Gooner Talk

Steve Bould’s promotion to assistant manager has already made a massive impact at Arsenal, according to several first team stars.

Bould was been promoted from youth team head coach to Wenger’s number two following Pat Rice’s retirement at the end of last season.

The 49-year-old was put in charge of the Gunners youth team in 2001, leading them to the 2009 Youth Cup and consecutive FA Academy Premier League titles.

His ‘no-nonsense’ coaching style has drawn plaudits from supporters and players alike, with goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny revealing that he is exactly the kind of character Arsenal need ahead of an exciting Premier League campaign.

Wojciech Szczesny on Bould:

“Steve likes to shout at players and keep them on their toes which some of us need.

“Pat [Rice] was like our father and he didn’t want to scream at us. Steve is a little bit different.”

Kyle Bartley on Bould:

“As a central defender, it’s absolutely fantastic to have someone like Steve Bould around.”

“Already, in training, you can see the influence he’s going to have.

“He’s going to have a massive input into the defensive unit. He could be as big a signing as any player could be, having Steve in the first team squad.”

Arsene Wenger on Bould:

“He has adapted very quickly and very well to the job.

“His personality is good and he is accepted by the players”.

Arsene Wenger has given his biggest hint yet that Robin van Persie will leave Arsenal, admitting that summer signing Lukas Podolski is likely to play a central role upfront this season.

Podolski, 26, was signed by the Gunners before Euro 2012 for £11.7million, bringing with him a wealth of experience and drawing plaudits from van Persie himself who declared his admiration for an ‘amazing player’.

The German international’s squad number is ‘yet to be confirmed’ by the club, adding to rumours that van Persie’s departure would leave the door open for the former Bayern Munich forward to take the Dutchman’s coveted no.10 shirt.

“I think Podolski will play more central for us”, Wenger told Tsinghua University students in China on Thursday.

“Giroud [Arsenal's other frontman summer signing] is a different target man who would be more the player in a 4-4-2, he knocks the ball down, protects the ball well, makes play for his partners, and is a very intelligent player who has great physique, as well as being very strong in the air.”

Wantaway striker van Persie has already trained with new-boys Podolski and Giroud at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground, following the club’s decision to leave the 28-year-old out of their pre-season tour of Asia.

Arsenal play Manchester City in Beijing later today as part of their pre-season preparations and will be hoping to get one over the reigning Barclays Premier League champions in true partycasino.com style.

Arsenal are hoping to avoid another ‘Robin van Persie’ contract situation by tying Alex Song down to a new long-term deal at the club.

The Cameroon international’s existing deal is worth around £55,000 a week and expires in the summer of 2014, although Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has refused to set a deadline on Song’s future – meaning talks could drag on into the new year.

But Arsenal are determined to keep hold of Song and have now opened early negotiations with the deep lying playmaker. Song, 24, has been offered a pay rise and a new contract until 2017.

“We know our fans want a trophy and we are very close to winning something. My message to our fans is: Believe in us. This team will get better”, Song stated in the summer of 2010.

“I am at the right club. Forget Barcelona, Arsenal is the best club. Arsenal have given me everything and I love this place. If I had to leave I would break down and cry. It’s still my dream to win the league here.”

Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna all see their contracts expire in 2014 along with Song, with Arsenal confident that the latter will put pen to paper on a new deal at Emirates Stadium.

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The comments from Robin van Persie recently about his reasons for declining to renew his contract with Arsenal will have many consequences.

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