely on Thierry's decision. It is basically an insurance for the future.

In the last four or five months I have looked at the performances of kids like Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Eboue, Mathieu Flamini and Abou Diaby. I understand that people look to me to show them the way, but at the same time I look to the young kids to help me on the pitch. There is huge potential there and I want to be a part of that.

Henry is Arsenal's best player but his time at the top level of the game is over. He might just make it into the world's top 10 at the moment but that's not for certain. He needed to leave London to become one of the top strikers but if he doesn't leave Arsenal, he never will.

Arsenal must be the only team in the history of the European Cup to lose the final and end up feeling they have won something invaluable.

It is clear there was no foul. I condemn and regret the attitude of Eboue. I have always risen up against cheating. Eboue cheated by simulating the foul. I detest simulation.

He has taken a decision in the heat of the moment when you should make them with a lot of consideration.

I am surprised it did not come to light earlier. We have tried to keep our promise to keep quiet but I must now admit that Tomas is undergoing medical tests.

The reports that Campbell has reached a deal with our club on every subject and will come to Turkey to sign in the coming days do not reflect the realities.

I’m really happy to be here at Arsenal, it is a great day for me. The team showed its strength recently in the Champions League and it has big potential with a lot of young players, I think we can be even better next season. This is the best club in Europe and I will give everything for Arsenal.

We are delighted to welcome Tomas to our squad. He has great technique, skill on the ball and sharp passing. Tomas has good experience at all levels for club and country, and we look forward to welcoming him to Arsenal after what will hopefully be a successful summer for him at the World Cup.

What is my future with Arsenal? We will have to see what happens. I'm not considering anything. I've just got to weigh up the situation. Arsenal is there and that's all I've got to say about it at the moment.

He was quiet at the beginning but after a while you could see that he is a really, really great talent. He is not only very quick, as we knew, but he also has a good touch and he scores goals as well. That may be very good for us in the World Cup.

After six wonderful years at Arsenal, full of fantastic moments, I have decided to accept a new challenge at Villarreal for the next two years of my career. I am very grateful to Arsène Wenger, the players and all the fans for their amazing support over the years.

Robert has had six tremendous years with us and made a huge contribution to the team’s success during his time here. He is not only a great footballer but a good man, so of course, we are sad to see him go.

I hope he will do very, very well at the World Cup, but not against us just in case we are playing against each other.

This team has gone through thick and thin this year because we have been hammered for months, and we finish in a European Cup final. That has created a special bond that we want to build on from the first game.

Let Arsenal give the Football Association their report. It will be then be reported later to Fifa but for the time being I am not in a position to make any comments about what punishments or sanctions should be taken against a club

I have got tremendous confidence in my ability.

The likelihood that I will go to Fenerbahce is higher than the likelihood that I won't.

I can confirm I met with Tony Adams on Friday. I like Tony a great deal and he has got a lot to offer.

I just want to congratulate Arsenal for having won such a wonderful player.

It’s a shame he won’t be on my side but it would be a great challenge to mark him. In training I have done well against him and so has Philippe but training is different to the real thing. He always encourages me and the other young players who are not in the first team, he is a great guy and I have so much respect for him.

Thierry is a great striker but you can never say you know him. He is very instinctive and can always do things you don’t expect.

We have a good balance of young and experienced players and I believe we can win in Germany. We have the experience and knowledge of what it takes

From what I hear even the Arsenal players are not sure how good Walcott is. I certainly think he's not up to it. I think Eriksson has taken a massive gamble in selecting only four strikers and, because he's not good enough, Walcott won't figure at all.

It's going to be difficult but it will be a massive game as both teams want to win the group.

I like their style — fast and direct. Along with Barcelona, Arsenal play the most beautiful football in Europe

We usually perform well against England, because facing them and the way they play seems to suit us. We are used to it.

I hope Fabregas will always play football like that. He was spectacular against Tunisia. He gave Spain the final ball which they had been lacking in the first half and he changed the game around.

I do not know if someone has spoken with the club, but with me nothing has been agreed. It is not true.

