Injuries stack up for FA Cup replay at Blackburn

By Richard Clarke

Arsène Wenger has been forced to make numerous changes in his squad for the FA Cup Fifth Round replay at Blackburn on Wednesday night.

The Arsenal manager could be without as many as 10 first-team players and, as a result, may take some of his ‘Carling Cup youngsters’ to Ewood Park.

“There are plenty of changes but it will still be a strong team,” the Frenchman told Arsenal.com on Tuesday.

“We have lots of injuries. We don’t have Adebayor (suspended), Thierry Henry (foot) and Tomas Rosicky (groin). At Cardiff on Sunday we also lost Abou Diaby through an ankle injury and Kolo Toure who was sent off. Fabregas will be rested as well.”

The injuries don’t end there. Justin Hoyte is troubled by a hamstring strain picked up at the Millennium Stadium, Johan Djourou is struggling with an ankle complaint while Mathieu Flamini is doubtful with a foot problem.

Robin van Persie will definitely miss the game of course. His prognosis is still anything between four and eight weeks because of the broken metatarsal he suffered against Manchester United on January 21.

Fortunately Wenger has some experienced players in need of games.

“William Gallas is coming back,” he said, “so are Hleb and Ljungberg. They will be involved. Denilson will be there aswell. Clichy (foot) is in the squad but I am not sure he will play.”

Arsenal TV Online subscribers will be able to see a video interview with Arsène Wenger on Wednesday morning. In it the Frenchman talks about: his reflections on the Carling Cup Final on Sunday, the disciplinary issues that have arisen from the game, his faith in his youngsters, the danger of David Bentley, the emergence of Shabani Nonda and much more.

Wenger ponders right-back options for Eindhoven clash

By Chris Harris

Arsène Wenger will be without his two regular right backs when Arsenal face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Emmanuel Eboue is still sidelined by a persistent ankle problem and Justin Hoyte has also been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Wenger earmarked two potential replacements before his 18-man squad left for Holland on Monday afternoon.

"We have Eboue out and Hoyte is out with a hamstring problem, but he should be back for [the Carling Cup Final on] Sunday," explained Wenger.

"Gallas has responded well to the weekend game [against Blackburn] and he is in the squad. It will be Johan Djourou or Gallas at right back.

"Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby have been left behind with Sunday in mind."

Alexander Hleb (cold) and Djourou (knee) return to the squad after minor ailments ruled them out of the FA Cup tie against Blackburn. Jens Lehmann, Gilberto and Julio Baptista are also back in contention after being rested at the weekend.

The travelling squad is as follows:

1 Jens LEHMANN (GK)
4 Cesc FABREGAS
5 Kolo TOURE
6 Philippe SENDEROS
7 Tomas ROSICKY
8 Fredrik LJUNGBERG
9 Julio BAPTISTA
10 William GALLAS
13 Alexander HLEB
14 Thierry HENRY
15 DENILSON
16 Mathieu FLAMINI
19 GILBERTO
20 Johan DJOUROU
22 Gael CLICHY
24 Manuel ALMUNIA (GK)
25 Emmanuel ADEBAYOR
30 Jeremie ALIADIERE

Randall signs professional terms with Arsenal

Mark Randall has signed professional terms with the Club.

The highly-rated central midfielder made seven appearances for the Reserves last season while still a schoolboy and has continued to make excellent progress this term.

Randall came on during the first-ever game at Emirates Stadium last July - Dennis Bergkamp's Testimonial. He also travelled with the first-team squad to Austria for Arsenal's pre-season training camp and featured in the 3-0 friendly win over AZ Alkmaar.

The 17-year-old has made two substitute appearances in the Carling Cup this season. He came on for the final 17 minutes of the Third-Round victory at West Brom and emerged from the bench 20 minutes from time in the Fourth-Round win at Everton.

