Champions League: Arsenal face Bayern and Man City meet Barcelona in last 16

 

Arsenal will face holders Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Manchester City take on Barcelona.

The Premier League leaders, beaten by Bayern at the same stage last year, have paid a heavy price for a final-day defeat at Napoli which relegated them to runners-up in their group.
And City, who finished second to Bayern in their group, have been similarly punished with a tie against Barcelona on their first appearance in the knockout stages.
Elsewhere Chelsea will be up against Galatasaray and Didier Drogba, the man whose penalty won them the competition in a shoot-out against Bayern 2012.

Champions League last-16 draw:

Man City v Barcelona
Olympiakos v Manchester United
AC Milan v Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen v Paris St Germain
Galatasaray v Chelsea
Schalke v Real Madrid
Zenit St Petersburg v Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal v Bayern Munich

And Greek champions Olympiakos stand between Manchester United and a place in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain said of meeting Bayern again: "We managed to get a good result away at Bayern last season so that brings back good memories. If you're going to do well in the competition you've got to beat the best teams."
City's draw is all the more galling given the circumstances when, after needing to better Bayern's 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium to finish top, Manuel Pellegrini's misreading of the mathematics led him to stick with a 3-2 lead rather than chase a fourth goal.
City's director of football Txiki Begiristain, who joined the club from Barcelona, admitted the draw "could be maybe better".

Director of football Txiki Begiristain knows City face a major challenge to progress after being drawn with Barcelona.

But he told Sky Sports News: "For the people it's a great, great match. Two big teams, one with a lot of history, the other a new one also trying to win the trophy and be there in Europe.
"And the game in Munich, winning against the champions, will give us a lot of confidence going away to Barcelona.
"The way that we are playing, we're showing we can score in all matches. This is the most important thing in the Champions League."
And Pellegrini added: "I think Barcelona will be very concerned that they have drawn us. They are not the team of two years ago."
However, Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino believes City will be fearful of the two-legged tie with the Spanish champions' recent record in Europe the envy of many of their rivals.

Manuel Pellegrini is looking forward to facing Barcelona in the Champions League but said that all the teams they could have faced are of the same quality.

He said: "There were six outcomes and we drew Manchester City.
"You've got to play whoever you get but they will not want to play against Barcelona. They are important opponents with very good players, but we will go there to win.
"The most important thing is to arrive at their stadium in good shape and play well."
Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata said it would be a fond reunion for all concerned when Drogba returns to Stamford Bridge.
He told the official Chelsea website: "Didier was a legend here. I guess that he would be very excited about coming back. He did a lot of great things for this club and scored a lot of very important goals. In fact, he scored probably the most important goals in the history of this club."

Chelsea club secretary David Barnard says that Didier Drogba will get a fantastic reception when he returns to Stamford Bridge

John Alexander, Manchester United's club secretary, said the Premier League champions' straightforward draw highlighted how important it had been to win their group.
He told uefa.com: "If you look at the ties Arsenal and City got, that shows why you have got to win the group. Whoever came out of the pot would have been a good one to draw. United are a big club in Greece so we will have a good following over there."
Elsewhere, seven-time winners AC Milan will face Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen must face Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain, Schalke will play Real Madrid and Zenit St Petersburg have been paired with Borussia Dortmund.
The first-leg ties will be played on either February 18/19 or 25/26, with the return clashes on March 11/12 or 18/19.

Jamie Redknapp and Dietmar Hamann believe Manchester City stand a very good chance of beating Barcelona in the Champions League.

He said: "Manuel Pellegrini has got plenty of experience and is an attacking manager, but that doesn't always work in Manchester City's favour - you think of that Bayern Munich game when they got outnumbered in midfield and maybe that's something he will look at against a Barcelona side where, if you play five, they will play six. They love to dominate the middle ground so there's something to think about. If you're a big time player you will react to that draw and be excited about it.
"Arsene Wenger and the players knew that, whoever they got, it was going to be tough. It's a repeat of last year when they got taught a lesson at the Emirates and the tie was effectively over. So many of the players that Bayern have got can hurt you. They are the reigning champions and Pep Guardiola is under pressure, not only to retain the trophy as nobody has done, but to do it in a different way and to stamp his imprint on the team. How do you stop them? I don't know, but Arsenal at their best can score goals against most sides and I hope they can do it against Bayern.
"I think Jose Mourinho quite enjoys these games. There will be plenty of talk beforehand on his part, I'm sure. We are still waiting for this Chelsea side to settle down under Mourinho and for it to become a side in his image. The consistency we've always seen from his sides, we haven't had it and you don't quite know what to expect from them. Come February, things might be a little different but as things stand going into the tie you think they should win it but who knows?