He could play a fantastic role for Arsenal. He is excellent in the air and a great finisher. We use our wingers a lot more than other teams so it would be fantastic to have THE classic goalscoring centre-forward to get on the end of them, even though I am loathe to comment on rumours.

There's a contract ready for, him at Arsenal. I can show you that. Hatem definitely wants to play in the Champions League and he's not going to stay in Holland.

It would be nice, but I think he has a contract now in Greece. He has the talent, for sure. He is a better player than me. I tell him that, just as I tell everyone else.

I think it is nonsense for Silvestre to try to heat up the game and it is because they are nervous about being eliminated by Spain. Henry knows well that Aragones is not a racist person. The matter was all cleared up a year and a half ago so I don't understand why he has to talk about this topic now.

Spain's left-back Mariano Perina was going to win the ball so I don't know why Puyol cut across me, but he did. I don't cheat.

Once again I walk out as a loser. It has already happened in the Champions League final and it's painful. I know that I am young and that there will be other tournaments, but time flies and you need to take advantage of these opportunities.

As a former striker I wouldn't want to face him, and he proved that, he has a sense about where the ball is going and he almost saved the other two as well.

He's got bags of ability and can change the course of a game. I'd be a bit disappointed if I was in his shoes. He has every right to feel frustrated.

We had meetings before the elections and there would be no problems on our side, but now they have to speak to Arsenal and see what they say. We have always said we are very thankful to Arsenal. We would never try a dirty trick on Arsenal and whatever has to happen will happen. I don’t think Arsenal would want to let the player go for all the gold in the world and we’ll have to wait and see now.

There is a proposal from Panathinaikos, as there are from other teams. One of them is Arsenal, while there is also interest from Bolton.

Italy have defended well, but against Italian sides in the Champions League I didn't have trouble scoring, so I don't think that's going to be the way on Sunday.

"All Arsenal did was offer to double his wages".

It is very unlikely we will make a move for the players because the wages are too high for us.

I'm not one of the big names in England. I'm like a Mr X. But that will change if I produce for Arsenal.

It's true that Arsenal are very interested. Juventus informed me that Arsenal have made a very serious offer for Gigi.

Went dahn to sam hotel wiv Jonafan. He said there's some fellas wanna talk to me about samfing. Fack me if it ain't Joseph Moureeno and Uncle Fester. "I like you. I will pay you many millions. You will win trophies. Together we will rule the world", said Joseph. "Sounds great but what abaht Arsenal, Jonafan?" "Ssssssss, don't worry about Arsssssssssenal, Ashley. David Dein told me he fanciessssss your girlfriend. Sssssss. They won't pay me despite the fact I don't work for Arsenal. Ssssss. Arsenal are evil. They all fancy your girlfriend." "Me Kenyon. Kenyon like cheese." "Sssss. See, Ashley. Nobody at Chelsea fancies your girlfriend. Sssss. And think of how many more naff white shirts open at the chest with a poxy medallion hanging on it you can buy with the wages they'll pay you. Sssss." It's really given lots to fink abaht. After finking abaht it for a long facking time, at least free minutes, I 'ave decided that Arsenal are cants. Can't wait to rule the world.

I promised before I was elected to bring Cesc Fabregas, Arjen Robben and Kaka to Real Madrid and I believe it is still possible to complete my promise.

We believe that if we have a strong team with a solid defence, we have the players who will score goals and win against anyone.

For me the biggest decision in my career was to leave Italy. The first team to knock on the door was Arsenal, so I had a look. I knew they’d been successful in Europe and were a solid team where I could fit in.

I think things are happening but I'd really rather not talk about them at the moment.

"So Arsene, what do you think of Alex Ferguson?" "He's a fucking enormous cunt."

Dozens of people have said to me that Patrick should have another year here and I hope he shall. Maybe that's not the right thing to say in football but everyone saw what he did in the World Cup and, if he could get to that level with Arsenal again, that would be fantastic.

What's the colour of money? What's the colour of money? Don't tell me that you think it's green, me I know it's red blue. Blue is the colour ...

When I see how he lives, it's a great example - he's a different human being. The way he does it is, it's fantastic on and off the pitch. He helped me a lot.

