Its time for Emery to go away from North London !

There was a time when Arsenal were feared by teams like Southampton when they come and play at the Emirates. A dominant Arsenal team with a handful of possession and shots on target.

Those were the good times and now is the dry Emery era.

Here it goes again and again...

Emery has been given public backing by the Arsenal hierarchy but he was warned that results must improve.

The Spaniard conceded himself, in the aftermath of Arsenal's latest draw, that his team did not hit the levels required against Southampton and completely understands the frustrations of the fans.

"I understand how the supporters feel about the team and me," he told Sky Sports.

"I'm going to work hard for them to come back and put in a good performance where we use our quality to show we can be better. Today they [the fans] helped us but we didn't give them the feedback to show our capacity to battle."

Despite Southampton registering 21 shots on Arsenal's goal and missing some glorious chances in the closing stages to extend their 2-1 lead, Emery felt Arsenal played their best 20 minutes of the whole season just after half-time when Nicolas Pepe hit the crossbar.

Its now time for the Arsenal management team to act and decide on the future of Emery and the direction where our beloved Arsenal are heading to ! ... 

Van Persie Is the Same, but Which Team Is Better?

For Robin Van Persie, Old Trafford was once an unforgiving place. As an Arsenal player the Dutchman never sampled victory at Manchester United’s Theatre of Dreams. United’s unbeaten home run against Arsene Wenger’s side dates to 2006; in fact, the Gunners sustained their biggest Premier League defeat the last time they visited.

Van Persie scored that day (although he also missed a penalty), turning in a performance that marked him as the Gunners’ only outstanding figure. It was a trend that carried throughout Arsenal’s season, with Van Persie scoring 30 times in the league, 40 percent of his team’s total for the season.

So considering the apparent gulf that already existed between United and Arsenal last season, and the off-season move of Van Persie to the northern side of the rivalry, is it safe to assume that gap has widened as the teams prepare to meet on Saturday (8:30 a.m. Eastern, ESPN2)? Is United better with Van Persie? Is Arsenal worse without him?

League tables never lie, it is said, so one drawing a comparison using the Premier League standings would conclude that Arsenal is actually better without Van Persie, having taken 15 points from their opening nine Premier League games, compared to only 13 from the same number of fixtures last season.

Of course, this comparison is far too simplistic, but it does dispel the common consensus that Wenger’s decision to let the Dutch striker leave the Emirates has critically weakened his team. Van Persie has continued his impressive goalscoring form with United, scoring seven times in seven Premier League starts. But has United become as reliant on him as Arsenal was often perceived to be?

Van Persie was responsible for a big chunk of Arsenal’s total attempts on goal last season, a little more than 26 percent. However, despite United’s supposed superior attacking line, Van Persie has taken a larger share of his new team’s overall shots in his first seven league starts, just over 32 percent. This would fit assumptions if Van Persie’s lower share was the result of a larger total attempts count by United. Yet Arsenal averaged almost 17 shots on goal per game last season, compared with only 15 by the Red Devils this year. But if Arsenal was indeed a one-man team last season, United is just as reliant on Van Persie already.

Wenger did not directly replace Van Persie at Arsenal. Instead he strengthened his squad across the board, giving the Gunners more attacking options by bringing in dynamic forwards like Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski, as well as the Frenchman Olivier Giroud. Wingers Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Theo Walcott have also been given more attacking responsibility.

That burden is now shared across Arsenal’s new look inter-changeable front line, with no one player enjoying more than 18 percent of the Gunners’ total attempts on goal. Some actually argue that Wenger’s decision to let Van Persie leave the Emirates has actually made his team more balanced. He also might have proved that the Gunners are not doomed without the Dutchman after all.

In Arsenal’s opening nine games last season they averaged 15 attempts on goal per game, hitting the target 34 percent of the time, and scoring 15 times. This year the Gunners have averaged 18 attempts on goal, with an on target rate of 33 percent, and have found the net 14 times.

So if Van Persie’s move north hasn’t weakened Arsenal, has it at least made United better?

By contrasting the opening seven games of United’s 2011-12 season, without Van Persie, and 2012-13 season, with him, it’s possible to get a glimpse of his impact. United averaged 18 attempts on goal (7.2 on target) and 3.4 goals in their opening seven league fixtures last season (numbers padded, for sure, by an 8-2 win over Van Persie’s Arsenal). This season they have averaged only 16 attempts on goal (6 on target) and 2.8 goals per game. The difference is too slight to conclude the signing of Van Persie has unsettled or even weakened United’s strike force, but neither can it be said that an improvement is clear.

Wenger has urged the Arsenal supporters making the journey north for Saturday’s game to show respect to Van Persie, their former captain, reminding them of what he did for the club during his eight years there. Those Arsenal players who were made to suffer sheer ignominy at Old Trafford last season, however, will have incentive in trying to prove to their former leader that they’re better off without him.

MANCHESTER UNITED VS ARSENAL TOMORROW MATCH DAY PREVIEW

All eyes will be on Old Trafford on Saturday as Manchester United striker Robin van Persie takes on Arsenal for the first time since leaving the Gunners in the summer.