Arsène Wenger: 'I'm happy that Kolo scored the goal'

The Wenger's Interview after 4th round Fa Cup
on a game of two halves...
"We didn't have the right sharpness and focus to play at our pace, and we played at their pace and it suited them. From then on I felt because our focus was not maybe sharp enough, our passing was sloppy, we were flat. In the second half, it was a a little bit a repetition of the Man United game. We come out, with good resolutions, and before we can put them into practice we are one-nil down. From then on it was all us, but like when we chase the game like we did it today you are at the mercy of a mistake at the back. They had a chance to score a score another goal when Almunia came out [and saved], but it was all us in the second half and it was a repetition of the Man United second half."

on Arsenal's injury list...
"I will see when we play and with whom we play because at the moment for us it is important not to lose too many players, because first of all you want your good players to be with you and we have important games coming up, and we might have lost again Julio Baptista today. So if we continue to lose players I will have to choose what we go for. We check now, a groin problem, but we hope it's not too bad and he can play on Wednesday."

on a replay at the Reebok...
"I'm not concerned about that. I just said in the FA Cup sometimes, it's better when you play away from home than when you play at home."

on Arsenal's equaliser...
"We have improved a little bit on set-pieces, on heading, and I'm happy that Kolo scored the goal because he was a lion again today. It's a good inspiration for the other players to see how he fights and that he gets the goal - I'm very happy for him."

on Bolton...
"They give you a problem because they put the ball when you don't want it to be, and every time you bring it down they close you down. They have good players, they have Anelka, they have Nolan, they have Campo - they have good players."

on buying to ease their injury problems...
"That's a good question but I cannot give you an answer - I don't think so. We lost now Van Persie - you will see what Baptista has, you know?"

Toure's Goal Video clip

Wenger - We have the quality to cope without Gilberto

By Chris Harris

Gilberto will pay a heavy price for his red card at Blackburn but Arsène Wenger believes that his team can cope with the loss of their influential midfielder.

The Brazilian will miss the Premiership clash with Manchester United, the Carling Cup Semi Final first leg at Tottenham and the FA Cup tie against Bolton. However Wenger is confident that his squad will rise to the occasion once again.

"Gilberto will be missing but we feel that with the spirit and quality we have we can cope with that," he said. "We have had three different teams in our last three games but produced the same quality. We are very proud of that at the Club."

Wenger described Gilberto's dismissal at Ewood Park as "harsh" but praised Robbie Savage following reports that the Rovers midfielder, whose foul provoked the Brazilian's reaction, asked referee Rob Styles not to send the Arsenal midfielder off.

"It is very fair from him and if he has done that I thank him because from the outside the red card looked harsh," said Wenger. "You have to accept it because Gilberto retaliated and really he should not have retalitated at all.

"Savage could have stayed on his feet but I think he realised he made more of it than he should have. He said to the referee 'don't send him off' because I think he realised he should not have gone down.

"But if you ask the referee he will tell you he sent Gilberto off for retaliating and he will gain his case at the FA because [the rules say] it is a red-card offence."

Arsenal.com

Player of the Month:Gilberto Silva

Gilberto has been named as Arsenal.com's Player of the Month for December.

The industrious Brazilian excelled as stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Thierry Henry and enjoyed arguably his most productive month for the Gunners, scoring five goals.

The 30-year-old is not renowned for his potency in front of goal but he kicked off the month with two emphatic spot kicks in the North London derby as the Gunners put Tottenham to the sword.

Full involvement followed as Arsène Wenger’s side earned vital draws against Porto in the Champions League and against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. In the latter Gilberto made a crucial intervention to deny Didier Drogba a goal.

Perhaps his most important contribution however was in the 2-2 draw with Portsmouth at Emirates Stadium. Two goals down after 47 minutes, Gilberto pulled Arsenal level just moments after Emmanuel Adebayor had leapt off the bench to reduce the deficit.

That equaliser sparked a run which saw Gilberto score in three successive games as Blackburn and Watford both suffered the wrath of the free-scoring Samba star. It seemed everything that went right for Arsenal in December was in some way down to the deputising skipper.

Adebayor was another to flourish in the absence of Henry and truly earned his place as runner-up in this month's poll with strikes against Spurs, Wigan, Portsmouth and Watford. Dutchman Robin van Persie was another to hit a purple patch over the festive period and fans voted him third thanks to a clinical brace against Blackburn and a fine solo effort at Watford. Arsenal supporter Alex Green will present Gilberto with his award before the game against Manchester United on Sunday, January 21.

"Gilberto has been fantastic for us, especially in Henry's absence,” said Alex.

“He's a true unsung hero for the Gunners, who simply goes about his job with the minimum of fuss, scores important goals and inspires the rest of the team."

