Goodbye Henry

Arsene Wenger had already managed Thierry Henry at Monaco before bringing the striker to Highbury from Juventus in 1999.

It proves a prosperous reunion and Henry's disappointing spell in Italy is soon a distant memory as the goals start coming.

All that changes in 2002 when victory over Chelsea in Cardiff completes a League and Cup double for the Gunners

Then in 2004, Henry's electrifying form - 39 goals in the season - leads Arsenal to a historic undefeated League title

Henry's part in the Gunners' spectacular League triumph is acknowledged with the 2004 Player of the Year award

And it's business as usual at Arsenal's new ground when Thierry Henry scores the winner against Man Utd in January.

Wenger Denies Misconduct Charge

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied a Football Association charge of improper conduct. The charge related to comments Wenger made after the Carling Cup final fracas and defeat to Chelsea at Cardiff. He was asked to explain his claim "the whole system is not honest", a reference to FA disciplinary rules.

Wenger also suggested the assistant whom referee Howard Webb consulted before sending off striker Emmanuel Adebayor was a "liar". This was not the first time Wenger had been at odds with the Football Association this season. A date for his personal hearing into an improper conduct charge after a confrontation with referee Steve Bennett during the Portsmouth match at the Emirates Stadium in December has still not been finalised.

And Wenger was fined £10,000 and warned about his future conduct for a touchline bust-up with then West Ham manager Alan Pardew at the end of November.

[Source from; news.bbc.co.uk]

Wenger - Persistent Injuries Were such a Blow to Gallas

Arsène Wenger laments the loss of William Gallas for so much of this season. The central defender arrived on transfer deadline day in August and seemed the perfect replacement for Sol Campbell, who had left the Arsenal Club in the summer.

He slotted in quickly but his season changed with the last kick of training on the eve of the Champions League game with Hamburg in November. Gallas hurt his groin in the process of striking a ball. He would not play again until February 17.

“He was out for three months at a very important period of the season,” said Wenger. For me he is very big player for us. Firstly because he is a winner and he is ready to die on the football pitch to win.

“Secondly because he is good reader of the game, good tactically and can bring a lot to this team “He was very unsettled by his injury and he was desperate to play and come back. It was a big, big blow to him.”

[Source from; arsenal.com]

Wenger Praises Arsenal Team Fightback

Arsenal Club boss Arsene Wenger paid tribute to his "lions" for fighting back from a goal down to beat leaders Manchester United Football Club 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.

"We won by never giving up," he said after Thierry Henry's stoppage-time winner gave his side victory.

"We began nervously and Manchester United Club started with maturity but I knew after the break we would have a go.

"They got their goal with their only chance of the half, but we fought back because we have lions in our team."

Arsenal Football Club 2-1 Man Utd Football Club

[Source from; news.bbc.co.uk]

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Barclays Premiership
Sat, Dec 2, 2006, 12.45pm


Arsenal play local rivals Spurs in this Premiership football match at the brand new Emirates Stadium


Arsène Wenger is waiting on the fitness of Thierry Henry ahead of the North London derby on Saturday.

Th Arsenal captain has a problem with his sciatic nerve and tests will be conducted on Friday. Apart from that there were no new injuries in the defeat at Fulham on Wednesday.

“Thierry has to be assessed and we’ll make a decision on him tomorrow,” said Wenger in an exclusive interview with Arsenal TV Online on Thursday. “It is a problem with his sciatic nerve. Everybody else has come through the game well.”

The Frenchman rotated his squad for the fixture at Craven Cottage and pledged further changes for Tottenham's first visit to Emirates Stadium. He remain tight-lipped regarding the players who will go in and out but promised that the crucial Champions League game against Porto would have no influence.

“Not at all,” said Wenger. “The Tottenham game is the important game of the week now. It is in front of us. We must give everything to win this game then see what we do afterwards for the Porto match.”

( Edit Score )

Arsenal 3 Tottenham 0
Adebayor 20, Gilberto 42 (pen), 72 (pen)

[ Source : Arsenal.com ]

Wenger Hits Out at Coaches

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has compared international managers to joy-riding car thieves. Wenger has often expressed his frustration at seeing his players return tired or injured after international duty.

"Gerard (Houllier's) thoughts on the matter echo mine," Wenger said. "He thinks that what the national coaches are doing is like taking the car from his garage without even asking permission. "They will then use the car for 10 days and abandon it in a field without any petrol left in the tank.

"We then have to recover it, but it is broken down. Then a month later they will come to take your car again, and for good measure you're expected to be nice about it."

Wenger also complained that international managers fail to contact their club counterparts, with one notable exception. "Sven-Goran Eriksson was the only one who used to come and talk to me regularly," Wenger added.

[Source from; football365.com]

Dein offers Wenger 'job for life'

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has promised Arsene Wenger a job for life as he celebrates his 10th anniversary as manager of the Gunners.

Dein said: "We want him for the rest of his career. If he wanted to give up the tracksuit he'd be invaluable in the boardroom in a technical role."

Wenger, 57, insists he has no thoughts of retiring, saying: "We have a young team and want to continue developing.

"Reaching the Champions League final last season gave us belief."

During his time with Arsenal, Wenger has won the Premiership three times and lifted the FA Cup on four occasions - including two Doubles.

He has also seen the club move to their new 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.

