Gooner Talk

The triangles, flicks and six-yard passing look faster and more fluent at Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey is forcing his way into the team because, despite the fact he may infuriate occasionally, the Gunners play better when he is in the team. Alongside the usually nerveless Wilshere and Gibbs, the team looks robust and unintimidated. Ramsey has learned to play at a higher tempo, rushing and smothering in the style of Pedro – maybe the best at pressing in the world – who does it so well at Barcelona.

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Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin will join German side Schalke this summer, according to reports in France.

The 22-year-old has told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his desire to leave the Emirates Stadium due to a lack of first team opportunities.

French U21 international Coquelin, who has previously been on loan at Lorient, was signed by Wenger in 2008 after impressing during a trial.

Wenger remains an admirer of Coquelin’s work-rate and technical ability and would prefer to loan him out for a second time instead of selling him on.

In total, the 08/09 FA Youth Cup winner has made ten appearances for Arsenal this season, most of which have been as a substitute.

Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has aspirations of managing Arsenal in the future, it has emerged.

The somewhat surprising revelation comes less than a day after Mancini’s sacking from last year’s Premier League champions.

Mancini guided City to their first title for 43 years in 2012 but failed to win any major silverware this year following an FA Cup final defeat against Wigan coupled with a winless Champions League campaign.

According to one of Mancini’s advisors, the Italian has ‘career aspirations’ of managing Arsenal before he retires.

Current Gunners boss Arsene Wenger hasn’t won a trophy for almost eight years and it is unknown whether he’ll extend his contract with the club before it expires next summer.

Would you appoint Mancini as Arsenal manager when the Frenchman’s deal runs out in 2014? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Arsenal are close to finalising preparations for the 2013 Emirates Cup tournament.

The prestigious pre-season competition didn’t take place last year due to the schedule clashing with the Olympic Games, but it is set to make a return this summer.

Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan are just a few of the elite names which have previously graced the two-day tournament.

Several European giants have been approached by Gunners’ officials and it is expected that Turkish champions Galatasaray, Serie A side Napoli and Portuguese team FC Porto will all be involved.

Galatasaray have former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue in their ranks, while Napoli boast arguably one of Europe’s best strikers in Edison Cavani.

This year’s Emirates Cup will be staged over the weekend of Saturday 3rd August 2013 and Sunday 4th August 2013.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has refuted reports that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is set to leave the club this summer.

The Frenchman is said to be at the top of Paris Saint-Germain’s managerial wish list to replace Carlo Ancelotti, with French daily Le Parisien claiming that Wenger will meet with PSG’s owners as early as next week.

Wenger is renowned across the football world for honouring his contracts and his current deal at Emirates Stadium doesn’t expire until the summer of next year.

“I think this [PSG report] is complete nonsense – in fact, I know it is complete nonsense”, Hill-Wood told the Daily Star.