Gooner Talk

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AC Milan new-boy Philippe Senderos has labelled his move to the Italian giants as a ‘dream come true’, after penning a twelve-month loan deal with Carlo Anceletti’s side.

The 23-year-old stopper was a surprise swoop for the Rossoneri as they looked to strengthen their back line for a Scudetto push.

After the arrival of Mikael Silvestre at the Emirates Stadium, Arsene Wenger decided to allow Senderos to spend the campaign at San Siro and he couldn’t be happier.

“I am really happy to play in a team like Milan,” Senderos told the club’s official website. “For me, this is a dream come true. Everything has happened really fast, in a week. Everything here is incredible. The people are very easy going and they have made me feel like I’m at home.

“In the past I have achieved some success. To have become European Champion with the Under-17 national team and of course, at the age of 18 to have arrived to a big club as Arsenal. In London I have learned a lot. It has been a life school and (manager Arsene) Wenger has helped me.

“Today I can say I have reached a superior level by coming to this club. I want to give 100 per cent and improve every day. This team wants to return to the Champions League and I will do everything I can to help.”

Senderos will have to wait for his Milan debut as he is currently suffering from a back injury.

Gooner Talk would like to wish Big Phil a successful spell with AC Milan, and hope to see him impressing for the Italian stars in the near future.

Arsenal bounced back from last weekends Premier League defeat to Fulham with a superb win over Steve McClaren’s FC Twente.

Nicklas Bendtner started ahead of below-par Emmanuel Adebayor while Kolo Toure was dropped to the bench mainly thanks to Johan Djourou’s previous performances in the side.

Arsenal Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Djourou – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Denilson – Nasri
Bendtner – van Persie

FC Twente Starting XI

Mihaylov
Wielaert – Tiote –  Douglas – Braafheid
Denneboom – Heubach – Brama – Janssen
Elia - Huysegems

Read the rest of this entry »

Arsenal looked a shadow of their usual selves against Fulham at the weekend and Arsene Wenger and skipper William Gallas have both demanded urged for a ‘top-class’ response as The Gunners seek to hold onto a 2-0 advantage over FC Twente and reach the group stages of the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger promised a new signing before the second leg against Twente but few Arsenal fans would have expected Mikael Silvestre to be that man. Certainly, with Philippe Senderos joining Milan and the Frenchman injured at present, last week’s events actually deplete Wenger’s options.

The Gunners will look to build on the two goals from Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor which gave them a 2-0 lead over Steve McClaren’s Twente side in Arnhem.

Arsenal Team News

Midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas should be back from a hamstring injury for the second leg Champions League qualifier against Steve McClaren’s FC Twente.

New signing Mikael Silvestre will not feature because of a thigh muscle strain, while Philippe Senderos has completed his move to AC Milan on loan.

Abou Diaby (thigh), Amaury Bischoff (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg) remain in recovery.

Predicted Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Song – Nasri
Adebayor – Van Persie

Match Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 FC Twente

Leave your views and predictions of tonights game in the comments section below.

Arsenal skipper William Gallas has urged his young team-mates to bounce back from Saturday’s shock Premier League defeat to Fulham, by cruising through to the Champions League group stages with a win in tonights penultimate qualifier against FC Twente.

The 31-year-old captained a below-par Gunners’ side at Craven Cottage and believes tonights game gives Arsene Wenger’s men a chance to redeem themselves.

Goals from Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor secured victory in Arnhem just two weeks ago but the Frenchman still feels that Steve McClaren’s team pose a massive threat.

“It’s an absolutely must-win-game, we have to bounce back to victory before welcoming Newcastle because our group is getting better and better as soon as we win,” Gallas told his personal website.

“As a consequence we are going to play this game to win, despite the difficulties we faced against this team in the first leg.”

Gooner Talk will preview tonights game later this afternoon with a match report coming immediately after full time.

In other news, Lukasz Fabianski is going to be Poland’s Number One for the World Cup Qualifiers next month against Slovenia and San Marino, after Celtic’s Artur Boruc received an indefinite ban from the team.

Boruc and two of his team-mates, Dudka and Majewski, broke a curfew after Poland’s friendly in the Ukraine, which ended in a wild party and severe damage to a hotel room.

Boruc, Dudka and Majewski issued a grovelling apology on the Poland FA website but it didn’t save them from the axe.

Fabianski has only played around eight games for Arsenal in the last year, but with Lehmann leaving for Stuttgart he is now the firm second choice behind Almunia. He has also made seven previous appearances for Poland.

Arsenal Reserves will play Championship side Norwich City at Carrow Road in November after the Canaries withdrew from the Football Combinations League East.

Neil Banfield’s side have agreed to bring along a side on Tuesday, November 18, with the game taking place at 7.30pm.

“Other opponents are being sought for fixtures in the next few months as the Club remains committed to competitive reserve team football after it’s withdrawal from the Football Combination League East.” said a statement on City’s official website.

You can keep up to date with all the latest Reserve & Youth news over at our good friends Young Guns.

Arsenal midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas is set to return from a hamstring injury as the Gunners’ play the return leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier against FC Twente at Emirates Stadium tomorrow evening.

Switzerland international Phillipe Senderos won’t play though. The 23-year-old was today undergoing a medical with Serie A giants AC Milan.

New signing recruited from Manchester United, Mikael Silvestre, will not play due to a thigh muscle strain which will keep him out the side until mid-September.

Abou Diaby (thigh), Amaury Bischoff (groin), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and striker Eduardo (leg) remain in recovery.

Predicted Starting XI

Almunia
Sagna – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Denilson – Nasri
Adebayor – Van Persie

The match kick’s off at 8.05pm tomorrow evening and is live on BBC3 and you can catch all the game build-up here on Gooner Talk with a match preview later this evening and a match report immediately after full-time tomorrow night.

After a meeting yesterday evening with Udinese boss Pasquale Marino, reported Arsenal target Gokhan Inler will be staying at the Stadio Friuli despite recent quotes from his agent suggesting the 25-year-old’s future may lie elsewhere.

Gooner Talk told you several days ago that the Switzerland international was on the verge of a move to north London but according to Swiss sports daily Blick, the hardman midfield star will sign a new contract extension which will keep him at Zebrette until 2013.

“We have decided that Gögi (Inler) remains in Udinese,” says Dino Lamberti, Inler’s agent, after a meeting last night in Barcelona.

“Any player would want to play for Arsenal of course, but for Inler this may be perhaps a little early. Maybe a season too early.”

Inler’s contract will see him earning a rumoured £10million over four years – a fantastic reward for an up and coming Swiss youngster.

What does this mean for Arsenal though? Will Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso be Arsene Wenger’s main target? Or will their be late step-up for Villa midfielder Gareth Barry?

One thing is for sure, despite the quotes hinting at potential moves away as well as the continued paper speculation – Gokhan Inler is staying in Italy, at least for another season.