Nonetheless, despite plenty of attention being drawn to how the Dutchman will do against the players he captained last season, there are also three vital points at stake for both Barclays Premier League title contenders.

After closing the gap on leaders Chelsea with a controversial 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge last week, United will be looking to maintain the pressure on the Blues, while Arsenal are currently sixth on the table but are only six points off the summit.

Arsene Wenger's men may have produced one of the most memorable comebacks in recent history on Tuesday when they came from 4-0 down to record a 7-5 extra-time victory over Reading in the Capital One Cup, but the way they defended against a side currently in the relegation zone will leave their manager sweating at the prospect of taking on a Red Devils attack consisting of Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia and an in-form Javier Hernandez.

United themselves were eliminated from the Capital One Cup on Wednesday as they fell to a 5-4 extra-time at Chelsea after thrice taking the lead, and with the likes of Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski firing on all cylinders, Sir Alex Ferguson's defence could also be under severe pressure on Saturday.

Yann M'vila very much close to signing for Arsenal FC

Rennes star M'vila is on the verge of signing for Arsenal FC according to various sources.
The Gunners have been tracking powerful enforcer M'Vila for around 18 months, and have made tentative enquiries for the player during each of the last two summer transfer windows. 

M'Vila has always maintained his desire to move to the Premier League, and cleared the way for a switch to Arsenal at the end of the season, by telling Rennes he wanted to quit the club, in order to 'work under a famous French manager'.

Former Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund: '90% chance' Podolski will go to Arsenal

Former Bayer Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund believes it is very likely that Lukas Podolski will move to Arsenal in the summer after claiming he spoke with the striker.

It was reported earlier this week that the English club have an agreement with Koln over the transfer of the Germany international at the end of the term. Furthermore, it was suggested that due to a contract clause, the Gunners could acquire the Podolski for a fee of €10 million.


'Calli' revealed that he met with the player at the city carnival, and the 26-year-old striker conveyed his desire to join an English club at the end of the season.


"I would bet a fortune on it [Arsenal transfer]! I talked with Lukas during the carnival. He is fixated on clubs in England, and I believe that there is a 90 per cent chance that he will move to Arsenal," said Calmund to SPORT1.


"Nothing has been made official yet. Koln calculated a price of €20m. Arsenal, however, will not easily blow out €20m for a player who has just a year left on his contract.


"Arsenal are a club with ambitions and he will explode there."


Podolski has been one of the main protagonists for Koln this season, scoring 15 goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances.


Credits to: www.goal.com

Arsenal target injury puts move in jeopardy

Arsenal has been recently linked with the young german starlet Mario Goetze and are the strong favourites to attain his signature inorder to bring him to the Emirates in the January transfer window as a potential replacement for Cesc Fabregas.

But now he has torn a thigh muscle in Sunday's 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Kaiserslautern and has been riled out for a month putting a Premier League move in jeopardy.

ARSENAL 125 YEARS AND STILL MOVING FOREWARD

Podolski diverting from Arsenal

Lukas Podolski who for the past month has been linked with a move to Arsenal, based on a report started on a football blog back in October, which seemingly has gone ‘viral’ is now being linked with Bundesliga side Shalke.
The would be Arsenal target, is now being reported by TalkSport as being seen as the ideal replacement for Raul, whose deal with Shalke runs out in the summer.
26 year old Podolski who plays for Cologne is yet to sign a new deal with Cologne and it is possible he could move in the summer, but it is very likely he will stay in Germany. Especially as Bayern Munich are reportedly keen on resigning him. Podolski of course spent three years with the German giants between 2006 – 2009.]
The Polish born German international has a prolific record for the German international side, scoring over 40 times in 93 appearances for this country.

courtesy: http://www.footie-online.co.uk

Podolski hails Arsenal

Lukas Podolski has encouraged Arsenal to keep up their pursuit by describing Arsene Wenger's side as a 'top club'.
Wenger is keen to sign the Germany striker from Cologne for £20million in January amid uncertainty about Robin van Persie's future at the club.
Podolski has been dismayed by his side's poor performances and talks to extend his contract beyond 2013 have stalled.


Asked about Arsenal's interest, the 26-year-old said with a smile: 'Arsenal are a top club. They have a good team and play right at the top level in England.' 
Cologne are just five points off the bottom of the Bundesliga after losing four of their last six games.


They are already out of the German cup and are not playing in Europe this season, which is a far cry from the level of club Podolski thought he was joining when he left Bayern Munich in 2009.
Earlier this week he admitted he could his hometown club, saying: 'My family and friends may live here, but if I am in top condition, then I think I could fit into any side in Europe. I am not forced to stay only in Cologne.'

Courtesy: http://www.dailymail.co.uk

German Star hints Arsenal move

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger has been tracking the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, 19  and is said to be weighing up a huge bid for his services.

And Goetze told his pals that he was massively impressed with the Gunners set-up when the two sides met in the Champions League clash in London on Wednesday night.

Mario was extremely taken by the stadium and the manner in which Arsenal are doing things on the pitch, a source said.

“He likes the way Arsenal play the game and for him there are only two clubs where he’d like to play once he moves from Dortmund - Arsenal or Barcelona.

Credits to : http://www.dailystar.co.uk