Two returning defenders for boosted Gunners
Arsene Wenger will have Johan Djourou available again while Thomas Vermaelen could be fit-again either for the visit to Swansea City or days after.
The Swiss defender was suspended after a sending off for two yellow cards in the defeat at Fulham while his Belgian colleague has been missing since limping off in the 1-0 victory over QPR.
Their absences have seen youngsters Francis Coquelin and Ignasi Miquel being deployed in a make-shift defence and with the French youngster now also sideline for three weeks after tearing his hamstring against Leeds United, Arsene Wenger will be relieved have Johan Djourou back.
With Djourou’s one-match ban now served, the 24-year-old is set to return at right-back in the tricky trip to Swansea City while Wenger confirmed that Vermaelen’s may recover from his calf injury in time for crunch fixtures against Swansea and Manchester United.
“I believe that he (Vermalen) is the first to be back after Swansea.” the Arsenal boss said
To add to the boosting news, Bacary Sagna is also eying a return against Manchester United in next week Sunday’s showdown at Emirates Stadium.
“We think the end of January is a reasonable target for him.” Wenger said
Other defenders Andre Santos, Kierran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson remain sidelined.
Asked after the Monday’s FA Cup tie on whether he will sign a new defender, Arsene Wenger denied having any deal in place.
“I hope I can get Djourou back for Sunday and if we find a solution we will take it. No, at the moment we are not close to a deal.”
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The only solution is there is if Arsene dies, the way he thinks sucks. Competition is about winning..
Are you kidding me? See, this is immature section of Gooners that I was talking about under the Nasri article.
From booing our own player (Eboue) one time, to going overboard with the abuse for Nasri and now wishing Arsene Wenger of all people was dead?
What you are saying is like when you are young your parents don’t let you play Play Sation all the them for your own good, but you will get mad at your parents and only when you get old and have your own children do you realize.
another arsene w@nker fan, not an arsenal fan…i guess you will stop supporting Arsenal when that french muppet leaves
@big guns ; you retard or should i call you a spud?
big guns
a lot of people would prefer that you were dead as you have done nothing for Arsenal FC and Arsene Wengers contribution has been immense.
now run along you stupid PLASTIC morron and support omeone else we dont need people like you at our club. im not going to call u a fan cos u are not one.
That’s goodnews up gunner
haha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh, nasty english people….wow…im from brooklyn n*****
i don’t wish him dead, but managing someone else would be rather nice!!!
I can not believe we are not going to bring in a forward this month. with spurs already of sight we are left fighting with chavs and pool for 4th. when will the penny drop at our beloved club. all so predicable and frustrating
Arsene tells you everything does he? He’s told you he’s not signing anyone has he? Those of us who are real fans and go out of our way to find out what the club is doing know that we have signed Matias Saurez but because Anderlecht wanted to keep him for the rest of the season, he’s looking at other options too. I’m amazed by all the cretins who havent got a clue about football and think its as simple as playing “Football Manager”.
Up gooners, we still have the faith on arsene, keep it up my professor
Big guns, may be u will die 1st b4 arsene wenger. Stupid immature guy.
you not close to a deal cause you are waitin to be thumped by man utd ( i pray it doesn’t happen) again, before you panic buy to cover another shame. This is a period we should be covering all margins of possible errors, so we are not found wanting especially after the market had closed.
We need a creative midfielder (most importantly) – our midfield is solid but too rigid. We need someone that will take some loads off Song (assist master), so that our wingers will be more avaliable in and around the box to help in goal scoring. We need someone cause i look at the reserve and youth and there’s noone except Wilshere(pls dont mention Ramsey for he is a CM)
I believe with Sagna, Vermeleen, Gibbs(approx 10days) returning and Miguel showin he is top quality, we dont need a defender but we need a left fullback (someone who wont mind the bench until arshavin is pushed out and Santos pushed to the LW).
I know many people are clamouring for a new striker but I am not. I’ll give Park a chance to fail on the pitch beside i rate Afobe very highly and with henry around to ground him in, WE DONT NEED ANOTHER STRIKER.
so we need
1. creative midfielder
2. left fullback
Take a look at the table Mr Wenger.
In previous years you had the luxury of comfortably being in the top 4 at his stage.
Not now, now is the time to invest more than ever, this season will be our greatest ever challenge to get in the top 4.
We are fighting more and stronger based squads than ever before.
Go buy the 2 strikers we need.