There is no offer and we are not talking to anybody about him.

If you want me to sit here and guarantee he will be an Arsenal player next season I cannot do it.

We have Toure, Djourou, Senderos and Cygan. If we can find someone and we can get them then we will do it. But at the moment I have not found anybody. Remember these defenders went 10 games in the Champions League without conceding a goal so I cannot say they are bad.

*boilk*

I don't know where these words have come from. But what I would like to say is that I am very happy at Arsenal. At the moment we are all training hard in preparation for the new season and I am excited about not only playing at Emirates Stadium but also helping Arsenal to challenge for honours.

They are not for sale. We have not received any offers for these players and I am counting on them for the new season.

If Ashley is going to be sold he will be informed and if he is staying he will be informed about that as well. He is still under contract and no one else will decide what he does. It is frustrating to still be talking about one player who is not with us in Austria when we have 25 who are preparing for the season.

Already last season Arsene Wenger told me that this season will be important for me because they are expecting the breakthrough to come. Right now, there are just four or five strikers in the squad, of course I feel closer to the side. But first of all the goal is to establish myself in the first team and then I hope I will get ten minutes here and there.

The manager hasn't said anything and I don't know if I'm going to play or not. I hope not or that the situation is sorted beforehand. It's clear that if I play in the Champions League signing for Madrid will be much more complicated. But I have to play, I'll play.

I did not say these words. I’ll tell you once again, I am happy at Arsenal and I am looking forward to the coming campaign. I do not want to leave Arsenal.

I certainly want to keep him. It has come to a stage now where you cannot lose a player everyday. There is nothing new as they are quotes that have come up from a website.

This approach was made in a more than fair way. Arsenal know we are interested. They know we made an offer and, if they accept, we can negotiate with the player and try to bring him to us. But if they don’t accept, we won’t approach the player — and so it is over. Everything is clear.

I try to find the right balance between the experienced players and the young players. We still have some experienced players out at the moment — Henry, Lehmann - but having said that I will still buy one — with experience. The target is one or two.

"If you look at the flanks we have [Tomas] Rosicky, who is not an average player, [Alexander] Hleb, [Jose Antonio] Reyes, [Theo] Walcott... also Ljungberg - where do I put a player like Ribery?"

For me, the deadline has come to make a decision one way or another and I would see this week as the limit.

Having seen Zagreb, I must say that it is a tricky tie. The first factor is that they are a good side. The second is that they are ahead of us physically. In a very intense game, 90 minutes will be difficult for us.

I did not think he had the right concentration to play. I just considered tonight's game and the fact he will be cup-tied or not did not come into my mind.

I understand it will happen this week. If it doesn’t the situation won’t benefit anybody, neither one club or the other — and even less so the player. It’s no longer any secret that Jose wants to play for Real Madrid.

Even if somebody goes, it is not sure I will make a bid for anybody. We have left an impressive list of players behind tonight. To add players to the team to just be spectacular, I am not going to do.

Obviously we want him to stay. He is one of the best left-backs in the world. We would miss him badly. If he goes there [Chelsea] it will look like we are trying to catch a team at the same time as giving them one of our best assets. It would be difficult to take.

I want the matter to be resolved as soon as possible. My family and I are worried [the transfer] might collapse but I am hopeful things will be sorted in the end. The sooner it's sorted, the better.

The problem is with them [Arsenal] because Reyes does not want to continue in London

Before the end of this month, I really hope here will be some new arrivals to follow Tomas Rosicky.

I've said it to Wenger and the president of Arsenal, the offer offer from Madrid is irresistable to me, it's a dream I want to complete, and now the only thing is missing is an acceptable offer for Arsenal. Wenger knows that I'm going. He knows I've had problems adapting to life in England. If we don't reach an agreement [on the transfer] it will be bad for Arsenal and for me.

I'm not the strongest player in the world but I'm not afraid of engaging in a duel. I've no problems with that.

Maybe his family have put pressure on him but in that case he should go because we don’t need unhappy players bringing down our spirit.

Senderos: I want to continue that way and that is why I'm working hard already in the gym to get back and have more games than last year, and to improve even more.

