Giroud - The goals are coming soon

 Olivier Giroud insists he is not worried about his goal tally and is confident he will soon start scoring regularly.

The France international opened his account for the Club in the Capital One Cup victory against Coventry last week, and came close to adding to his tally against Chelsea and Olympiacos.

The 25-year-old insists he is not downhearted by his opening weeks in English football and believes he will soon hit the back of the net on a regular basis.

“I try [to score], I try all I can,” he said. “Sometimes you need to keep the faith, to keep going. When you are a striker, sometimes it’s difficult. I don’t know why, but I do try to do the right thing.

“I think I’m a little unlucky. I’ll keep going and continue to work hard in training. People say to me, ‘the goal is coming soon, don’t worry, we trust you’ and it’s very important for me to feel the support of people and my team-mates.

“We are good team. Although we lost against Chelsea I think it was an accident. We are confident for the future and I am confident. I don’t worry about the future. The goals are coming soon.

6. Laurent Koscielny

 Laurent Koscielny’s second season in English football was a big success.

The Frenchman built upon a good first year at Arsenal, emerging as one of the team’s most consistent players in 2011/12 and becoming widely regarded as a top Premier League defender.

His pace, athleticism and quick reactions were big assets to the Gunners’ back line, as was his enviable record in one-on-one duels. One of the first names on Arsène Wenger’s teamsheet when fit, he also scored the vital goal at West Bromwich Albion that sealed Arsenal’s place in the Champions League for the forthcoming campaign.

Laurent also featured twice at right back when Bacary Sagna and Carl Jenkinson were injured, slotting in seamlessly and confirming his aptitude to face any task head-on.

He earned a deserved debut for the French national side against the United States in November 2011, and his fine club form resulted in a call-up to Laurent Blanc’s Euro 2012 squad. He was one of the side’s better performers in 2-0 quarter-final defeat to Spain.

Laurent joined Arsenal from Ligue 1 side FC Lorient in July 2010. He had spent just one season at the Stade du Moustoir, having previously represented Tours in Ligue 2. He was named in the division’s best XI for the 2008/09 season.

Laurent Koscielny profile

• Name
  Laurent Koscielny
• Born
  September 10, 1985
• Tulle, France
• Position
  Defender
• Squad Number
  6
• Previous Club(s)
  En Avant Guingamp
• Tours
• Lorient
• Joined Arsenal
  July 07, 2010

22. Francis Coquelin

 Francis proved himself to be the epitome of the modern, multi-positional footballer last season with a series of fine displays wherever he was deployed. Nominally a defensive midfielder, the France Under-21 international was called into action at both right and left back during the height of the Club’s full-back injury crisis and performed admirably.

Having spent the previous campaign on loan at Ligue 1 side Lorient, Francis returned to Emirates Stadium with a burgeoning reputation and soon forced his way into the first team. After making his Premier League debut in the heavy defeat at Old Trafford, the Frenchman really caught the eye with a superb performance in the north London derby against Tottenham in October.

As the campaign progressed, Francis became an even more regular name on the teamsheet and he will be looking to continue his exciting development this season.

Francis joined the Club as a 17-year-old in 2008, and was part of the squad that won the FA Youth Cup the following year. By 2010 he started to attract attention following some impressive performances in France’s European Under-19 Championship victory, and he has now made the step up into Arsenal’s first team. The future is bright for this young midfield

Francis Coquelin profile

• Name Francis Coquelin
• Born May 13, 1991
• Laval, France
• Position Midfielder
• Squad Number 22
• Previous Club(s) Lorient (loan)
• Joined Arsenal July 22, 2008

Wenger - Wilshere will play at West Brom

 

 Arsène Wenger has confirmed that Jack Wilshere will play for Arsenal Under-21s at West Bromwich Albion on Monday afternoon.

The England international has been out for 14 months with ankle and knee injuries, but returned to full training last week.

Now the 20-year-old will take another key step in his recovery when he features for Terry Burton’s side at The Hawthorns next week.

“He will play on Monday, he will play his first game with the under-21s, maybe an hour or something like that,” Wenger said.

“It's another important step but he has not played for 14 months so we have to calm your [the media’s] impatience a little bit.

“It is fantastic for him. When you are at that age and are out for such a long time, it is absolutely massive to take [for] him and Frimpong.

“Frimpong had two knee injuries, Jack had two setbacks. It is massive for them to come back and for us as well.”

Wenger wants Wilshere to make a steady return to action, and does not think it would be beneficial for him to play in next month’s England double header against San Marino and Poland.

“I think that will be too early for him,” he said. “He has not played for 14 months.”

'Regular football is bringing out my best'

Carl Jenkinson believes regular first-team football is bringing out the best in him.

The 20-year-old took a giant leap up the divisions when he swapped League One Charlton for Premier League Arsenal last summer. And his form has made similar strides in recent weeks.