Alan Smith and Jamie Redknapp believe that Arsenal have been handed the toughest possible tie against Bayern Munich.

"David Moyes can't have any complaints. It looked as if they would get a favourable draw when you saw the teams that were going to be in their pot, so it's an opportunity for him to move forward and the club to feel better about themselves in the New Year. It's not the best Manchester United side we've seen, far from it, but it is certainly one that is capable of beating this Olympiakos side."
Arsenal are now rated at 28/1 to win the Champions League with Sky Bet following the draw, while City have also been eased to 16/1.
Chelsea are 12/1, while the Red Devils have been trimmed to 14s from 16s and Sky Bet's Dale Tempest said: "The tie of the round has to be Manchester City against Barcelona, in what will be a huge test for both managers.
"We can't separate the sides in the betting on the first leg at the Etihad Stadium with both priced 8/5 for the win, though Barcelona are 2/5 to progress overall."

Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi And Former Barcelona and AC Milan striker, Maxi Lopez INVOLVED In Shameful LOVE TRIANGLE

Former Barcelona and AC Milan striker, Maxi Lopez (middle), found himself in a humiliating situation recently, after his ex-wife Wanda Nara got involved in a very public affair with Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi.
20-year-old Icardi played with Lopez when he was on loan at Sampdoria, before they both transferred to different Serie A sides (Lopez is now playing for Catania). The trio were very close, and often spent time together during off-season periods.

With three sons between them, Lopez and Nara called time on their marriage this year.
According to the Italian media, upon finding out about the breakdown of her marriage to Lopez, Icardi took  the chance to woo 27-year-old model Nara.
The new couple have been posting their photos and status messages all over their social media networks, generating criticism from fans and the media alike. Argentinean critics, in particular, have been harsh towards Icardi, whom they claim reserved “no respect” for his former teammate, Lopez.

Icardi also got his left arm tattooed with Wanda’s name. “I’ve washed it 10 times already and it won’t come off!” he declared, with the photo above.
Of course, this Serie A scandal has rocked the tabloid and backpages of Italy’s papers, with many comparing it to that of the John Terry-Wayne Bridge saga.

Monreal could exit Arsenal in January

 Reports are suggesting Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal could leave the Gunners in January with a number of La Liga sides said to be interested in his signature.
Valencia, Granada, and Real Sociedad are three sides most notably linked to Monreal services, but Arsenal are still keen on keeping the 27-year old at the club, although his asking price is around £6M.
The rumours have stemmed from a lack of playing time for the defender this season, as Kieran Gibbs has been the Gunners’ first-choice at left back – leaving Monreal to substitute appearances.
As Arsenal aren’t blessed with great depth in defence, it’s very unlikely they would allow the Spaniard to leave in January unless he made his intentions of leaving clear to the side.
Making eight league appearances, but only amassing around 100 minutes of playing time in the top-flight has meant Monreal’s chances of making the Spanish national team have greatly diminished as a result.
Manager Arsene Wenger has used Monreal in defence as well as midfield this season, but the 27-year old is hoping he’ll be afforded more time in his favoured left-back role to prove his worth to the side – putting talks of an impending January exit to the wayside

25-year old, 17 Goals In 14 Appearances – Arsenal’s Likely January Signing

Arsenal are keen to talk with Olympiacos striker Konstantinos Mitroglou about a possible transfer. The Greek striker has been in sensation form this season and Arsenal’s need for a striker has seen the striker appear on their radar.
The 25-year old has hit 17 goals in 14 appearances this campaign and is available for a mere £7 million. Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Genoa & Benfica are all interested in Mitroglou too.
His price tag means he is effectively a bargain in the modern market and wouldn’t be too expensive. The Gunners need for a striker to ease the burden from Olivier Giroud is desperate and Mitroglou could be the cheapest option but brings with him a keen eye for goal.
Giroud has played more games than any other Arsenal player and has been reportedly suffering from fatigue recently and needs to be rested. The return of Theo Walcott & Lukas Podolski will look to help but a January arrival is expected.