Djourou: I’ll try to impress the Arsenal manager so he keeps me playing. I’m a footballer and I’m professional so I want to play every game.

We have a lot of players who are more mature now. When you see the run in the Champions League, you can see that if we are really, really focused on The Premiership, then we can do it.

It has not happened yet and the transfer period started in June. We are not at the end of August and still nothing has happened so why should it happen now?

From a big club like Real Madrid you do not expect them to unsettle the player and say, 'sorry we have no money, not one penny to spend on him,' and that is it, thank you very much. They are not professional, they have no consideration for the player and it has affected Jose very badly.

We lacked a bit of sharpness in the finishing part of our game and we made a mistake for the goal we conceded, but it is the type of game you get at the start of the season.

We have to sort this situation out quite quickly. This situation is not a money situation. We have not turned down an offer. The problem is not between us and Chelsea.

Now that is one thing that I can tell you is finished. Jose Antonio Reyes is an Arsenal player and will remain an Arsenal player.

Thierry on Theo: We really saw what he is about. He was good, fresh-legged and he did ever so well to set up the goal. Full credit to him. Normally, a sign of a great player is someone who makes a major impression on his debut. People think back and say ‘He was amazing on that first game.

If all goes well, Reyes will move. Since he was 12 he always wanted to play for Real. But there’s never been an agreement. It was a love that stayed undeclared.

I can understand that folk say I’m arrogant. I saw myself walking on the TV not so long ago and I thought to myself ‘That’s an unpleasant posture - can’t I change the way I walk?'

It’s like you wanting to marry Miss World and she doesn’t want you, what can I do about it? I can try to help you but if she does not want to marry you what can I do?

Do not think that we do not have the money to buy anyone if nobody goes out, that is not true.

What I want is to come to Spain. I won't play again in England. I want to return. If it's to play for Atletico Madrid I say yes, if it's to play for Real Madrid I say yes, if it's to play for Sevilla I say yes.

I did what I had to do and nothing more. I spoke to Wenger at the start but I have spoken to him since.

I hope his attitude is right. If he is going to be miserable and sour, there is no point. Hopefully, he will get his head right.

At 29, I want to continue to progress, and who better to help me achieve this goal than Arsène Wenger? I am in a hurry already to work under his orders, to learn from him. I want to bring my experience to the young Champions League Finalists, to know new thrills on a bright new stage, supported by the best fans in England.

Arsenal is one of the best clubs in Europe. I am very happy to be given the opportunity to come here. It is my hope that I can win a title with Arsenal this season.

It will be an honour to play alongside Henry - he is one of the great strikers of all time.

I will do what I can to help him, the same as Edu did with me when I came over. He did the same job with me as I will try to do with him to help him settle quickly. I am here to help him.

I am very humbled Arsene Wenger was so interested in me. I’ll be very happy to stay as long as the club wants me.

It no longer has any value at the playing level. What ranks a player now is how he performs for his club.

The closest I've come to losing it with a journalist was in 2002, after London's Evening Standard, who'd always had great access and cooperation from us, started producing a string of barbed, personal piss takes. I decided that if they wanted to write this stuff, fine, but they weren't going to do it on our premises, so I withdrew their accreditation. The sports editor's reaction was this: instead of calling me, he phoned our shirt sponsor to suggest they reduced payments to us because they'd be getting less exposure in the Standard. Then he warned me that banning Standard journalists would have a negative effect on Palace's results. I asked him what the hell he was talking about, and he implied that if I obstructed his journalists and restricted his press access, the type of coverage they'd be giving us would have a negative effect on morale. So where is this guy now? Four years on, he's the top PR man at Cuntski, a club with a reputation for obstructing journalists and restricting press access. PR Week says 'Simon Greenberg is about to embark on a major charm offensive' in football, to boost Cuntski's image. Stand back, and watch him go.

I am surprised and shocked by these claims. I never said that I would score own goals if I had to play for Chelsea again. I was firm about my wanting to leave, that is true, and I will explain in due time why I wanted to, but I never went that far. But if people want to hide behind false accusations in order to give a reason for why I left so they can calm down the club's supporters then they can.