Wenger - Ljungberg still has 'a lot to offer' at Arsenal

By Chris Harris

Arsène Wenger has responded to media reports about Freddie Ljungberg's future by insisting that the Swedish midfielder still has "a lot to offer" at Arsenal.

"There has been much speculation about Freddie Ljungberg in the media over the last few days," Wenger told Arsenal.com, "but given his dedication and contribution to the team's success since joining the Club I feel it is important to state that Freddie is a valuable member of our squad.

"Although I can't predict the future, Freddie's experience and winner's attitude means he still has a lot to offer us."

Arsenal.com

Welcome Back Diaby

By Chris Harris

Diaby is back in the Arsenal squad for Tuesday's Carling Cup tie at Liverpool.

The French midfielder has not played since suffering a fractured and dislocated ankle at Sunderland last May but he completed his first full training session on Thursday and is in contention for a welcome return at Anfield.

Diaby's recovery is the latest in a long line of promising injury news. As Arsène Wenger explained on Monday afternoon, Freddie Ljungberg (hamstring) is currently the only player without a chance of featuring in Saturday's Premiership game at Ewood Park.

"We have Diaby in the squad for the first time and Emmanuel Adebayor is very strongly coming back. Blackburn is possible for him," said Wenger.

"Lauren is not in the squad for Liverpool, he has a small toe injury. William Gallas will not play either. But basically the only real injury is Ljungberg, he needs one more week after Blackburn.

"That is why I said for a long time that I won't buy anyone [in the transfer window]. I knew I had enough players when they came back from injury."

Subscribers can watch the full video interview with Wenger on Tuesday. In it he discusses: the questions his team answered in the FA Cup, striking a balance with his team selection, previous near-misses in the Carling Cup, Henry's impressive return and the threat of fixture congestion.

I hope this MF will be another young man who will be main team in the future

Fly away from Emirates : Aliadiere

Jeremie Aliadiere has every intention of showing Arsene Wenger he is not Arsenal's 'forgotten man'. The 23-year-old French striker has been with the Gunners since he was 16, yet has never commanded a regular place in Arsene Wenger's first team after suffering a number of injury setbacks. Aliadiere admits his disappointment that loan spells at Celtic and West Ham failed to work out, although he did enjoy more success at Wolves last season. The striker scored twice for Arsenal in the recent Carling Cup win over West Brom. However, his chances in the Premiership and Champions League have again been limited, with the likes of Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and England starlet Theo Walcott all vying for a place alongside captain Thierry Henry in attack. While accepting he may have to consider his long-term future should regular first-team football not come his way at the Emirates Stadium, Aliadiere intends to do all he can to make Wenger pick him. 'It has been good to play for Arsenal in the first team again and score some goals,' the striker said. 'Any opportunity I get, I will do my best and try to show the boss I am ready to play more games. 'I want to impress the manager, because he is the one who can play me every week. The most important thing for me is to show him every day in training and with every opportunity on the pitch that I am ready to be in the squad more.' Aliadiere told Arsenal's website: 'When you have been injured and not been involved in the squad every weekend, it is difficult and sometimes it can feel like you have been forgotten by people at the club and the fans - but it does not really affect me. 'I am really focused on doing my best every time I go on the pitch.' Although clearly committed to the Gunners, Aliadiere fully understands his long-term career could lie elsewhere. He said: 'The fact I was offered and signed a new deal last season proved that the manager believes in me and thinks I still have a future at Arsenal. 'But that does not change that I am not playing enough and I obviously want to play more games. I have been here eight years, I always wanted to be here and love the club. 'It is nothing more than I want to play for Arsenal - but obviously I am 23 now, which is not young any more and I need to play every week for my career.' The striker added: 'I have always believed I could do it in the Premiership, no problem. 'If I start playing every week and keep training well then obviously I am going to be happy to be at Arsenal and do my best for the club. I am just going to wait and see.' Arsenal, meanwhile, will assess the fitness of Walcott after he suffered a hand injury late on in the England Under-21s victory over Holland last night. The Gunners are third in the Premiership following Sunday's win against Liverpool and will be looking to keep up the pressure on leaders Manchester United when struggling Newcastle come to the Emirates Stadium this weekend.