Gooner Talk

Abou Diaby has been ruled out for ‘at least three weeks’ after he sustained a thigh muscle strain in the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea earlier this afternoon.

Diaby, 26, was substituted on 17 minutes when he suffered his injury, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on for the injury-prone French international.

Arsenal ultimately went onto lose the game 2-1 after Juan Mata’s deflect free-kick cancelled out Gervinho’s equaliser just before half-time

Meanwhile, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is likely to hand Francis Coquelin a start in the Champions League against Greek champions Olympiakos next week following Diaby’s injury blow.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is likely to field a strong attacking line-up for tonight’s Capital One Cup third round clash against Coventry City, with the likes of Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andrey Arshavin all expected to play.

The Gunners team, captained by Swiss defender Johan Djourou, sees several fringe first team players start alongside youngsters Damien Martinez, Martin Angha, Ignasi Miquel and Nico Yennaris, while French striker Giroud will also be hoping to break his goalscoring duck for the club.

Conor Henderson is inelgible for Mark Robin’s side after joining them on loan from Emirates Stadium last week, while Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong will be on the substitutes bench following his return from injury.

Coventry currently sit third from bottom in League One and haven’t had the best of starts, earning a measly three points in their first eight league matches with a goal difference of -8.

However, they do have danger men in striker David McGoldrick (on loan from Nottingham Forest) and midfielder Carl Baker who could cause a weakened Arsenal defence problems.

Probable Arsenal XI: Martinez (GK), Angha, Djourou (c), Miquel, Santos, Coquelin, Yennaris, Arshavin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Giroud.

Theo Walcott has expressed his desire to stay at Arsenal despite letting contract negotiations with the club run, revealing that he’s showed his commitment by turning down a ‘big money’ summer move.

England star Walcott, 23, has been the subject of media speculation about his future as he and Gunners officials have been unable to agree on an extension to his current deal which ends next year.

Arsenal are keen to avoid another high profile departure following Robin van Persie and Alex Song’s summer exits from the club, while Walcott himself affirms that he’s ‘never’ wanted to go elsewhere.

“I’ve never said I wanted to go. I’ve always said I wanted to be an Arsenal player,” Walcott said at the FA’s “Just Play” event in London.

“I’ve never been influenced by the money, it’s never been about that. I’m not that sort of person at all. It’s always been a football decision for me. If it was about the money, I would’ve gone in the summer.

“Hopefully, something can be sorted…we’re just waiting for the club to come back to us and go from there. Hopefully, I can get back in that team and start playing again.”

Negotiations are expected to be held throughout this week with former Southampton forward Walcott, while several European sides continue to keep tabs on his contract situation at Emirates Stadium.

What are your thoughts on Walcott’s ongoing contract talks with the club? Should the club cut their losses and sell him if he doesn’t sign before 2013? Or would you offer him an £100,000-a-week bumper deal to keep him happy?

Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

A late Laurent Koscielny goal gave Arsenal a thoroughly deserved point against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Read the rest of this entry »

Vito Mannone is a prime example of how hard work, determination and a little bit of luck can completely change your career at Arsenal.

Mannone joined Championship side Hull City after enduring a torrid time in his brief Arsenal appearance last season, making mistakes in the Champions League against Olympiakos that threatened to bring an end to his Gunners’ career.

However, injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and the club’s usual back-up goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski, have meant that manager Arsene Wenger has turned to the Italian.

And Mannone has rewarded Wenger’s faith with a series of fine performances, the latest coming against Montpellier in the Champions League on Tuesday, while also keeping two clean sheets so far this season.

“It went well [against Montpellier] so I am really focused on gaining the No 1 spot and keeping it. The boss had some nice words for me and he talked to me and said I am ready to be No 1″, revealed the 24-year-old.

“So I just need to show him what I’m doing and hopefully I can get that spot and do my best to help this team win some trophies.”

Wenger’s side play Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a Premier League clash which is likely to test Arsenal’s title credentials ahead of a difficult set of October fixtures.

With Szczesny missing out against City, Mannone will be out to prove a point to Wenger and continue his impressive run as Arsenal’s potential new no.1 ‘keeper.