I cannot believe these stories. I signed William and he was always a good professional — on and off the pitch. This is incredible and I don’t believe it.

Chelsea have scored a massive own goal by washing their dirty linen in public. This could damage Gallas’ reputation. He could take legal action.

Mourinho: “On that day at that time I was in Milan, speaking with Adriano.” Reporter: “So no contact was made with Ashley Cole?” Mourinho: “I never met the boy. I just play against him. No more than that.”

I have no idea why Chelsea issued that statement. That is something you will have to ask them. It’s certainly not something I or anyone at Arsenal would have done. I really think it’s best just to leave the matter alone.

I think he has to respect people and not talk too much. We are not on the radio here. There are people who want to watch a football game without a debate going on. It's really disturbing. I don't know if it puts the players off but for people watching it's disturbing. Nobody is interested in what he says.

Philippe Senderos is an exceptional player and an exceptional character. Despite his young age, he is already a leader who is afraid of nothing. But he is a very humble person with a lot of charisma.

It is a reward for us because we brought him over at 16 years of age. It is a wonderful commitment from him.

Everything in my new contract is agreed and I will sign it next week. Seeing how much Arsenal have helped me to improve as a player shows how pleased they are with my progression. It gives me the confidence to continue under Arsene Wenger, who is one of the most important people I have come across in my career.

We controlled the game quite well but we lost a bit of concentration. The game seems to be easy but then we missed concentration at the end and conceded a goal to them. This is the kind of thing we need to be concerned about.

All that stuff questioning our spirit and commitment, I think it’s a load of nonsense. Six months ago Arsenal reached the Champions League final and you definitely don’t do that without spirit.

I am hoping strongly that they lose a couple of games and there is a crisis because they’ve really upset a lot of people over the last three years, Jose Mourinho in particular.

He is just trying to cause trouble. There was a good atmosphere in the Arsenal dressing room no matter what he says.

Arsenal is owned by Englishmen and they are fans of the club first and I find that reassuring. It’s important for English clubs to continue to have English values. It should not just be a matter of who spends more but how we behave and how we achieve it.

I just feel we will get the victory

I believe in my team and I believe we have a chance to win the championship. I don't feel we are in transition. We are very ambitious. We want to win the championship and I believe we can. This has to be my best win over United at Old Trafford and one that sends out the right signals to everyone

We were looking forward to our first win. We are happy and the confidence is coming back. We showed we have a good team.

Yesterday I was sat (courtesy of a United contact with season tickets) at pitch level three rows from the front directly, on the edge of the 18-yard box where Jens kept the ball in the first half. The abuse the poor lad got throughout the game was horrible and sickening. I know we all take this piss, but it started at a level of ‘fucking cheating Nazi cunt' and when he was recovering from the ball in the face they were accusing him of gassing Jews and shagging the corpses. Throw his water bottle into the crowd? He should have pissed on them. The intensity of the pure naked hate was frightening.

2005/06 has been a very busy and historic year for the Arsenal Group. On the field, Arsenal reached the final of the UEFA Champions League and has again qualified for the group phase of the 2006/07 Champions League. With the opening of Emirates Stadium, Arsenal is starting a new chapter in its history and we look forward to it being as memorable and successful as the 93 years the Club spent at Highbury.

We are very strong financially and have a lot of firepower if the manager wants to purchase players. We ended the year with £36million of cash in the bank. We have lowered our debt repayments substantially. It is a good deal for the club and it means we have more money to invest in players and team development.

The way he sees the game and the way he wants his players to play. He is unique. It's like when you used to see Ajax, they had this tradition of passing the ball and that's what Arsene has brought here.

I expect to get the green light to resume training next week. It has been a test of my mental strength but I will come back stronger than ever. Now it's down to me to win my place back in the Arsenal defence.

Robert Pires is a bit of diver and if someone gives him a proper hard tackle he starts crying.

I bless the rains down in Africa. Gonna take some time to do the things we never had.