Jenkinson produced perhaps his best display for the Club last weekend when he shackled Scott Sinclair and got forward to good effect in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City. The right back was trending on Twitter after the game and earned praise from Thomas Vermaelen in midweek. He admits he has never felt better in an Arsenal shirt.

"I am happy with how things are going at the moment, I think I am starting to get the best out of myself," Jenkinson told Arsenal Player.

"I am playing regularly and I think that is important for any player, for me especially. My fitness is a big part of my game and you only really get that from matches, and obviously I am playing regularly at the moment. I feel fit and strong and I feel I am getting there now.

"I feel like I am progressing game by game, maybe that is natural for a younger player but it is nice that the skipper thinks that. I have got to continue to do that. I think a player always works on his weaknesses and I have been working on things I think I can improve on."

Jenkinson's increasing comfort in the top flight will be put to the test on Saturday when Chelsea visit Emirates Stadium. Always robust, the Blues now have the added creativity of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Victor Moses and Oscar at their disposal.

"They [creative players] are everywhere in this league anyway, but everyone knows the quality of the likes of Mata and Hazard," said Jenkinson.

"Of course they are great wingers but I have to make sure I am on top of my game whoever I mark. Even if it is not them, you have Victor Moses  or someone else. Chelsea have an abundance of talent, so I have to be on my mettle whoever I am marking.

"The main thing is to focus on my own game, and hopefully I will take care of them that way.

"Chelsea are a strong side and have started the season well, so it is going to be a tough game. But it is important that we focus on how we have been playing. If we play to the best of our ability, we can beat any team in the world. I genuinely believe that."

Sumber Arsenal.com

Arshavin - I hope I’ll have more chances soon

 

Andrey Arshavin admits that he has found himself in an unfamiliar situation early in the 2012/13 season.

While the Russian forward starred, and scored, in Wednesday night’s 6-1 Capital One Cup win over Coventry City, he has had to bide his time for Premier League action - making just one appearance, as a substitute, in the opening-day draw with Sunderland.

He told the Official Matchday Programme: “It’s been very difficult for me - my first time in this position, really. Of course I really want to be playing, but I still try to keep in as good a condition as possible and I hope I’ll have more chances soon. It was very good to score against Coventry, I enjoyed that.”

The 31 year-old’s fitness is certainly giving cause for optimism, with his physical performance in training at its highest level during his time at Arsenal.

“My figures are the best ever!” he said. “This summer I felt very good physically, it’s true. All of my exercise, especially the endurance side, has gone better than ever. We’ll find out how important that’s been when I’m playing.”

While Arshavin is desperate to be unleashed on top-flight defences once more, he accepts that the Gunners have made a strong start to the season all over the pitch - and pinpoints what he believes the primary factor to have been.

“The difference between this year and last year, in my opinion, is that we are playing more collectively,” he said.

“I think we are helping each other more on the pitch defensively - last year it wasn’t up to this level. I haven’t seen the exact statistics, but I think we’re playing a more compact game.

“My aim is to be part of it, to play football and focus on Arsenal. I think that, if I have the chance, I can do well.”
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Gibbs - I've been given a licence to attack

The 23-year-old - Gibbs celebrated his birthday on Wednesday - has always been an attack-minded defender after starting his career as a winger. But this season he has been further forward than usual.

Gibbs' average position in the 0-0 draw at Stoke was more advanced than striker Lukas Podolski's. The England international says that is not just down to his instincts.

“The boss is always telling me, ever since pre-season, to play high and wide and stretch the team, to let the midfielders have more room," Gibbs told Arsenal Player.

"It’s part of my game as well and I feel I play the game how I think it should be played. That’s probably where that comes from.

“I feel my performances have been positive this season," added Gibbs. "I’ve kept fit which has been important for me - especially over the last couple of years where I struggled to stay fit.

"I always said if I can get a good run of games under my belt, I can always get stronger and hopefully be more consistent - which is what I’m doing at the minute. I’m happy to be fit and I’m happy to be playing.”

The next test for Gibbs and Arsenal comes in the shape of Olympiacos on Wednesday night. The left back helped his team get off to a winning start in Montpellier earlier this month and he expects another tough task at Emirates Stadium.

“We know Olympiacos are going to be a difficult test," he said. "We’ve had a good start in the Champions League with the win in Montpellier, so it’s important that we’re at home, we get another win and we can put ourselves on the front foot to finish top of the group.

“Montpellier was a big test for us. I think we knew what was coming for us in the second half. When we went in at half time 2-1 up, you could tell that they were going to put the pressure on and we did very well to soak up the pressure.

"We defended well as a team and did enough in the end to get the three points – that’s what’s important, the three points and a strong start to our Champions League season."

Sumber Aresnal.com