CESC FABREGAS has told Arsenal: Beat Manchester United and let our rivals see we can be champions. Skipper Fabregas said: "It's a huge game on Monday and we could go four points ahead at the top. "We're definitely looking to go to Old Trafford and win. That would be a massive statement of intent for us. We are really going for it." The Spain star, 23, is convinced three points will help catapult the Londoners towards a first league title in six years. And he is desperate to lead the team out after three weeks sidelined with a hamstring injury. He added: "If I can play in any way, I will."
Defensive solidity is the key to Arsenal's improved away form, according to Samir Nasri. Arsène Wenger's side have racked up five victories on the road this season, winning at notoriously difficult places like Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the process. They will look for a sixth triumph on Monday when they face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
You might think that the Gunners' flowing football is responsible for their success on their travels but Nasri has an alternative take. "The difference when we play away is that we defend much better," said the in-form Frenchman. "Our discipline and shape is more efficient when we play away and I am quite confident because we can play our game and we know we can score at any moment.
"We have to reproduce the kind of form we show away from home to be more efficient at home as well." It's unusual for a side to be more proficient away from home and Nasri cannot put his finger on why. But the 23-year-old thinks the tide is turning at Emirates Stadium. "I dont know [why our home form is poorer]," he said. "Maybe the game against Tottenham is still in your head when you play and when you concede a goal when you are 1-0 up you still think a little bit about that game. "But now the more we win at home the more we will be efficient and will have more confidence.''
Duh unaandika kama mwandishi wa magazeti ya shigongo sasa, kweli kufungwa kubaya. Yani mjomba unataka kuchakachukua kweupe?
Manure baada ya kumuumiza Nasri kwenye mkono wake ..... ...... .....
Duh unaandika kama mwandishi wa magazeti ya shigongo sasa, kweli kufungwa kubaya. Yani mjomba unataka kuchakachukua kweupe?
Duh unaandika kama mwandishi wa magazeti ya shigongo sasa, kweli kufungwa kubaya. Yani mjomba unataka kuchakachukua kweupe?
Gunners mkubali mshakuwa wateja wa jamaa wa OLD TRAFFORD,wala msitafute visingizio. Poleni sana, ndio ukubwa huo.
Mr Bean anafurahisha sana kabla ya game anavaa suti yake safi kabisa but akishafungwa anaanza kusikia baridi tu anachukua lile Jacket lake
Dah!!!! Hata mimi nashangaa jamaa analalamika utafikiri alikuwa anacheza uwanjani
Wojciech Szczesny may continue in goal for Arsenal if Lukasz Fabianski fails to recover from a hip injury in time for the game against Stoke on Saturday. The younger Pole made an eye-catching debut in the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Monday night. With Manuel Almunia picking up a fresh ankle problem and Fabianski struggling, his run may continue something that will not trouble Wenger. We have to test [Lukasz] in the next two days, the manager told TV Online on Thursday morning. He has a hip muscle injury.
But Wojciech did well. People always questioned the goalkeeping position at Arsenal Football Club. But I always said we had four good goalkeepers look at how well Vito Mannone is doing at Hull. We have plenty of quality. Otherwise the squad for Stoke will be very similar to the one employed at Manchester United. With one notable - and happy - exception. We have not lost anyone else, said Wenger. Nicklas Bendtners partner is in labour and he is due to be a father today or tomorrow. So I dont know if I will involve him.
But otherwise the injury news is looking quite positive. Abou Diaby is back in full training and is not far away. But the weekend is too early for him. Manuel Almunia has twisted his ankle but Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are getting better and better. Also Thomas Vermaelen could be back in January we think.
Arsenal will take on Barcelona in the last 16 of this season's UEFA Champions League. The Gunners were paired with the Catalan giants when the draw for the first knockout round was made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday. Arsenal were knocked out of last season's competition by Barcelona. They drew 2-2 at Emirates Stadium before losing 4-1 at the Nou Camp. The teams also met in the 2006 Champions League Final where Barcelona came from behind to win 2-1 at the Stade de France. The dates for our two-legged tie with Barcelona are as follows:
The Gunners face a tough tie against the Spanish champions - although it is exactly what their players wanted. Arsene Wenger's side were knocked out to Barca last season and Cesc Fabregas' summer transfer saga gives the tie added meaning. Keeper Lukasz Fabianski last night said: "It is very hard for us not to think about Barcelona. "It's not just the match last season, but everything that happened in the summer as well. The two clubs seem to be linked. "We are not scared of them. We have got players who can give them a good contest." .... ..... .....
Arsène Wenger has labelled Arsenals Champions League assignment against Barcelona as "difficult but possible". On Friday, the Emirates Stadium side were drawn against the Spanish champions in the last 16 of Europes top competition a repeat of the Quarter-Final in 2009/10. Back in March, Arsenal came back to draw 2-2 in the home leg. Nicklas Bendtner then put them in front at the Nou Camp before Lionel Messi ran in four goals to send Barcelona through.
Having finished second in Group H this season, Wenger knew his team could face either Schalke, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Barcelona. Pep Guardiolas side were widely regarded as the toughest draw possible but, speaking exclusively to Arsenal.com, Wenger was not daunted. "My reaction is very simple difficult but possible," he said.
"I didnt want anybody really, in that all teams would have been difficult. You could have said that Schalke a team with less history in the Champions League would have been easier maybe. But the advantage is that we will be on our toes and well be ready. "Revenge is not on my mind. We want to qualify and we want to knock them out. So is it difficult? Yes. Is it possible? Yes. "Barcelona are certainly the favourites [for the competition] and a famous team but, on their side, they did not want us either because they know they will get a game. "I think we are better than last year and we have a good opportunity to show that. I wont come out on [how we will make it a different game]. What is on my mind right now is Stoke tomorrow more than Barcelona.
"We are in the middle of December and we play at the end of February. So there is a long way to go. "It is too early to speak about this game concretely. You can just speak about the draw. The whole context might be completely different in two months. We dont know what we will do and how we will feel. "But the best way of going into that game with confidence is down to what we do from today until then. If we do well in the League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup that will give us the best chance of knocking them out."