Arsene Wenger's Player Update On New Injuries, Chamakh, Gibbs and Vermaelen Ahead Of West Brom

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has spoken via the club's official website in respect to his team's injury position ahead of West Bromwich Albion's highly anticipated visit to the Emirates stadium, where they ran out surprise winners last season thanks to an inspirational performance from their Nigeria import Osaze Odemwingie.

Marouane Chamakh Wants Robin Van Persie's Place

Morocco and Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh, spoke of his renewed enthusiasm in respect to his determination to stay, fight and ultimately earn a starting spot at the club.

Okay! Lets temporarily forget about a DM, and focus on an RB + a little focus on Chamakh

I've got a hunch the right back position at Arsenal fc needs to be addressed by someone and in time for the upcoming season.

Arsene Wenger runs as fast as his legs can carry

I can't blame him for backing off, or

So Chamakh wants Gourcuff?

Some influential websites are trying to sell an idealistic rumour,

Why is Arsene Wenger prepared to pay more for Koscielny? We all know he refused to do such for Chamakh!

On a routine search for the authentication of an article

Marouane Chamakh: "I still have room for improvement"

Arsenal's new striker Marouane Chamakh has admitted that he still needs to improve and hopes to do so under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger

Chamakh, who recently formalised his transfer to Arsenal after winning the 2009 French

After Chamakh who's next?

Are we done in the transfer market or not?

Triaud: "Chamakh was wrongly advised to leave"

The President of Bordeaux Jean-Louis Triaud has blamed the imminent departure of his former striker Marouane Chamakh on bad influence and can't understand why his best players prefer Arsenal.

Triaud said Chamakh was "surrounded by evil-minded people" and that he was "surprised" to read that the forward was in London purpotedly putting ink to paper on a new deal at the Emirates without his knowledge

Chamakh's Bordeaux lost yesterday

Bordeaux's hopes of a place in Europe next season ended on a sour note in Lens yesterday, as second half goals from Tofilou Maoulida and Issam Jemaá sealed a hard-fought 4-3 win for the home side - who had an extra man on the pitch.

Girondins Bordeaux, who just months ago were on track to retain their Ligue and Ligue Cup crowns desperately needed the three points in Lens to have any chance of pipping Montpellier to fifth place and the final Europa

Cavenaghi might join Chamakh at the Emirates

Argentine striker Fernando Cavenaghi is set to leave Girondins Bordeaux alongside Emirates bound Marouane Chamakh.

The player's agent Nestor Sivori, revealed that teams from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and even Ligue1 are currently jostling for an opportunity to snap the forward.

Robin hints at a few more signings

Chamakh in - Gallas out

Robin Van Persie says we need a strong, experienced squad and an extensive reserve to mount a genuine title assault. While, business-man Gallas wants out because Wenger has deliberately refused to play ball.

Arsenal's striker Robin Van Persie might succeed in persuading manager Arsene Wenger, to spend big this summer in other to forestall any unforeseen situation.

He finally says I do and pledges to return

How I wish Emmanuel Adebayor and Mikael Sylvestre (when he leaves) could be fondly remembered by the fans.

If you've noticed Marouane Chamakh, has cleverly refused to divulge information concerning his destination (I know we figured it out already), but in this interview with Le Parisien I think he forgot the suspense act.

Chamakh: "a lot of Emotion" but I'll "try to win" my last home game

Chamakh it will be emotional, I hope the fans understand.

Marouane Chamakh still has some unfinished business to attend to in Ligue1, before he says I DO to the Arsenal.

Bacary Sagna: Chamakh is "Top Class"

Earlier in an interview Chamakh spoke of his desire to join the Arsenal, and we've the likes of Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna, and William Gallas to thank because they contributed in no small way to his arrival.

Bacary Sagna has joined fellow Frenchman Samir Nasri in welcoming Arsene Wenger's latest asset Marouane Chamakh to the club.

Wenger to sign new deal, Chamakh to join May 15th

Arsene Wenger has held preliminary talks with the Arsenal board over extending his contract.

Discussions are expected to continue in the Summer with the Board expected to offer the Frenchman a new 3-year-deal that will keep him at

Nasri: Chamakh won't flop at Arsenal

Samir Nasri, is excited at the prospect of playing alongside Marouane Chamakh next season.

The 22-year-old Frenchman believes the 26-year-old forward whose club [Bordeaux] went into the winter break eight points ahead of their nearest Ligue 1 rival, but who are now trailing leaders Marseille by nine points coming into week 33 of the French League has what it takes to become an instant hit at Arsenal.

Nasri said: "It would be a great signing for us. He is a player that I really like.

"Chamakh plays for the team, gives everything and works very hard.

"He has a big potential and would fit perfectly in our team," the Gunner asserted.

Nasri, also lashed out at critics who have made it a point of duty to contest whatever decision taken by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. He stated in unequivocal terms, that their contribution to the success of the club is been relegated to the background by a large number of soccer unbelievers who are fed up with Wenger's experimental method: "It is amazing. The work we do is not getting the credit it deserves because we are not winning silverware," he told Arsenal's official magazine.

"It is unfair because I think we have more merit as a club than those who have built their teams with millions of pounds whereas Arsenal have brought in young footballers, who have come here to play a certain kind of football and who have developed."