Why Arsenal may need to lower transfer hopes for a striker

 Arsenal might have to consider getting a cheap striker in January by KJ
You ask any Arsenal fan what type of player we should sign in January and 99% will say a striker. With only Olivier Giroud as our truly conventional striker, the Arsenal fan base flinches every time we see him on the floor clutching his ankle. But as I’ve said a few times, I don’t see us signing the world class strikers we targeted in the summer when the winter window opens. Higuain has moved now. Man Utd will not sell Rooney to a direct title rival and the same applies for Liverpool. So we will need to be more realistic and look at some of the cheaper options. Here is two that I’ve picked out:
Carlos Vela
This is a very controversial pick. He was once at Arsenal and it didn’t work out, mainly because he failed to adapt to the English game. However, he has matured a lot in La Liga and is one of Real Sociedad’s best players. He can play on the wings or as a striker playing off the last defender. He has been scoring fairly regularly for Sociedad and has said many times that he’s not afraid of moving back to Arsenal. According to reports, we have a £4 million buy back clause in his contract and that would allow us to have that depth in January before buying someone big in the summer.
Loic Remy
We were in for the Frenchman last January but the likes of Newcastle and QPR ended up fighting for his signature rather than us. Now he’s on loan at Newcastle and has already scored 8 league goals this season. Now he apparently has a £7 million buy-out clause in his QPR contract but they’ll need to compensate Newcastle their loan fee (as well as compensation) if they take back Remy before the agreed loan deal ends. He is a player in brilliant form now and has got the talent to cut it at the top. He has unreal pace and provides something different to Giroud.
I’d love for us to be in for the likes of Suarez or Diego Costa in January but their clubs have high ambitions for this season and will not weaken themselves until the summer. So we’ll most likely need to improvise and bring in someone cheap but good enough to compete with Giroud. Who else would you suggest?

Arsenal's Theo Walcott set to return from injury

Theo Walcott could make his first Arsenal appearance for more than two months on Saturday after recovering from an abdominal injury.

Walcott is in the squad to face his former club Southampton on Saturday.
The 24-year-old pulled out of the league match with Stoke on 22 September after aggravating the injury four days earlier against Marseille.
"He has not played even a reserve team game, but I will put him in the squad on Saturday," said boss Arsene Wenger. He's completely fit again."
Wenger initially deployed Serge Gnabry in Walcott's role, but has since had his midfield options strengthened by the return of Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere.
"Theo has different qualities to other players and I am very pleased that he's back," Wenger added on Arsenal's official website. 
"Strikers who get behind the defenders is a very important quality and Theo has that quality."
Arsenal were level on points with Tottenham at the top of the Premier League before Walcott's injury prior to the Stoke game. They now have a two-point advantage over Liverpool in second.

Injuries Update

Tomas Rosicky

Last Updated: November 21

Speaking ahead of the Southampton game on November 21, Arsene Wenger said: "Tomas was ill, he had one or two [normal] training days, he could be in the squad as well on Saturday. We have a final test on Friday."
Last Game - November 06, 2013: Borussia Dortmund 0-1 Arsenal

Theo Walcott

Last Updated: November 21

Speeaking ahead of the Southampton game on November 21, Arsene Wenger said: "Theo will be back for Saturday in the squad. He's completely fit again. He has not played for a long time, of course, he has not played even a reserve team game, but I will put him in the squad on Saturday. Yes [I will use him cautiously]."
Last Game - September 18, 2013: Marseille 1-2 Arsenal

Ryo

Last Updated: November 21

Speaking on November 21, ahead of the Southampton game, Arsene Wenger said: "Ryo has a hamstring problem that he got from the Norwich game, he will be out for Saturday."
Last Game - November 19, 2013: Norwich U21 0-1 Arsenal U21

Lukas Podolski

Last Updated: November 21

Speaking on November 21, ahead of the Southampton game, Arsene Wenger said: "Podolski is not too far away, I would say three weeks. He is doing fitness training on the pitch. He starts to do some ball work too, he still needs two or three weeks before we see him on the pitch for Arsenal. "
Last Game - August 27, 2013: Arsenal 2-0 Fenerbahce

