Gooner Talk

Tomas Rosicky is expected to be offered a one-year contract extension by Arsenal, after his agent flew in for talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger yesterday evening.

The Czech Republic skipper has started just five Premier League games this season, which has sparked speculation over his future at Emirates Stadium.

Rosicky’s representative, Pavel Paska, arrived in London last night following reported interest from Fulham, although that was quickly dismissed as ‘press speculation’ by the Czech’s agent.

French tactician Wenger has been mulling over Rosicky’s future in recent weeks and its no surprise that contract talks have begun, with Wenger a massive admirer of the former Borussia Dortmund player’s professionalism and determination to return from long-term injury.

Arsenal’s injuries in midfield (Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin & Mikel Arteta) and several assured cameo appearances from Rosicky look to have earned the 31-year-old an extension expected to be in the region of £50,000-per-week.

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If there’s one footballer with Arsenal DNA, then defender Per Mertesacker certainly has to be up there.

The 28-year-old’s boyhood affection for the Gunners stems from his teenage years, with Mertesacker bringing home an Arsenal shirt after visiting his auntie over in England – and he hasn’t looked back since.

German international Mertesacker, who joined the club on transfer deadline day in August, posted up a picture of himself aged 11 (pictured, right) via social networking site Facebook earlier.

“When I was young and visited England with my auntie, as somebody who was football crazy, I simply had to come back with a shirt”, Mertesacker revealed after signing for the club.

“I can’t remember why, but I came back with an Arsenal shirt and my brother had a Manchester United one. This affinity has grown over more than 10 years and now the loop closes because I am delighted to finally get to play at a team I always supported and where I always wanted to appear eventually.”

However, Mertesacker isn’t the only Arsenal player who has been pictured wearing a red and white shirt in their younger years, with current captain Robin van Persie showing his support for the club in an photoshoot as a schoolboy below.

Arsenal are 2.8 shots with bet365 to beat get their revenge on arch rivals Man United when they lock horns at the Emirates on Sunday.

The Gunners were trounced 8-2 at Old Trafford earlier in the season when they allowed Sir Alex’s side 14 shots on goal – the joint-most they have allowed in a Premier League game in the last five years – and will surely have revenge firmly on their minds.

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Wolves midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong gave Arsenal a helping hand in their quest for a top four place, after Mick McCarthy’s side drew 1-1 with Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

The 20-year-old defensive midfielder, on a season-long loan at Wolves, produced a typically combative performance against Arsenal’s north London rivals before being taken off on 67 minutes due to being booked earlier in the first half.

Frimpong’s presence certainly wound up the Tottenham faithful who booed him for large parts of the match, although the Ghanaian took it in good humour by sarcastically blowing kisses to them when he was substituted.

Tottenham’s next six Premier League games could prove to be decisive in their apparent title challenge, with Manchester City, Wigan, Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester United all coming up against them in the next few weeks.

Other Loanee news: Nicklas Bendtner had another accomplished game for Sunderland, but couldn’t salvage a point for Martin O’Neill’s men against Chelsea. The Danish striker missed a late chance to equalise which overshadowed what otherwise was a very good performance.

Winning at Swansea has proved a bridge too far for most teams this season, but Arsenal are 1.8 shots with bet365 to bag all three points on Sunday and get back into the premiership top four.

The Gunners trail fourth-placed Chelsea by one point after losing 2-1 to Fulham in their last league start, but regained some confidence with a 1-0 win over Leeds in the FA Cup thanks to a goal from Thierry Henry.

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There is not much that Kalou cannot do. He scores late goals from headers because he has played alongside a dominating juggernaut beast called Didier Drogba, and defenders do not always mark him the way they ought to when there appears a more obvious threat. All winger-forwards should be able to finish off strikers chances in the air for the the 4-3-3 system to be truly effective. Walcott does not because he is not sure where the ball will end up, and Gervinho does not because he isn’t concentrating and lacks aggression. Those players that run the line, and still finish like a striker are rare. Bale, Ronaldo, Podolski, Alexis Sanchez all can. Interestingly, Kalou can too.

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