Arsenal: Arsenal.....

A quote from Patrick Vieira has stunned Arsenal by saying: I fear Robert Pires will quit.

This to me has been on the cards as he has said himself that he may leave,a great player who Arsenal will miss (hopefully..lol)....

England Under-21 manager David Platt paid tribute to Jermaine Pennant after the Arsenal winger inspired his team to a 2-0 victory against Slovakia on Tuesday night.

Pennant was involved in both goals and strolled off with the man-of-the-match award after running the Slovakia defence ragged at the Stadium of Light.

The victory kept the Under-21s on course for next year's European Championships and provided Platt with an ideal present to mark his 37th birthday.

Platt won the Double in the twilight of his playing career at Arsenal, but he left Highbury a year before Pennant joined the Gunners as a wide-eyed 15-year-old.

A month ago, Pennant underlined his potential with a hat-trick on his first Premiership start for Arsenal, and he has sustained his form while on international duty.

The 20-year-old masterminded England's 3-2 victory against Serbia and Montenegro last week and Slovakia had no answer to his pace and trickery on Tuesday night.



[Edited on 15-6-2003 by TRD]

Eddie Niedzwiecki believes the next generation of Arsenal talent can make their presence felt at the highest level next season.

The Arsenal Reserves manager has worked closely with Jermaine Pennant, Ryan Garry, Sebastian Svard, David Bentley and Jeremie Aliadiere, all of whom enjoyed a taste of first-team action during the last campaign.

Niedzwiecki knows that the acid test of the young Gunners' ability is still to come, but he is confident they can bridge the gap from second-string to Premiership.

"They have proved it at reserve team level, some have proved it when they go out on loan, now they have to prove it in the Premiership," he told Arsenal.com.

"That is what it is all about. This club wants to win the Champions League and the Premiership so those are the standards they know they have to get to.

"We talk about Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Juventus because we have to drive them to get to those standards. If they don't get to those standards then unfortunately they will not be Arsenal players."

The signs certainly look promising. Pennant scored a hat-trick in his first Premiership start against Southampton last month, Garry shone on his debut in the same game and Aliadiere scored against West Brom last August.

With Svard and Bentley also impressing against Oxford in the third round of the FA Cup at Highbury in January, Ars�ne Wenger knows he has plenty of young talent at his disposal.

"It is very encouraging that the manager is talking about these players in such high esteem," said Niedzwiecki. "I'm confident that they can take it on to the higher stage."

AC Milan claim to have turned down a big offer from Arsenal for their Italian international goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Abbiati lost his first-team place last season to Brazilian Dida but the European champions have made it clear he remains a big part of their plans.

The club issued a statement on their website, www.acmilan.it, which read: "AC Milan and Christian Abbiati have by common consent refused a mega-offer from Arsenal."

Leeds chairman John McKenzie believes Harry Kewell will start talks with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week to discuss a possible move to Highbury.

McKenzie has pushed the boat out as far as Kewell is concerned in a bid to keep him at Leeds, offering the 24-year-old what is understood to be a �2.5million-per-year pay package, making him the club's highest-paid player.

McKenzie, though, is resigned to the fact the lure of Champions League football is likely to prove too strong for ambitious Kewell, who has 12 months left on his current Leeds deal.

Arsenal are favourites to sign Kewell, although the Australia international winger is apparently monitoring the David Beckham situation to see if Manchester United show any interest should the England captain move on.

But it is Wenger leading the chase and he is set to meet with Kewell and advisor Bernie Mandic, who spoke with McKenzie about a new deal on Friday, at some point over the next few days.

All the hype over Pennant and they are offering him to Leeds as part of the Kewell transfer!!!!!!!

I think Pennant is a good player Arsenal should keep him they have already made a mistake by letting Upson go...!

Wenger getting rid of another English player........

Arsenal's hopes of keeping Dennis Bergkamp have taken a turn for the worse after the Dutch striker's agent claimed on Tuesday the Gunners' latest contract offer is "too embarrassing for words".

Bergkamp is now out of contract and has been offered a new one-year deal - but on less money than he earned previously.

Bergkamp has decided to remain in Holland until his future is resolved.

Arsenal are losing the plot.....

Arsene Wenger insists Chelsea will fail in any bid to sign Patrick Vieira after he defiantly claimed none of Arsenal's star players will leave.

Wenger remains confident that Vieira, who has just one year left on his contract, will sign a new deal despite a recent warning he could always walk away on a Bosman free transfer next summer if the terms are not right.

The Arsenal boss also believes Dennis Bergkamp will put pen to paper on a new one-year contract, probably by the end of the week.

Wenger nevertheless has yet to make any pre-season signings to strengthen his squad, despite the departure of goalkeeper David Seaman.

Although fringe players like Kanu could yet be sold to make way for new arrivals, his main priority is to keep the core of his existing squad together and Vieira remains absolutely essential to Arsenal's cause.