Out of all the managers, he's improved us all as managers and players. I'm not into a lot of the foreigners, but when you look at the top end - with Wenger, Mourinho and Benitez - they are quality. We can all learn from them, and from Arsene in particular. He brought in things like dieticians and nutritionists and all of that stuff and extended players' careers by five or six years. The whole scenario has changed and it's all down to Wenger.

Nice words, that doesn't stop me hoping we knock a hatful past his team today though.

The boss also spoke about the BBC Panorama programme about bungs in football saying he's done 150 transfers and never been offered a bung. I suppose after Gorgeous George the last club any agent would try and do that to is Arsenal.

And that's it. Sadly I'm not going to be able to make it into the Celtic infested pit that is Frazers today. Sorry, chaps. Another time.

Let's hope we get this home hoodoo behind us and pick up three points at the Grove for the first time.

I feel that we kept our nerve, and that despite the fact that we did not play very well in the last 20 minutes of the first half, we came back with more quicker passing, more determination - as as well quicker defending. When we lost the ball we put them under pressure - what we didn't do enough in the first half.

The Champions League is the last thing left. The desire here this season is amazing. We all want it very much and I would like the players to buy him something to celebrate 10 years. Maybe the Champions League and title will do?

He has the mentality of a winner, to produce it when it's needed, no more than that.

We are a team which wants to go forwards as a team and all try to help each other on the pitch and off it as well. We have shown we have good spirit in the team, are doing very well and so we need to keep that going.

He is massive and he looks like a boxer. When you see his body, he does not have fat at all. He is muscular and is in the gym every day. It is more adaptation to the pace of the game and the movement here - intelligence wise he has no problem, quality wise he is a big player. Once he is running with the ball, you just feel this guy cannot be stopped.

Nothing in my contract says I have to be in the team. When I am on the bench I’m ready and prepared to give everything on the pitch as soon as I get the order.

I'm pleased because we looked stronger and stronger, well balanced, and confident going forward, it was a very positive performance tonight.

We chose Arsenal because I’ve never met a more genuine and decent man than Arsene.

We are short of central defenders at the moment because Philippe Senderos is still out. But Alex Song can fill in. He has played in central defence. Gilberto can play there too so we will just have to see.

LETTERS like this convince me that ANR readers are the creme de la creme of world club football. We have smarter readers than many other websites. And that's encouraging. I like writing for an educated clientele. This reader, Harry Barracuda, is right.

William is travelling and will have a fitness test tomorrow. The scan looks quite positive and his injury looks OK so I am very happy. Johan Djourou is travelling too so one of the two will play.

Today he is much stronger. You would be surprised how he resists challenges that he didn't two years ago. He looked a little bit lean and weak. We had to strengthen him. As well I think he is much more confident now.

I’m convinced that we can fight for, and win, the Premiership title. I’m a competitor so my aim this season is to win both the Champions League and the Premiership.

Firstly Gael Clichy has his eyes set on the left back position now that he's making his comeback from injury. He says:

With Ashley gone now, I am the only real left-back. I have got a great chance and the boss knows that too.

When he's fit and on form he's a very good player indeed. The only problem is we haven't seen a fit Gael Clichy for a very long time and while I hope he puts all his injury problems behind him he's got to get a decent period of injury free games under his belt before he dispels the worries that hang over him.

On the other hand I'm not sure that even when he is fit he's the best option we have at left back. For me a back four of Eboue - Kolo - Senderos - Gallas is the best we have at the moment (especially with Lauren still out and a long way from coming back). We shall see.

Speaking of Gallas Arsene Wenger is not convinced he's fully fit and he's had a little pop at French manager Raymond Domenech saying:

Domenech is like other managers of countries. They don’t contact you. It’s like giving your car to a guy and him returning it without any petrol in it.

Which is a nice quote but slightly spoiled by the fact we played Gallas against Charlton when he clearly had a problem with his hamstring.

Football's most orange vice-chairman, Double-D, became the Chairman of the G14 group yesterday. He'll hold the position for the next 12 months and no doubt make lots of super new play friends all over Europe.

"Let's all go to my house and play 'Share seller 2' on my xBox", he'll say.

"Hurrah!", they'll say.