Wenger added: "I listened to Tony Blair on the television and when he said that '10 years ago we started' I thought for a moment he was talking about me!

"He talked about how the world had changed in that time and our world has changed here too. The stadium is a concrete sign that we are going in the right direction."

[Source from; news.bbc.co.uk]

Wenger delighted with Arsenal win

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has conceded that defeat at Manchester United could have been "decisive" as far as their title chances are concerned.

However, the Gunners won 1-0, thanks to a late goal from Emmanuel Adebayor.

"A loss could have been decisive but this win reinforces the belief that we are a very strong side," said Wenger.

"I would never have thought that our challenge would have been over if we had lost but psychologically it might have been difficult for the players."

The Gunners had a great chance to take the lead earlier in the match but Gilberto had his penalty saved by Tomasz Kuszczak.

The Brazilian slipped as he took the kick, making it easier for the keeper to save the effort.

"I've seen a lot of big football players miss penalties," said Gilberto.

"Afterwards a lot of my team-mates came over and gave me support. It helped me keep calm.

"A lot of reports said that we were out of the title race but those people are completely wrong."

Meanwhile, Manchester United skipper Gary Neville said Arsenal made his side pay for their sloppy play.

"We are disappointed. When you make mistakes in midfield they are as good as anybody in making you pay," he said.

"Our passing wasn't good and we looked tired. We gave the ball away too many times. We would have accepted 0-0.

"We had two or three clear-cut chances, but didn't take them. They had three good chances too."

[Source from; news.bbc.co.uk]

Wenger - We must find the mental strength to be clinical

"We lost and that is difficult to swallow. But there are a lot of positives in the game for us. We are not completely fit yet to finish what we create and we lack a little bit of experience in the back. There is a lot of disappointment in the dressing room because we want to do well and have a great spirit but I hope this will not affect our belief and our confidence. We will quickly start to win these sorts of games but we are not quite ready physically at the moment."

on the fitness of his side
"After the World Cup we knew we could suffer at the start of the season, especially with the Champions League qualifier. We have had a disappointing start also there was a lot of hope in the way that we play and we approach the game. We have to push that through and be strong enough mentally to continue with the way that we play and be clinical."

on not creating chances despite so much possession
"Yes we lack that a little bit at the moment. When you are as not as sharp as you should be that is where you see it the most. You could say that we overelaborated a little bit. Sometimes we could take our chances earlier and quicker. That was the case against Villa and Zagreb. It happens when you do not score early. But we know we have the quality to score goals."

on losing ground on the leaders
"It is very early. If you want to nominate a champion after three games then it is up to you but we have only played two. We will come back into the race don’t worry."

on the Ashley Cole situation
"This situation does not affect our preparation and our spirit. At a big club you have to be strong enough to cope with that. If it happens then it happens, it does not excuse our result today. It is not annoying. When a player wants to go, he wants to go. When we decide to let him go then we decide to let him go. We will have to live with that decision."

on City targetting Hoyte
"They went for long balls to Corradi and Sinclair. They targeted him but overall Justin had a good game. He had two misjudgements on long balls but he had quite a good game."

on the penalty decision
"I feel it was a penalty, I cannot argue with that. Just before that it was a foul on Fabregas I don’t think you can argue with that. Also there was a penalty on Robin van Persie. I have seen it on the tape and it is difficult to argue with that too."

[Source from; arsenal.com]

Wenger: Real Must Pay For Reyes, Gallas Must Take Pay Cut

LONDON: Manager Arsene Wenger was adamant that Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes will stay at Arsenal Football Club unless Real Madrid offer the right price for the football player.

As for Chelsea's William Gallas, the French defender is welcome at Stamford Bridge – provided he accepta a pay cut.

Gallas has been frozen out by Blues boss Jose Mourinho after rejoining the squad late for pre-season training and publicly voicing his desire to leave.

And Arsenal's England left-back Ashley Cole is in exactly the same position. His protracted transfer negotiations with English Soccer Premiership champions Chelsea have become increasingly strained.

Now it seems the two London clubs are set for a hectic spell of negotiations over the two ostracised football players before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

“I like the fact he (Gallas) is a good defender. He can play right-back, left-back, centre-back,” Wenger said.

“We want the player because we made an offer for him. That is clear.”

However, the Arsenal manager stressed: “We have not spoken to the player yet. You need to agree personal terms. We have a salary cap here and he comes from a club with no salary cap.

“I do not know if it is possible to agree personal terms and agree with Chelsea.

“If he comes here, frankly, he will have to come for less money.

“We can make one exception (captain Thierry Henry) – but we cannot make five or six.”

“As you know there is always a lot happening in the last few days - but he is a player we have a chance to get.

“He wants to leave Chelsea, Ashley Cole wants to leave us.”

Wenger insisted there was no deal on the table from Real for Reyes.

“There is no deal with Madrid, I can assure you,” the Frenchman said.

“His agent flies 2,000 feet in the air - but he must come down to earth again.

“If you want to buy a player, you go in, 'I want this football player, I have so much money', if you like it, you take it or not ... but if you say 'I like a player, but sorry I have no money' - stay at home.”

Reyes has publicly said he would like to join the Spanish giants and Real are reported to have offered £8.5mil for the 22-year-old. But the figure falls way below Arsenal's valuation of the player.

[Source from; thestar.com.my]