Yaya Sanogo

Last Updated: November 21

Speaking on November 21, ahead of the Southampton game, Arsene Wenger said: "Sanogo will be back in January." 
Last Game - August 27, 2013: Arsenal 2-0 Fenerbahce

Abou Diaby

Last Updated: November 21

Speaking on November 21, ahead of the Southampton game, Arsene Wenger said: "Diaby will be back in March"
Last Game - March 16, 2013: Swansea 0-2 Arsenal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Last Updated: November 21

Speaking on November 21, ahead of the Southampton game, Arsene Wenger said: "Chamberlain is at least one month away." 
Last Game - August 17, 2013: Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa

Arsenal to battle Chelsea for West Brom striker in January?

 

 

It has been reported today that Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea will both move for the West Brom starlet Saido Berahino when the transfer window re-opens in January, with Ligue 1 money bags Monaco also keeping a close eye on the situation. The midfielder has reportedly stalled on contract talks at the Hawthorns and is understood to be waiting for offers from bigger clubs.
According to The Metro, the Burundian-born youngster only has 18 months left to run on his £850-per-week contract at West Brom and while the Baggies are desperate to convince him to commit to the club for the long term with a lucrative offer, it is said that the player will snub any new contract at the club in favour of a move to Arsenal or Chelsea.
The 20-year-old, who scored the winner in the Baggies’ famous victory at Old Trafford, has been quite a revelation for the Midlands side this season, having scored 6 goals in 9 appearances for the club so far. The young Englishman is said to be hopeful of making Roy Hodgson’s side for the World Cup in the summer and feels that a move to a big club will boost his chances of taking to the pitch in Brazil.
Speaking from an Arsenal point of view, I am nit sure he is of the quality we are looking for. The report in itself, I believe, is an exaggeration by the media after his flying start to the season. However, as exaggerated as it may be, I wouldn’t doubt the overall credibility of the story as Berahino has been widely tipped for success and his contract situation indicates that he will be available on the cheap. The Gunners could certainly do with a bit more firepower up front.
While talks of a January bid are a little premature at the moment, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Wenger already has the England U-21 international penned down as a potential target in the future, he has the attributes that the Arsenal manager likes to see in a player and he would offer something different to our big front man Giroud. However, as for now, I believe Marco Reus and Pedro Rodriguez are the players we should be looking at.

Is Team bonding the reason for Arsenal success?

 
Something has changed for Arsenal, that is for sure. Since the Gunners endure a torrid few games which saw us bomb out of the Champions League and both domestic cups last season, there has been a dramatic turnaround in form. That includes an unbelievable run of away games starting with a win at Bayern Munich and finish with a win at their Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.
It is not just the results either, Arsenal have looked more together as a unit, highlighted by the team’s resilience and determination to bounce back from a poor result or a poor 45 minutes. We know that Arsene Wenger has been trying to build a team with the blend of young players and experience, and Arsenal now have a great core group who are signed up to long term deals with the Club.
Jack Wilshere is clearly one of the main parts of this core, especially as he is a fan as well as having been with the Gunners since he was knee high to a grasshopper. The 21-year old has revealed to Arsenal.com one of the possible reasons for the new look Arsenal, and it is the fact that the players have started to socialise and get together more in their spare time, fostering the togetherness we have seen on the pitch.
Wilshere said, “It [team spirit] is massive. We’ve been out a few times. We didn’t do it for a couple of years, but over the last six months we go out for team dinners and we meet up outside of football, which is good for the team.
“Sometimes you just want to get away from football, you want to sit down and talk about life, your family and things like that. We’ve been doing that this season and it’s really showing on the pitch.
“We’ve done really well this season and towards the end of last season. I think the team spirit plays a massive part in that.”
It may also be a reason why Arsene Wenger is reluctant to sign a raft of players like Tottenham did. The Frenchman suggested at the time that it would be very hard to integrate so many new faces, while Mesut Ozil settled in like he had been here for years. Of course, having a small, close-knit squad can have it’s drawbacks, especially when you have as many injuries as Arsenal have this summer, but it also has advantages, and when those players are fit, they will hopefully slot back in seamlessly.
So, Gooners, will Arsenal be better than ever after the break?

