Gooner Talk

Freddie Barker is a talented English-born frontman who was plucked from relative obscurity by Greek champions Olympiacos in January.

Regarded as one of Olympiacos’ most promising young players, the 19-year-old has already played against the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk on youth level

Barker caught up with Gooner Talk to discuss Olympiacos’ recent NextGen games with Arsenal, his hopes for the future and much, much more.

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Wojciech Szczesny has admitted that he has sought the help of a sports psychologist after undergoing personal problems in the past year.

In an in-depth interview with a Polish newspaper, the 22-year-old says he now knows how to keep his private matters ‘off the pitch’ when playing for Arsenal.

With thanks to Matt from Gunners.com.pl, we can bring you the most interesting parts of the interview directly below.

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Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabiański believes he can overthrow his compatriot Wojciech Szczesny as the club’s no 1 shot stopper, but admits he will consider leaving the club in January if his situation doesn’t change.

Fabiański, 26, returned in the goal for the Gunners during the recent 3-1 Carling Cup win over Shrewsbury Town in what was his first appearance since January, when shoulder problems ruled him out for the remainder of last season.

The Polish international is still hurting after his aforementioned injury troubles, although remains adamant that he can win back his starting spot from highly-rated Szczesny in the coming months.

“That injury brought me back to the beginning. It hurts, because I was number 1 and I lost that place not through poor form but through injury, which didn’t let me play for 9 months. I have to fight from the beginning now and I think I can win it. Wojciech [Szczesny] wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for that incident in January. I can’t complain though, that’s football.”

However, Fabiański believes his Euro 2012 amibtions are being blighted by the lack of regular football, revealing he is prepared to look elsewhere in January if opportunities fail to arise soon.

“I know that if my situation doesn’t change by January, I will be thinking about it [leaving Arsenal]. I’d have to, because I want to go to the Euros. That’s the only way I can convince the national team coach – by playing well and regularly.

“I don’t want to think about this now, because we have couple of months until the transfer window. Until then all I can do is work hard in training and take the chances I get.”

Meanwhile, the former Legia Warsaw man doesn’t believe Arsenal should be worried about their future despite a poor start to the season, insisting that the north London giants will get their campaign back on track in the coming weeks.

“I think those kind of jokes are a bit overboard [Arsenal playing for survival]. We are going through a difficult spell, because a lot of key players have left. Of course it has an impact on our game. But I hope that with every week passed the team will be looking better and will be back on the right track”.

Translations via Bartosz Ciurski

Tim Payton grew up in Islington and went to Highbury Grove School, and has been going to watch Arsenal matches since he was 10 years old. He has been a season ticket holder since he was 12, starting life on the North Bank.

The avid Gooner has been on the Board of the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) for a few years, whose aim is to give Arsenal supporters a say in the ownership of the club, and give Arsenal fans influence on how the club is run as well as a better understanding of its financial policies.

Last year the AST launched Arsenal Fanshare, a scheme to allow supporters to buy ‘part-shares’ in Arsenal and share in the benefits of ownership.

In an exclusive interview with Gooner Talk, Tim reveals what Arsenal’s transfer strategy is for this summer, why the return of David Dein has been proposed and how increasing ticket prices are squeezing the ‘ordinary’ fans out of watching their beloved team.

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Arsenal play Catalan giants Barcelona on Wednesday night in what can only be described as one of the biggest games of the season. Barca, who could only manage a 1-1 draw against Sporting Gijon at the weekend, will be confident after dominating the two legs during last year’s Champions League clashes.

However, Arsene Wenger’s side were missing key players in those games with the likes of Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin and Alex Song playing minimal if no part in either game. Injuries forced Wenger to play Mikael Silvestre in defence at the Nou Camp where he faced the unstoppable Lionel Messi, but admittedly things could have been different.

Nicklas Bendtner and Jack Wilshere have both said that Arsenal have what it takes to beat Pep Guardiola’s men, while the world’s football pundits make Barcelona favourites to win over both legs.

Gooner Talk caught up with ‘Shekhu’ from one of the biggest Barca-related websites on the Internet, totalBarca, to discuss Wednesday’s match and much, much more. Check it out below.

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Gooner Talk have managed to catch up with Andrei Arshavin’s representitive, Dennis Lachter.

The 27-year-old Russian hotshot has been linked with Arsenal for several months now with Ivan Gazidis looking to broker a potential £14 million pound deal.

Arsenal officials, led by Gazidis, had been invited to Zenit St. Petersburg to discuss the possibility of  Arshavin signing for the north London giants. Zenit turned down a £10 million bid, plus a possible £5 million at a later date according to president Alexei Petrov.

“Zenit have invited Arsenal officials to come to St Petersburg next Tuesday.

“Zenit does want to find an acceptable option for everyone.” said Petrov

Just days after refusing to give out any interviews to the International media, I posed a simple, but effective question to Israeli-born agent Lachter.

Will Arshavin – in your eyes – be an Arsenal player by the end of the current transfer window?

“I do believe that Andrey will be an Arsenal player.” he replied.

Lachter was present at the Emirates Stadium for the Gunners’ Champions League clash with Dynamo Kyiv in November. He praised the Arsenal atmosphere – labelling it ‘terrific’, but refused to answer any more questions on his client.

Stay tuned to Gooner Talk for the latest news and rumours concerning Arsenal football club.

Gooner Talk have managed to get our hands on an exclusive interview with Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel.

19-year-old Witsel has attracted attention from a host of top European clubs, including the Gunners and Real Madrid.

In the interview with Belgian newspaper Sud Presse Sport, Witsel spoke about:

• His passion for Arsene Wenger’s side and why he supports them.

 

• Rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal.

 

• His views on the William Gallas ‘saga’ and the recent Portsmouth game.

 

• And why he would never sign for Tottenham!

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