Gooner Talk

Arsenal’s medical team have finally introduced a new state-of-the-art GPS tracking system which is expected to ease the club’s injury problems in the long term future.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis announced the idea at a Q & A with Arsenal shareholders in May, with many of them questioning ways to reduce Arsene Wenger’s injury list.

The tracking system made its debut against Barnet yesterday. Samir Nasri (above) was one of the first team players pictured wearing one and Gazidis explains how it works.

“If there are things we can do [to prevent injuries] we will do them,” he said. “For example, we’ve introduced a GPS system this year for the first time. This is tracking literally from satellites in space, the training movements on the training field of every player.

“It gives you a lot of information. It tells you not just how far the players are running and how fast they are running and what levels of intense activity they have in training. It also measures something called ‘the load’ – and this is literally the amount of time a player’s foot is on the ground while he is running.

“You can see if you have a player coming up to a risk of injury in a subsequent game because you can see two things in general: one is that their work-rate comes down in training and secondly their ‘load’ increases. In other words, their foot stays on the ground for longer when they run. When you are feeling good and feeling active you are more on your toes. When you’re not, you’re more on your heels. That can help you to predict when players are in a dangerous situation.”

Leave your thoughts on the GPS tracking system and what you think of it in the comments section below.

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Arsenal striker Eduardo is on the verge of completing a €7.5 million move to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, according to reports in Croatia.

The 27-year-old has never found his form since sustaining a horrific broken leg against Birmingham in February 2008. His 2009/10 campaign was also littered with small injuries, despite that he netted 5 goals and 7 assists.

Last week, Arsenal first team coach Boro Primorac admitted that the Brazilian-born Croatian frontman had a big decision to make on his future.

“I do not know what will happen to Dudu. Preparations are just beginning and I do not know whether he will go or stay. He just has to decide”

‘Dudu’ is arguably the Gunners fourth/fifth choice striker with the likes of van Persie, Bendtner, Chamakh, Walcott and Vela in the squad, so it’s no real surprise as to why he wants to get more playing time. 

It’s expected that he’ll undergo a medical with Shakhtar on Monday before signing a contract worth €2.5 million with the Ukrainians.

Sources: 24Sata, Sportal, Sportskenovosti, Index.

Arsene Wenger has revealed that defenders William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre are expected to find new clubs shortly, while ‘keeper Mark Schwarzer won’t be joining the club anytime soon.

The Arsenal boss spoke on several issues after the 4-0 pre-season triumph over Barnet.

On defensive departures:

“Gallas and Silvestre will sign somewhere else. Campbell is still in no man’s land at the moment.”

On Fabregas:

“We’ve shown our love for Cesc and I’m happy the story has ended. Cesc loves club and has shown attachment many times. I believe the story ends there”

On the Transfer Market and potential new signings:

“We’re still active in the transfer market.” When asked about Mark Schwarzer he said that he’s “not interested”. Signed autographs for fans and told them that Joe Cole is a “maybe”.

Reported Arsenal target Joe Cole is on the verge of completing a free transfer to Liverpool, with bookies across the UK suspending bets on him joining the Reds.

Cole, 28, has been the subject of transfer speculation from a whole host of clubs since the England ace was released by Chelsea at the end of June.

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is said to be looking for Yossi Benayoun’s replacement after the Israeli star joined Carlo Ancelotti’s side last month.

England international Cole is now out to 7/4 (from 6/4) to team up with Tottenham and 9/4 to join Arsenal after support for a move to the Emirates faded last weekend.

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Arsenal strolled to a 4-0 win over fellow North Londoners Barnet in the Gunners’ traditional campaign curtain raiser at Underhill.

Fresh from his summer break, Andrey Arshavin opened the scoring after just 90 seconds before Jay Simpson added a brace to send Arsenal three goals to the good at the break.

Second-half substitute Samir Nasri completed the scoring in the 75th minute as the Gunners enjoyed a comfortable start to their preparations for the new Premier League season.

Arsenal’s Starting XI & Subs

Fabianski
Nordtveit – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Traore
Wilshere – Frimpong – Emmanuel-Thomas
Arshavin – Simpson – Rosicky

Subs: Szczesny, Mannone, Miquel, Djourou, Gibbs, Eastmond, Nasri, Henderson, Lansbury, Barazite, Walcott, Chamakh.

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Arsenal’s new defender Laurent Koscielny makes his pre-season debut against League 2 side Barnet today. The 24-year-old is joined by Havard Nordtveit, who returns from a successful loan spell in Germany.

A mixture of youth and experience is incuded in the starting XI. Armand Traore, Jack Wilshere, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Jay Simpson all want to impress the watching Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Surprisingly, Manuel Almunia has been omitted from the 22-man squad, with rumours suggesting the Spaniard could be leaving this summer as part of Wenger’s search for a new goalkeeper.

The Gunners’ other new signing Marouane Chamakh takes his place on the bench.

Arsenal’s Starting XI & Subs

Fabianski
Nordtveit – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Traore
Wilshere – Frimpong – Emmanuel-Thomas
Arshavin – Simpson – Rosicky

Subs: Szczesny, Mannone, Miquel, Djourou, Gibbs, Eastmond, Nasri, Henderson, Lansbury, Barazite, Walcott, Chamakh.

Manchester United new-boy Chris Smalling conceded a penalty on his debut against Celtic — showing Arsene Wenger exactly why he was never worth the £10 million fee United paid for him.

Smalling, 20, famously chose Alex Ferguson’s side over Arsenal last January, signing a pre-contract with the Red Devils. However, his final campaign with Fulham was littered with poor decision-making and costly errors, just like the one you’ll see below.

The Greenwich-born defender was penalised for a needless foul on Joe Ledley and former Manchester City striker Georgios Samaras scored from the spot.

Meanwhile, Wenger will be quietly pleased with the acquisition of highly-rated Laurent Koscielny for the same price as smalling. The ex-Lorient star will be making his debut against Barnet later today.