Gooner Talk

Robin van Persie is a doubt for Arsenal’s Champions League second leg clash with Barcelona after sustaining a knee injury in the Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham.

The Dutchman’s problem, according to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, “doesn’t look good” and means he will certainly sit out Wednesday’s FA Cup replay against Leyton Orient.

An update on van Persie’s injury is expected in the coming days.

Obafemi Martins’ 89th-minute winner following a defensive mix-up from Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny gave Birmingham a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final on Sunday for its first trophy since 1963.

The Nigerian came off the bench with seven minutes of normal time remaining, and in the 89th minute capitalised on a calamitous mix-up in the Arsenal penalty area to tap in the goal which lands the Blues only their second ever major trophy.

Nikola Zigic had headed the Blues in front near the half-hour mark to send fans of the underdogs into raptures, only for Robin van Persie to equalise with a stunning volley 10 minutes later.

Szczesny
Sagna – Djourou – Koscielny – Clichy
Wilshere – Song – Rosicky
Nasri – van Persie – Arshavin

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Former Arsenal frontman Jérémie Aliadière has been granted permission to use the club’s training facilities as the free agent continues his search for a new club.

Aliadière, 27, was linked with moves to Newcastle and Blackpool following his release by Middlesbrough last summer, but neither transfer managed to materialise.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was approached by Aliadière’s agent Thomas Brookes last week in a bid to train at the Gunners’ Colney-based centre. Wenger, who has previously let David Beckham and Thierry Henry train with the club for the same reason, told Brookes that Aliadière would be welcome to train with his former side.

Injury-prone Aliadiere made 29 appearances for Arsenal during his time in North London, scoring one Premier League goal.

For those of you thought that fantasy football was something that you entered at the start of the season and then go bored of by Christmas – think again. Picklive is the most intense and exciting fantasy football game on web, and takes place in real-time during televised matches

To get started simply visit goonertalk.picklive.com during Sunday’s game and sign-up for a free trial. By picking the three players who you think will contribute the most to the action within a five minute period.

Maybe you are enough of a footballing aficionado to strike out on your own, but if not then here is some friendly insiders advice from Pickive:

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Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner would ‘benefit from leaving Arsenal’ due to the amount of players ahead of him in his position, according to former Gunners forward Alan Smith.

The 23-year-old joined the Arsenal youth academy from Copenhagen in the summer of 2004. Bendtner then made his first team debut in November 2005, but has failed to secure regular first team football ever since.

“He [Bendtner] is in a difficult situation. If Robin van Persie avoids injuries, he has difficulty getting into the team. There is also Chamakh. So I can imagine that he will change clubs [in the summer]. He’s been in and out of the Arsenal line-up, so maybe it would benefit Nicklas if he found a new club,” Smith told Ekstra Bladet.

“It’s probably best for his career. He is certainly good enough for the Premier League. Maybe not a top four club, but the just below. I don’t think he’ll be short of any offers.”

The Daily Mail reports that if Bendtner does leave in the summer, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is considering making a move for striker Kevin Gameiro, who has fifteen goals in 22 games for Lorient this season. It would be the second time that Wenger has done business with the French club in recent times, having taken Laurent Koscielny last year.

Bendtner will be included in Sunday’s squad against Birmingham for the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

Sebastien Squillaci’s eighth minute header gave Arsenal all three points against Stoke, but the win came at a cost after injuries to Theo Walcott and skipper Cesc Fabregas.

French defender Squillaci scored from close range following a dominant opening spell of play by the Gunners. However, they dropped off and allowed Stoke to come back into the contest in the second half.

But Arsene Wenger’s men held on for the win to move within a point of the Premier League leaders Manchester United, while Stoke remain in mid-table on 33 points – six clear of the relegation zone.

Szczesny
Sagna – Djourou – Squillaci – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Wilshere
Walcott – Bendtner – Nasri

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Stoke boss Tony Pulis and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger have decided against holding their usual pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash against Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have endured a torrid relationship with Pulis’ team since their promotion to the top flight of English football and have gone down to two defeats to the Potters since 2008.

Daily Mirror journalist John Cross revealed the strange news this morning, admitting that it’s both “mystifying and disappointing” as to why neither manager wanted to take part in the conferences.

Wenger welcomes back Theo Walcott for tomorrow’s game, who has been passed fit despite a hamstring scare against Leyton Orient at the weekend.