After last week's charade at the DW Stadium against Wigan Athletic, Arsene Wenger said his crop of young players were not mature enough to handle the rigours associated with the Barclays Premier League, but Nasri thinks otherwise: "This season has proved that we have learnt so much," he declared.

"I am hoping that our squad will stay unchanged because we are really good and with a year more experience, we can achieve some great things next season."

Nasri blamed our misfortune at the injuries that have plagued the team this term and believes it is an achievement to be where we are inspite of the many drawbacks the team has faced: "Injuries happen and it is part of football, but I think if we had not had those injuries, we would be top of the Premier League and still in the Champions League," the Frenchman enthused.

"Apart from Arsenal, I do not know a team playing without five of its key players in the quarter final of the Champions League like we did against Barcelona and to be in such a high position in the League," he concluded.

Chamakh: this might be my last Ucl match for Bordeaux

Arsenal transfer target Marouane Chamakh, is finally ready to join the Gunners.

The striker who scored Bordeaux's only goal against Lyon yesterday in
the second leg of their UEFA Champions League match was very proud of
his team's performance, but in the end he told the official website of
Ligue1: "We can be proud of our campaign. In the end it all came down
to small details, to some bad luck both in the first leg and tonight.

"We're happy with what we have done but frustrated because we had a
chance. Now we need to get back to work in the League. I think
tonight's (yesterday) match will steady the ship a bit. We were solid,
we didn't concede and we regained a strong state of mind.

"We'll have to hang onto our title and above all to qualify for the
Champions League again. Was it my last Champions League match for
Bordeaux? Maybe," the Moroccan international concluded.

Chamakh's club loses in Final

Bordeaux lost 1-3 to Marseille in the Coupe de la Ligue final.

Marseille fans were elated as their club succeeded in ending its 17
year wait for a major trophy, all thanks to Mathieu Valbuena who
single-handedly destroyed Bordeaux in the second-half at the Stade de
France.

Laurent Blanc's attacking duo of Yoann Gourcuff and Marouane Chamakh
failed to convert their numerous chances and were made to pay the
penalty for their meekness in-front of goal as Supersub Valbuena
inspired Marseille to a famous Cup win.

Albeit, Laurent Blanc effected the necessary changes [substituted the
attacking duo for Yoann Gouffran and Fernando Cavenaghi], Marseille
were not to be denied their night of glory, as they brushed the Ligue1
holders aside to end their almost two decades of [trophy] barrenness.

Didier Deschamps (Marseille coach) dedicated the trophy to Robert
Louis-Dreyfus and the entire fanbase of the club: "I would like to
dedicate this win to Robert Louis-Dreyfus for all he did to the club.
Unfortunately he was not alive to see this success," he enthused.

"This is the most beautiful homage possible to him and his wife and
children were in the stadium to see it. It's a feeling of immense joy
for everybody. I have a thought for all the supporters who have
followed OM down the years. The victory was deserved. We were up
against Bordeaux's best possible side. This was also a victory for my
squad as Niang went off injured and Valbuena came on and made the
difference."

Laurent Blanc (Bordeaux coach) could not hide his dissapointment and
blamed his team for the defeat: "I am dissapointed. You play finals to
win them. The first half was fairly even and we stood up to them
physically but Marseille deserved the win," he admitted.

"Some individual players are below par. I'm looking for them to make
progress from Tuesday when we play Lyon [in the Champions League
quarter-finals first leg]. It was difficult to prepare for this final,
all the while preparing for Lyon. In the end, I think we are lucky the
game is going to come around so quickly."

Blanc "We earned our qualification" Chamakh "I hope we can avoid Lyon and Barcelona"

Laurent Blanc is a very happy man (kindly refer to the side bar for an
article on the importance he attached to winning the tie). I apologise
for my inability to embed the link inside the post, that's because I
am using my phone to blog.

Yesterday, the gaffer admitted that the onus was on them to win and
progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first
time in 22 years.
But today Blanc carries the aura of a fulfilled man. And he didn't shy
away from suggestions that French clubs are weak in Europe, instead
the Frenchman believes all that is about to change.

Blanc said: "We made a very positive start, we opened the scoring from
a set piece. There were lots of positives up until the 65th minute.
Altogether, they played a good match and we earned our qualification.

"We'll have to see how the French clubs go in to the quarter-finals.
If we make it through, it could well mean that French football has
bridged some of the gap behind the big countries like Spain, England
and even Italy. Among the eight clubs who are through to the quarters,
there are six or even seven who would want to be drawn with Bordeaux.
For me, there's one team I really want to avoid, that's Barcelona, who
remain the most frightening side in the competition."

Just like his Boss Arsenal target Chamakh has revealed that he's
scared of Barcelona and even Ligue 1 rival Lyon. Don't worry kid, you
can choose us. I promise we won't bore you guys with uninspiring
football, rather when we are done, you will definately attest to our
superiority.

The Moroccan international said, his late strike relieved him and his
team mates of the threat their visitors posed: "The Champions League
quarter-finals! If you'd told us at the start of the season that we'd
be here, we wouldn't have believed you. It was difficult, but we went
after this quarter-finals spot and it's a pure joy, a real pleasure.

"We can't deny that we had a few scares, when they equalised and the
fact that we were down to ten men.
The fact that I scored at the end was a big relief for me and the
team, I can't deny that. Now for the draw, I hope we can avoid Lyon
and Barcelona and go as far as possible in the competition. We'll play
without pressure."