Finally, and most importantly, my new team played their second game of the season last night and we spanked Google 3-0. They were always looking for the searching pass but it never quite came off for them.

That means Arseblog is officially three times better than Google. Oh yes.

The modern player, coming through over the next few years has to be adaptable and flexible enough to do that.

I think going to Derby and playing at the sharp end, where there’s a physical side of the game, will help him improve on something he needs to work on.

I want people to know the truth and the only way to do that is to go on TV. That way nothing can be misconstrued.

Playing for any other team would be a step backwards compared to the Arsenal team I'm in at the moment. I would like to spend another year here, but I also know that Arsenal wouldn't hesitate to sign any other goalkeeper that they thought better than me.

Cesc Fabregas would fit in with us very well. I must be clear on this issue. He continues being an objective for us.

I have been working hard to play in the Carling Cup and am hoping that with my persistence, I could get a chance.

When I come off the bench or when I start I always want to make an impact. I'll play whenever, I've got plenty of time haven't I? I always work hard in training and show what I can do and hopefully I'll get my chance soon.

I though he did very well. He showed he can make a difference at this level. It was not his ideal position playing on the left of a 4-4-2 but he made a difference on one or two occasions and I liked some of the passes he put through.

Football Manager 2007 is released on 20th October 2006, and is the next installment in the eagerly anticipated and genre defining series by developers Sports Interactive, allowing players to take charge of their favourite club in a bid to guide them to glory. The Gold demo is available now and can be downloaded by clicking here! This year Football Manager 2007 has enjoyed its biggest leap forward yet, promising to be most user-friendly version to date - and it's packed with over 100 new features! For the first time users can strike partnerships with affiliate clubs, give pre-match team-talks and interact with their players on a completely new level. On top of this both the youth team and scouting features have enjoyed complete revamps. The demo provides a great opportunity for players to test their managerial skills whilst sampling first hand the wealth of new features that acclaimed developers Sports Interactive have included to make Football Manager 2007 the most user friendly version of Football Manager to date. To find out more information on Football Manager 2007, or to try the demo, visit the official site at www.footballmanager.net now. Full Game Available on PC, Mac and Intel Mac on 20th October 2006

• Gilles Grimandi
• Remi Garde
• Nelson Vivas

I know the English League is more physical than most but here you do not respect your keepers. Having played in other countries, I know that referees offer more protection to keepers. There is a discrepancy between England and abroad on this issue.

All of them are great keepers, very brave, they never went to challenge or harm the striker but all four of them got knocked out due to 'clumsy' challenges. This word clumsy makes me really angry as well because these stupid pundits on TV they say sometimes 'it's clumsy' and 'it's a man's game'. Yes it is a man's game but what you have to consider as well is these men have children and wives and their children don't want to see their fathers end up with lifelong damage, driven around in a wheelchair or not being able to work anymore.

I think it's a disgrace. I asked the ref what did he see and he couldn't tell me. He said at the end he didn't talk about it anymore. He was happy to talk about other stuff with the boss but not that. To give me a yellow straight away - please, look at the replay.

It was a goal but sometimes referees cancel good goals because they don't see things. Tonight, we had a new thing because they cancelled the goal after they saw things that didn't exist. It was a very bad decision.

People talk about footballers behaving like rugby players and accepting decisions. You don't want to have a go at them, but just to ask them what they saw at crucial times and yet you're not allowed to do that in football.

We will have to be on top of our game at Reading because they are doing well in the Premiership and it will be a really hard game. It will be harder that Stephen Hunt's knee after he'd been out and soaked his knee in vinegar and then baked his knee in the oven so he has a super-mega-hard conker knee.

I am so happy here and I am delighted to have signed this new contract. I wanted to pay back the club, especially Arsene Wenger for the support and faith he has shown in me.

It’s a fabulous contract for the player and also for the club. Cesc feels really happy about how he is valued by Arsenal and to know that the Arsenal of the future will be built around him.

Although 2014 looks a long time when you think about it at the end of his contract Cesc will be just 27.

I don’t think you will see Lauren in the team before January. He played up to the limit of his pain and then maybe he played a little too long. That created some damage in his knee which had to be repaired but he is a tough, tough boy.