Buy that centre half we need.
Buy that back up goalkeeper we need.
Either play Oxlade Chamberlain or buy a decent winger, Walcott & Arshavin are not and never will be wingers.
Fail to learn from your lessons this time around will be negligent and unforgivable.
None of this “I’ll only buy better than I’ve got” rubbish…there’s plenty better than you’ve got.
None of the “we’ve been unlucky with injuries” excuses in March when our season crumbles because we haven’t got the quality back up.
For the 5th year running we are the 3rd most valuable club in the world http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes'_list_of_the_most_valuable_football_clubs#2011_rankings
yet we trail behind Tottenham, Sunderland & Villa every year in the spending stakes, our debt is tiny compared with other clubs.
Get rid of the cancer that’s Arshavin.
Tell Walcott he can only have a small wage increase and if he stalls on it sell him.
Tell Chamack & Almunia that can go on a free, to have dross players like these around the training ground is counterproductive.
Take a look at the table Mr Wenger, don’t let us down.
It’s sad because fans who keep saying we have faith in wenger are also to blame for arsenal’s mess.figures were released and they put arsenal at the bottom of the spending table of the epl in the last 5 years.still wondering why we havent won a trophy?its either wenger leaves or he changes his stance.yes arsenal have a good self-sustaining model but at what cost? not a single trophy in how many years.before you know it will be ten years and we would have won nothin.and yet arsenal fans pay the highest for tickets in England.who is fooling who?wenger and the board are taking advantage of the fan’s love for the club.
Is it all that simple? Spend spend spend = Success success success.
Wfat happened to the Vertoghen rumours? Gives us cover at CB and LB as well. Can also spell Song at DM. Seen him play and was extremely impressed. Clicks all the right boxes for us and is already familiar with TV5 from thier time at Ajax. Wouldn’t mind seeing a forward coming in. Zamora? but I also agree that we need a creative CM which I am hoping Jack will provide over time.
We need a left back
I’ll be happy if he signs no one and our season collapse so he be kicked out.he has stayed too long.He practically cost us the fulham match by making meaningless subs.
It has been said that AW requested the release of Transfer Fund money from the Board. They said he must sell players to be granted funds. As AW loves Arsenal so much he knows how important it is to make fourth: that without cover for RvP, he musy know that if he threatened to resign, the money would be granted. To contemplate not having a backup/replacement for RvP, jepoardises the season and might prompt a flood of `Naseries` .f this really might be the situation, yet he failed to act, would it be regarded generally, as dishonest or dishonourable? or perhaps too money orientated?
one question for ‘fans’ like you…DO YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT ARSENAL???go support spuds or chelsea because they spend!!retard!
U re a fool vicky
@BigGuns. If Arsene was to be your relative can you wish death on him . Come on mate grow up
@fellow gooners. I’ll like you to follow me on twitter @fabulousgunner be sure of my ff back . Come on all you gooners lets catch fun, chat and know eachother better. I’m proud to be in the gooners family
Wenger should sign scott dan
Please tell Arsene wenger to sigh at least two defender this january transfer window I have the feeling that we will win the league with the help of God and consistency in Arsene we trust. Obawunmi from Nigeria.
The team is poor at the moment with the injury worries.Wenger must not gamble defeat n disappointments is insight with this squad
harm-string?!
LMAO Well it is a harm stringing our squad…injuries, that is 😀
These guys coming back will be like new signings. If we bring in new players it could kill Diabys career. I don’t know what the score will be tomorrow but we will have a good spirit.
O. B. is correct – AW is consistant, in for instance, not giving contracts to 30 year old great players{ kidding} in not replacing fading players with men of at least similar calibre; of not , noticing that we lost the league to set- piece goals, to which we had no answer; in lifting `excusing one`s own inadequacies ` to a new level; in condoning the actions of the board, without protesting; or of presiding over the destruction of the third or fourth richest club in the world by his own shortcomings. Worst perhaps, is his failure to care for the interests of fans and shareholders. This `consitancy` pays well, of course.
If rudiaah`s attack was aimed at me, I must gently explain, I have been a season ticket holder, almost certainly, since before you were born and an Arsenal nut, before AW was born. So, my answer is yes, I do have to support Arsenal – and despite, what I perceive to be mis-management, my support will continue. If you didn`t instruct me, to make love elsewhere, in the nicest way, of course – I apologise and asolutely deny the foregoing.