Is this AC Milan right back coming to Arsenal soon?

 

 

Reports in the English media have emerged claiming that the Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is plotting a move for the versatile AC Milan defender Mattia De Sciglio in an effort to add more defensive depth to the Gunners’ squad. The Italian international, who primarily plays as a right-back, is said to have been lined up by the Arsenal boss as a replacement for Bacary Sagna who has so far stalled on contract talks.
While Arsenal already have Carl Jenkinson available to take over the mantle of being the North London side’s first-choice right-back, it is understood that Wenger, like many of the Arsenal fans, is yet to be convinced by his performances so far and has penned down the young Italian full-back as a replacement for Sagna should the Frenchman decide to leave, according to Sports Direct News.
The 21-year-old is an extremely quick and athletic player who is good defensively while also being lethal on the attack. Much like Arsenal’s current full-backs, he enjoys bombing forward at every opportunity and is also well renowned for his crossing ability. In addition, he is also very technically sound for a defender. However, it is his versatility that makes him one of the brightest prospects in Italian football. He is equally adept at playing left-back and can even play as a winger on either flank, making him an ideal option for a side that’s struggling with squad depth.
Amidst reports of Arsenal’s interest in Manchester City’s Micah Richards and Monaco’s on-loan defender Fabinho, I’d have to say that the Italian international is a far better choice for the Gunners at the moment. At 21 years of age, De Sciglio is just about ready to take the next step in his career and I believe the highly-rated youngster can surely make the cut in the Premier League.
De Sciglio is reportedly unhappy over being extensively used as a utility player by the Rossoneri and could jump at the opportunity to move to England. While tying down Bacary Sagna to a new contract should remain the first priority for the Arsenal board, I really hope the young Italian international will be brought in if the club fail in extending the contract of the Frenchman.

Arsenal's Wenger refuses to EVER work with a director of football on transfers

 

Arsene Wenger insists he will never work with a director of football.
But Arsenal manager Wenger has admitted the transfer ­window is “a problem” for him.
The Gunners’ north London rivals Tottenham, who visit the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, appointed Franco Baldini as technical director over the summer and put the Italian in charge of transfers.
The results have been spectacular, as Spurs have broken their transfer record and signed a host of new stars to make up for the loss of Gareth Bale.
Arsenal have failed with bids for Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney, and have only landed free transfers Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini ahead of an anticipated deadline-day trolley dash.
Dick Law is meant to be Wenger’s transfer fixer, but
his role is coming under scrutiny from inside and outside Arsenal.
It is often argued Wenger misses the influence of former vice-chairman David Dein, but the Frenchman will not accept any extra help.
“I would not work with a ­director of football because they buy the players and when it does not work you are guilty for not using them well,” said Wenger.
“I am not against having ­people to help me buy, sell and negotiate because I cannot do it all. But I think the final ­decision always has to belong to the manager to decide who comes in and who goes out because he is ­responsible for the style of play and ­results.”
Speaking to ­newspaper ­journalists, Wenger added: “It is like you write an article and someone says I will change that and that, and that.
“You should not accept that. Stand up for what you write!
“I stand up for the results of a team I have chosen. The ­manager should be responsible for the players who come in.”
But when Wenger was asked whether the workload of trying to prepare his team and deal with transfers was too much, the 63-year-old conceded it can be difficult.
“I cannot deny the transfer window is a problem for me because it conflicts with a ­period where the competition has started already and I need big focus on the competition.
“It’s not as easy any more because the market has become more open and international. There are more contenders, but not more players. I always want to be in a position where I do not have to buy.
“That is why I have people around me to help, but the final decision has to be down to the manager.”
As Wenger attempts to convince players to join him at Arsenal, his own future is not yet certain.
Wenger’s contract expires at the end of this season and
initial talks have been placed on the back-burner.
“I don’t look too far ahead, I never have,” said Wenger. “This job teaches you a lot about yourself and I know one thing, everywhere I have worked has been to the last day with full commitment.
“That commitment will not change. Do I go or stay? I think I have shown my commitment to this club because I said no to many, many, many, many clubs while I have been here.
“I don’t need to show my loyalty.