I am thinking about wearing headgear to protect myself.

When we play like that, I don't think a lot of teams can do anything about it against Thierry and players like that. The important thing was that we played as a team, we defended as a team and we're really happy with the peformance today.

I feel strongly that the hunger is there, the quality is there, the competition is of a very high level but we believe we can do it. Let's see how consistent we can be and I think we will be, but we go from game to game now and give everything in every game like we always do, but we believe we can do it.

Our type of game makes me feel so happy, and when I go home I can relax and enjoy it on the television because all of our goals today were great goals, even the penalty because of the pass Thierry gave me. When I am on the pitch I really enjoy myself, and this is so important for a player. I'm not sure if I could play in a team which played long balls all the time.

When you have a player like Theo, it is important to let him develop on the wing. He has to learn how to dribble and gain confidence in attacking people in one-on-one situations. Then, in a year or two he can move into the middle and use those abilities to do a better job.

Denilson was superb for an 18 year old and Aliadiere’s movement and mobility was first class. To bring so many young players through gives me great satisfaction. It is a wonderful feeling to see them show such great spirit

The only blemish on the night was the groin injury picked up by Adebayor which will keep him out for a while. No doubt we'll get more info on that soon. All in all a job well done, praise from the opposition boss, and onto the next round. We had some more good news yesterday when it was revealed that Kolo Toure has signed a new 'long term' contract with the club. Given that he is represented by the same company that represents Cuntley Cunt I know some people were worried but not even Jonathan Barnett would dare fuck with the Kolo. Kolo says:

I can see myself staying here for the rest of my career. Why would I want to leave? I love my football here, my family is settled here and the club is ambitious. It is fantastic.

Brilliant news and for a guy who was essentially a utility player when he first joined to have taken the opportunity given to him so well is really fantastic. Eyebrows were raised when he first started at centre-half but now he's one of the first names on the team sheet every week. He's a brilliant example to younger players, his enthusiasm, energy and commitment is second to none. Even when we were 4-0 up against Reading he was bombing up the field in the last few minutes to try and get another. I love Kolo. I just hope we see one of those rocket free kicks go in soon and Kolo is one of the things I'll be chatting to East Lower about during this week's arsecast. Thanks to all of you for the questions you've sent in, I'll try and get through as many of those as possible. Do keep them coming though! Don't forget the competition to win two executive box tickets to see Everton with thanks to Blue Square. Just go to www.bluesq.com, open an account if you don't have one already, place a bet of £5 or more, then email your username and daytime phone number to marketing@bluesq.com. They'll call the winner on Friday afternoon so you have to be able to get to the ground on Saturday morning to meet them and get your tickets. And that's about that. More, as usual, tomorrow.]]>

I love Arsenal. There were times when I could have gone but I always wanted to be here. It is just a matter of training everyday, doing my best and, when I get the chance like this, just showing the boss I am ready to play.

I will work hard. I accept the competition between the players. I will give my best to regain my place.

I appreciate these comments when they come for you but I still think I am just 19. I am still growing up as a player and a person in a great club and with great players next to me and I think this is very positive.

The first two games were difficult, now it seems like we have a home.

I feel in many respects of the game we did very well, but in the final third we lacked something. A little bit of sharpness, a little bit of vision, a little bit of attacking the ball on crosses.

I was very positive going to Moscow but as a team we were too confident of taking the points. We were not giving 100 per cent in every tackle, we were not fighting for the ball enough. It was an arrogant way of not being urgent.

If there are situations where you are sure that if you look at a video you see if it is in or not in, why do we refuse to use that? It is not stubbornness, it is stupidity.

One thing is always the same at Arsenal - if you play well then you will play, that's the way it is here. I'm very proud of that [the number 6] but the only thing that really counts is how you do on the park.

Overall, the team played exceptionally well - maybe the best in the Champions League since I was here. We have to take the result tonight with big frustration but a lot of encouragement for the future. What this team has shown tonight, I have not seen for many years in the Champions League. That's why we have to take this result in a positive way and continue what we're doing.