Chelsea have been monitoring Arsenal's attempts to agree a new deal with the France international, who wants a conclusion before the start of the new season, and reports indicate they are set to make a �20m bid.

However, Wenger declared: "Our players are definitely not for sale. The situation at the moment is that Patrick [Vieira] has not signed, but I am confident that he will."

As for Bergkamp, who is looking for a new one-year deal to finish his career at Highbury, the club are hopeful terms can finally be agreed this week after their initial low offer was increased.

"We are still talking and there will be a decision in the next few days," Wenger told the club's website.

"But I am confident. We always keep our negotiations secret but they are in better shape than has been indicated."

Greek centre-back Stathis Tavlaridis is likely to join Belgian club Beveren from Arsenal on a year-long loan deal.

The former Under-21 international, who was signed from Iraklis and played on loan at Portsmouth last season before making his league debut for the Gunners in the home game against Southampton, has found opportunities limited.

And with boss Arsene Wenger including new signing Phillipe Senderos in the squad for their opening friendly at Peterborough, the chance to play top-flight Belgian soccer may prove of mutual benefit.

There is also the possibility of the Belgian club sending players to Highbury on trial during the pre-season. Midfielder Gilles Yapi Yapi has already spent time at Highbury and fellow Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure (brother of Kolo) may also come over for a spell.

Arsenal have admitted they are in talks with Valencia over a possible deal for Spanish international goalkeeper Santiago Canizares.

Boss Arsene Wenger is looking for a new experienced number one after David Seaman left for Manchester City.

And Canizares, a Spanish title winner and twice a Champions League finalist, appears to fit the bill.

Patrick Vieira is on the brink of committing his future to Arsenal.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is confident he can ward off interest from the likes of big-spending London neighbours Chelsea by persuading his captain to agree to a new deal.

"I believe Patrick is very close to signing. I am very optimistic," Wenger told the Daily Mail.

The Highbury boss also reported Vieira's fellow French midfielder Robert Pires will not be leaving either.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed the Gunners have signed Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Wenger has been searching for a replacement for David Seaman following his departure to Manchester City.

And, after being linked with a long list of keepers, he opted for the 33-year-old German international.

Wenger revealed he had clinched the deal after the Gunners' 2-0 pre-season friendly win over Austria Vienna.

Wenger also indicated Lehmann will be his first-choice keeper next season ahead of Stuart Taylor.

Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal fans not to expect any more pre-season signings after his solitary move in the summer transfer market to capture German keeper Jens Lehmann.

Instead, Wenger's priority before the new campaign starts next month is to ensure captain Patrick Vieira commits himself to a new contract.

The Arsenal boss will nevertheless need to be at his most persuasive to reassure Vieira of Arsenal's ambitions despite being hamstrung in the transfer market by the financial demands of the club's new stadium plans.

After all, Lehmann remains the club's solitary summer acquisition for �1.5million, just a fraction of the amount invested by London rivals Chelsea since the arrival of Roman Abramovich.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made his two most important signings of the summer as he attempted to upstage bitter rival Sir Alex Ferguson.

On a day when Manchester United unveiled new arrivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Kleberson for a combined �18million, Arsenal finally confirmed skipper Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires have put pen to paper on new long-term contracts.

As Wenger has been unable to match the spending power of either Ferguson or Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri this close season due to Arsenal's hands being tied by their plans to move to a new stadium, the deals for Vieira and Pires represent a major coup.

Arsenal are celebrating a �130million windfall from a new kit sponsorship deal with Nike which should remove all doubts over the plans to build a new 60,000 capacity stadium.

The deal is spread over 10 years but a key factor is that Nike have agreed to hand over a lump sum of �55million in July 2006 when the Gunners intend to move into their new home at Ashburton Grove.

And a letter of credit for the �55million is being provided immediately so would-be lenders can be assured of the club's financial position.

There was shock and surprise within the game when Arsenal recently revealed debts of around �44million.

The move from Highbury to their new stadium was put back by a year, with costs expected to rise to around �400million.

Arsenal midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst has joined Barcelona on a season-long loan.

The former Rangers midfielder has struggled to keep himself in the Gunners' first-team picture since suffering a cruciate ligament in February 2002.

The move is subject to a medical tomorrow morning.

Arsenal have announced the signings of Danny Karbassiyoon and Michal Papadopoulos.

United States Under-19 striker Karbassiyoon joins the Gunners on a permanent basis having previously played for Roanoke in his homeland.

Czech Republic Under-19 striker Papadopoulos has moved to Highbury on a one-year loan from Banik Ostrava.

Sylvain Wiltord claims he will extend his stay at Arsenal if the club come up with the right offer.

The France international's present contract expires next summer but Wiltord has not excluded signing a new deal with the Gunners.

Speaking to L'Equipe from the French national team's Clairefontaine base, Wiltord said that he could sign on within a month - if Arsenal made the first move.

"I talked with Arsenal in March and then August," said Wiltord.

"Arsene (Wenger) told me that a two-year contract for a forward of my age would need a big effort.